Payments/MR
Mauritania
ISO MR · 3 schemes
Summary
- Bankily first mobile bank (2020)
- QR code + NFC payments enabled
- 550,000+ customers BPM leading
- 38% financial inclusion (2023)
- Digital revolution in banking
Banking landscape
Central Bank
- Name: Banque Centrale de Mauritanie (BCM)
- Website: https://www.bcm.mr/
- Role: Monetary policy, digital banking oversight
Major Banks (2024)
| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BPM (Banque Populaire de Mauritanie) | Local | Bankily |
| 2 | Société Générale Mauritanie | International | SG Mobile |
| 3 | BNM | State | BNM Mobile |
| 4 | Chinguitti Bank | Local | Chinguitti App |
| 5 | GBM | Local | GBM Mobile |
Market Structure
- Bankily: Leading mobile bank
- BPM: 550,000+ customers
- 38%: Financial inclusion (2023)
- Digital banks: Industry disruption
Payment infrastructure
National Payment Systems
| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bankily | BPM | Mobile bank | Leading |
| National Switch | BCM | Interbank | Active |
| Bank Transfers | Banks | RTGS | Active |
| Other Mobile Banks | Various | Competing | Active |
Bankily Launch
- January 2020 launch
- First mobile bank in Mauritania
- BPM partnership with Comviva
- Digital account opening
Financial Inclusion Impact
- 38% inclusion by September 2023
- Significant growth from Bankily
- Other banks followed with mobile solutions
- Unbanked segment access
QR code standards
Bankily QR Payments
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Provider | BPM/Bankily |
| Launch | January 2020 |
| Feature | QR Code + NFC |
| Access | App + USSD |
Bankily QR Features
- Scan QR code at merchants
- Enter merchant code alternative
- Contactless NFC payments
- Smartphone scanning
- Multiple merchant categories
Transfer Options
- Mobile phone number
- Facebook contact selection
- NFC tap-and-pay
- QR code scanning
- Bank account number
Merchant Network
- Supermarkets
- Grocery stores
- Pharmacies
- Fuel stations
- Travel agencies
- Hospitals, schools
- Restaurants
Mobile payment apps
| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bankily | BPM | Yes | Full mobile bank |
| Other Bank Apps | Various | Varies | Competing |
Bankily Features
- Remote account opening
- Money transfers (phone/QR/NFC)
- Bill payments
- Merchant payments
- QR code scanning
- Contactless NFC
- Facebook integration
Access Channels
- Bankily mobile app (smartphone)
- USSD *888# (Mattel subscribers)
- Basic phone support
- Web portal
Service Coverage
- Banked segment access
- Unbanked segment access
- Urban and rural reach
- All mobile phone types
Schemes
| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bankily QR | Mobile QR | App | Leading | bankily |
| NFC | Contactless | Tap | Active | — |
| USSD | Basic | *888# | Active | — |
Sources
- Bankily Official
- Comviva - Bankily Success
- Comviva - Press Release
- TransFi - Mauritania Payment Rails
- Business Focus - Mobile Revolution
- The Paypers - Bankily
- Fintech Times - Digital Revolution
- FFNews - Bankily
Full country report
Schemes
Standards
Primary · 1