Country guides

Launching mobile money in Rwanda

Rwanda has a clear, modern rulebook for payment services and a regulator that encourages fintechs. The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) licenses e-money issuers and payment service providers.

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Government policy pushes cashless payments, and the national switch makes transfers between banks and wallets simple. New providers do well in merchant payments, savings groups and services for specific sectors.

Rwanda is also a good base for a regional service: Kinyarwanda, English, French and Swahili are all used.

The rules in brief

Regulator: National Bank of Rwanda (BNR)
Main texts: Law 061/2021 on the payment system; Regulation 54/2022 on e-money issuers; Regulation 74/2023 on payment service providers
Licence routes: Payment service provider licence (the route for non-bank e-money issuers); banks can issue e-money with BNR approval
Minimum capital: From RWF 30 million to RWF 300 million, depending on the licence category
Interoperability: RSwitch, the national switch
KYC and limits: Customer due diligence, trust account for customer funds, and limits set by the BNR
Currency: Rwandan franc (RWF)

Summary of published texts, checked on 2026-10-16. Rules change: confirm the current text with the regulator or your lawyer before you apply.

Payment rails to connect

Mobile money: 2 main operators
Banks
National instant payments

RwandaCurrency: RWF

Methods in Rwanda

Mobile money
The country's mobile money networks
Adapter ready
Cards
Debit and credit cards through your acquirer
Adapter ready
Wallet
Your own wallet (with our mobile money product)
Adapter ready

Payouts to: mobile money · bank account

Each row is a method type; the networks behind it are set up in your back office as you connect them. Cards go through the acquirer you choose. The list grows as you sign rails.

Launching with PesaBridge, step by step

Choose your licence route: your own licence, a partner bank or e-money issuer, or a licensed aggregator.

Build your proposal online: countries, payment rails and plan, in 10 minutes.

We set up the platform, your brand and the payment rails while you finish the licence file.

Test with a pilot group of customers, agents and merchants, and with the regulator where required.

Go live, recruit agents and merchants, and add services and countries as you grow.

Questions

Do we need a local company?

Yes. The 2023 regulation requires a company incorporated in Rwanda, with a local place of business and a CEO or managing director who is a citizen or resident.

How are customer funds protected?

Customer money is held in a trust account. PesaBridge reconciles the trust account against total e-money every day.

Can the apps run in Kinyarwanda?

Yes, Kinyarwanda can be added next to English, French and Swahili.

Get a proposal for Rwanda

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