On 6 May 2025, we obtained an official licence from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) as a Payment Institution (reference: EP.NG.001/2025). This recognition marks eight years of commitment to digitising financial services in West Africa.
Now compliant with Instruction No. 001-01-2024 of 23 January 2024 on payment services in WAEMU, iFUTUR joins the select group of operators officially authorised to offer digital payment services throughout the Union.
What is a Payment Institution licence in WAEMU?
A BCEAO licence is a legal prerequisite confirming that an operator meets strict requirements for security, governance, risk management and user protection. Without this licence, a business cannot offer payment services in WAEMU.
To obtain it, we demonstrated that our technical infrastructure, internal processes and control systems meet the standards imposed by the BCEAO.
An authorisation that strengthens our regional reach
This Payment Institution licence allows us to operate in every WAEMU country and offer payment solutions to businesses, public institutions, humanitarian organisations and fintechs seeking a reliable, compliant partner.
This recognition complements our PCI DSS certification, which ensures the security of sensitive data during transactions. Together, these two accreditations position iFUTUR as a trusted provider capable of supporting critical financial flows: humanitarian transfers, e-commerce payments, digital collections and more.
Local expertise, a regional vision
We are proud of our local roots and deep understanding of conditions on the ground. For eight years, our teams have designed and deployed payment solutions tailored to the needs of merchants, public services, startups and humanitarian projects.
Our close relationships with local stakeholders allow us to act effectively and responsively while pursuing a regional ambition.
This local presence helps us address users’ real needs: reliability, accessibility and interoperability.
Solutions tailored to every organisation
With this licence, we can now scale our service offering:
- For local and international businesses: multichannel collections and disbursements, with more than eight integrated payment methods.
- For NGOs and humanitarian organisations: cash assistance, conditional transfers, real-time tracking and full auditability.
- For public institutions: payment digitisation, transparency, traceability and control of financial flows.
A vision of inclusion and financial independence
We are more than a technical operator. We have a vision: accelerate financial inclusion in WAEMU and give citizens and organisations the tools to regain control of their transactions.
By building bridges between cash, mobile, digital services and institutions, iFUTUR is creating finance that is more open, accessible and secure.
Put simply, what does “BCEAO-licensed” mean?
It means that iFUTUR has received official authorisation from the Central Bank to manage payment services legally and securely throughout WAEMU.
In practical terms, we can now offer individuals, merchants, businesses, NGOs and institutions the following services:
Services authorised by iFUTUR’s Payment Institution licence
- Cash deposits and withdrawals at iMONEY branches or authorised partners.
- Payment account management, including balance and transaction enquiries.
- Transfers and direct debits to bank or mobile accounts.
- Card and electronic payments using Visa cards, QR codes and POS terminals.
- Money transfers to a phone number or account.
- Payments through all communication channels: SMS, USSD, mobile apps and websites.
- Issuing payment instruments: Visa cards, POS terminals and ATMs.
- Acquiring payment transactions for merchants: POS terminal installation, QR codes and e-commerce solutions.
- Payment initiation services: a platform for bulk payments by NGOs, businesses and institutions.
iFUTUR can now collect, transfer, equip, connect and simplify payments throughout WAEMU.
