Open your U.S. bank account. Receive USD. Spend with Visa.

Mela is a U.S. regulated fintech for Ethiopians worldwide.
Visa debit cards and USD accounts are provided through regulated U.S. banking partners JP Morgan Chase.

The first U.S. banking infrastructure engineered specifically for the global Ethiopian economy. Receive USD directly to their account and easily spend with Visa debit card globally.

The first U.S. banking infrastructure engineered specifically for the global Ethiopian economy. Receive USD directly to their account and easily spend with Visa debit card globally.

Download the Mela App

Get your own U.S. account in your name.
Receive USD from Upwork, Fiverr, PayPal, Wise or any client, then spend worldwide with your Visa debit card.

Accept USD payments from any U.S. Banks, financial institutes, Marketplace platforms, or any client directly to your U.S. bank account.

Accept USD payments from any U.S. Banks, financial institutes, Marketplace platforms, or any client directly to your U.S. bank account.

Global USD banking, now open to Ethiopians.
Access using your Passport or National ID (Fayda).

Built for Ethiopians.

Whether you get paid from a company in the U.S, clients in Dubai, agencies in Europe, or platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
Mela lets you receive USD straight into your own U.S account.

Whether you get paid from clients in Dubai, agencies in Europe, Upwork or a company in the U.S, Mela enables you to receive your earnings directly to your account.

Receive USD from platforms like

Benefits

Why choose Mela?

Built for Ethiopians who earn from global clients. So your USD payments finally come to you.

Get paid without stress

No more asking friends abroad or hoping payouts don't get blocked. Mela gives you a direct way to receive USD from clients and platforms to your own account.

No more “service not available in your country”

Global payment platfroms close accounts or simply don’t support Ethiopia. Mela is built for Ethiopians from day one.

Stop losing money on payouts

Wires cost $25–$50 and take days. Many platforms support low-cost or free direct U.S bank (USD) transfers. With Mela, you use those routes and keep more of your earnings.

Stop losing money on payouts

Wires cost $25–$50 and take days. Many platforms support low-cost or free direct U.S bank (USD) transfers. With Mela, you use direct U.S bank transfer and keep more of your earnings.

No more borrowing accounts

Using someone else’s bank or PayPal triggers freezes and compliance flags. Mela gives you a compliant USD account. No favors. No fear.

No more blocked payouts

Upwork, Fiverr, and other platforms reject payments if the account name doesn’t match your profile. With Mela, your payout name matches your verified ID. Your funds go through successfully.

Seamless to your own account.

Upwork. Fiverr. PayPal. Wise. Payoneer. If they support USD bank withdrawal, you can withdraw to Mela. No more using someone else’s account. Your money should come to you, not through three other people.

Integrations

Upwork, Fiverr, clients abroad — no more asking someone else to receive your money.

Everything you need,
Talking Together

If a platform supports USD bank withdrawal, you can route payments to your Mela account — safely, directly, and in your own name.

Testimonials

What Our Early Users Are Saying

Meet the Global Citizens.

Meet the Global Citizens.

Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what users think about Mela.

Eyoel Teshome

UX/UI, Product Designer

"Upwork kept rejecting my withdrawal because I was sending to my cousin’s account. I opened Mela, verified my own name, switched the payout to my Mela USD details, and the next withdrawal went through."

Melat Bekele

Product Manager

“Wise and PayPal kept rejecting my documents because I'm in Ethiopia. I gave my client my Mela USD details, and the money just came. No stress, no back-and-forth.”

Mike Ayele

Front end developer

“Payoneer limited my account without warning. I added my Mela USD bank details as a withdrawal method and moved the money out cleanly when Payoneer allowed bank transfer.”

Abel Regasa

Full stack Dev

“I was losing $50 on upwork on every wire. I moved to direct U.S banking using my Mela account. Fees dropped to zero, and funds arrived faster.”

Michael Demisa

Java Developer

“I used my friend’s PayPal for years and worried it would freeze. Now, when the app lets me withdraw to a bank, I send it straight to my Mela account. It’s finally mine.”

Hana Abate

Project Manager

"Wise told me Ethiopia wasn’t supported. PayPal limited my account. For every $500 I earned, I was losing $50 in wire fees. With Mela, I paid zero using a USD transfer. Mela is the first time I’ve had a proper USD account without begging someone abroad."

FAQ

Got Questions? We've Got Answers.

Quick, clear answers to help you get started with Mela.

What is Mela. Is it a bank?

Mela is a USD banking solution built for Ethiopians worldwide. You open a verified USD account in your name, receive USD payments, and use a Visa debit card to access your funds globally. Banking services and USD accounts are provided through partnership with regulated U.S. banking providers.

Is Mela legitimate?
Is my money safe?
Can I use Mela to receive payment from Upwork, Fiverr, PayPal, Wise, Payoneer?
Is this a U.S. bank account?
Do I get my own account details?
Is Mela recognized in Ethiopia?
Does Mela have approval to send money to Ethiopia?
How do I get verified?
How do I use my money once it arrives?
Can I withdraw to birr?
what are the fee and cost?
What is Mela. Is it a bank?

Mela is a USD banking solution built for Ethiopians worldwide. You open a verified USD account in your name, receive USD payments, and use a Visa debit card to access your funds globally. Banking services and USD accounts are provided through partnership with regulated U.S. banking providers.

Is Mela legitimate?
Is my money safe?
Can I use Mela to receive payment from Upwork, Fiverr, PayPal, Wise, Payoneer?
Is this a U.S. bank account?
Do I get my own account details?
Is Mela recognized in Ethiopia?
Does Mela have approval to send money to Ethiopia?
How do I get verified?
How do I use my money once it arrives?
Can I withdraw to birr?
what are the fee and cost?
What is Mela. Is it a bank?

Mela is a USD banking solution built for Ethiopians worldwide. You open a verified USD account in your name, receive USD payments, and use a Visa debit card to access your funds globally. Banking services and USD accounts are provided through partnership with regulated U.S. banking providers.

Is Mela legitimate?
Is my money safe?
Can I use Mela to receive payment from Upwork, Fiverr, PayPal, Wise, Payoneer?
Is this a U.S. bank account?
Do I get my own account details?
Is Mela recognized in Ethiopia?
Does Mela have approval to send money to Ethiopia?
How do I get verified?
How do I use my money once it arrives?
Can I withdraw to birr?
what are the fee and cost?

Contact us

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