# Burundi — payment codes and schemes

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BI
> extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

## Summary

- **Lumicash** dominant mobile money (Viettel)
- **LumiPAY** QR merchant payments
- **Ecocash** first mobile money (Econet)
- **CRDB SimBanking** bank integration
- **Agent-based** cash access network

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Banque de la République du Burundi (BRB)
- **Website:** https://www.brb.bi/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, payment oversight

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | CRDB Bank Burundi | Pan-African | iBank/SimBanking |
| 2 | Interbank Burundi | Local | IB Mobile |
| 3 | BCB (Banque Commerciale) | Local | BCB App |
| 4 | Ecobank Burundi | Pan-African | Ecobank Mobile |
| 5 | KCB Burundi | Regional | KCB App |

### Market Structure
- **Mobile money:** Primary payment channel
- **Low banking:** Limited physical branches
- **Agent networks:** Critical infrastructure
- **Unbanked majority:** Financial inclusion focus

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| Lumicash | Lumitel/Viettel | Mobile money | Dominant |
| Ecocash | Econet | Mobile money | Active |
| SimBanking | CRDB | Bank mobile | Active |

### Mobile Money Dominance
- Primary payment method
- Rural penetration
- Agent network extensive
- No bank account required

### Bank Integration
- CRDB SimBanking transfers
- Ecocash/Lumicash integration
- Cardless ATM withdrawals
- Multi-language support

---

## QR code standards

### LumiPAY QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Operator** | Lumitel/Viettel |
| **Type** | Merchant QR |
| **App** | LumiPAY |
| **Feature** | Scan to pay |

### LumiPAY Features
- Money transfers
- Cash withdrawals
- Airtime purchase
- Merchant payments
- QR code scanning

### Merchant Network
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Supermarkets
- Bar clubs
- OBR documents
- Mairie documents

### BePAY (Lumicash Channel)
- Mobile financial management
- Deposit and withdraw
- Transfer money
- Recharge and data plans
- USSD: *163#

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| LumiPAY | Lumitel | Yes | Full wallet |
| Lumicash Channel | Lumitel | Limited | Agent app |
| Ecocash | Econet | Limited | Mobile money |

### LumiPAY App
- Transfer money
- Withdraw cash
- Buy airtime
- Pay merchants
- QR code payments
- Low-cost transactions

### CRDB iBank/SimBanking
- Fund transfers to Ecocash/Lumicash
- Startimes TV subscription
- Airtime purchase (Econet, Lumitel)
- Salary advances
- Cardless ATM withdrawals
- Multi-language (English, French, Kirundi, Kiswahili)

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [LumiPAY QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BI/lumipay-qr) | Mobile QR | Lumitel | Growing | [`lumipay-qr`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/lumipay-qr) |
| [Lumicash](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BI/lumicash) | Mobile money | USSD | Dominant | — |
| [Ecocash](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BI/ecocash) | Mobile money | Econet | Active | — |

## Sources

- [LumiPAY - Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=bi.lumitel.bepay)
- [Lumicash Channel - Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=bi.lumitel.lumicashchannel)
- [Lumicash Channel - App Store](https://apps.apple.com/mu/app/lumicash-channel/id1625524767)
- [CRDB Burundi - SimBanking](https://crdbbank.co.bi/en/banking/simbanking/)
- [Transfi - Burundi Payment Rails](https://www.transfi.com/blog/burundis-payment-rails-how-they-work---mobile-money-bank-transfers-regional-systems)
- [Lumitel - Lumicash](https://lumitel.bi/package-mobile/1629461669794)
- [WorldRemit - Burundi](https://www.worldremit.com/en/burundi)
- [SOS Médias - Ecocash](https://www.sosmediasburundi.org/en/2023/02/01/ecocash-affairs-the-situation-going-from-bad-to-worse/)

## Full country report

[BI-burundi.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BI)