# Brunei Darussalam — payment codes and schemes

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

## Summary

- **tarusQR** is the National QR Code Standard
- **tarus** instant payment system (Q4 2024 launch)
- **ndpx** (National Digital Payment Network) operates infrastructure
- **BDCB** mandated national QR standard adoption
- **ASEAN QR** cross-border initiative planned

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB)
- **Website:** https://www.bdcb.gov.bn/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, payment systems regulation

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam | Islamic | BIBD Mobile |
| 2 | Baiduri Bank | Commercial | Baiduri Mobile |
| 3 | Standard Chartered | Foreign | SC Mobile |

### Market Structure
- **ndpx:** Joint venture by BIBD, Baiduri, TAIB, Darussalam Assets
- **Two major local banks:** BIBD and Baiduri
- **Founded 2022:** ndpx digitalisation spearhead
- **Wawasan Brunei 2035:** National vision alignment

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| tarus | ndpx | Instant payment | Active (Q4 2024) |
| tarusQR | ndpx | QR Standard | Pilot |
| Baiduri Qpay | Baiduri | QR Payment | Active |
| DSTPay | DST/Baiduri | E-wallet | Active |

### tarus Instant Payment System
- Brunei's first instant payment system
- Operated by ndpx
- BDCB Approved Payment System Operator
- Previously known as Digital Payment Hub

### Digital Economy Alignment
- Wawasan Brunei 2035
- Digital Economy Masterplan 2025
- BDCB Digital Payment Roadmap
- Digital Economy Council flagship project

---

## QR code standards

### tarusQR (National QR Code Standard)

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Standard** | tarusQR |
| **Operator** | ndpx |
| **Mandate** | BDCB directive |
| **Status** | Pilot phase |

### tarusQR Features
- National QR Code Standard for Payments
- All PSPs/PSOs must comply
- Readable by all participating banks/wallets
- Interoperability enabled

### BDCB Mandate
- Notice issued requiring national QR standard
- Payment service providers must comply
- Payment system operators must adopt
- Improved interoperability goal

### tarus Rollout Phases

| Phase | Timeline | Features |
|-------|----------|----------|
| Phase 1 | Q4 2024 | Instant transfers via phone number |
| Phase 2 | 2025 | Standardized QR for businesses, Request-to-Pay |

### Current Status (Pilot Phase)
- Select users testing scanning
- Generation features for sending/receiving
- Once successful, public availability
- Interoperable QR codes

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| BIBD Mobile | BIBD | Yes | Full banking |
| Baiduri Mobile | Baiduri | Yes | Banking, Qpay |
| DSTPay | DST/Baiduri/UnionPay | Yes | E-wallet |

### Baiduri Qpay
- QR code payment service
- Merchant payments
- Bank account linked
- Pre-tarusQR solution

### DSTPay E-wallet
- Baiduri, DST, UnionPay partnership
- QR code scanning
- 30+ million merchants globally (via UnionPay)
- Local and international payments

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [tarusQR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BN/tarusqr) | National QR | ndpx | Pilot | [`tarusqr`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/tarusqr) |
| [tarus](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BN/tarus) | Instant payment | ndpx | Active (Q4 2024) | — |
| [DSTPay/UnionPay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BN/dstpay) | E-wallet | Partnership | 30M+ merchants | — |

## Sources

- [Biz Brunei - Digital Payment Hub](https://www.bizbrunei.com/2024/10/simplifying-bruneis-upcoming-digital-payment-hub/)
- [tarus Official - Instant Payment](https://www.tarus.com.bn/)
- [Baiduri - Qpay](https://www.baiduri.com.bn/personal/cards/qpay)
- [VIXIO - National QR Standard](https://www.vixio.com/insights/pc-daily-dash-brunei-adopts-national-payments-qr-code-standard)
- [The Scoop - tarus Phone Payments](https://thescoop.co/2025/03/12/tarus-to-enable-instant-payments-using-just-a-phone-number/)
- [tarus - tarusQR](https://www.tarus.com.bn/tarusqr)
- [UnionPay - DSTPay Launch](https://www.unionpayintl.com/en/mediaCenter/newsCenter/marketUpdate/3014980.shtml)
- [BDCB - Digital Payments](https://www.bdcb.gov.bn/publications/details?id=01j0hxnmxe7wwdtdv5z4agt8xz)
- [Transfi - Brunei Payment Rails](https://www.transfi.com/blog/bruneis-payment-rails-how-they-work---baiduri-bibd-the-road-toward-real-time-digital-banking)
- [Borneo Bulletin - Digital Payments](https://borneobulletin.com.bn/expanding-bruneis-digital-payment-capabilities/)

## Full country report

[BN-brunei.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BN)