# Botswana — payment codes and schemes

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

## Summary

- **Spark by Absa** QR payment wallet
- **PosoMoney** BotswanaPost mobile money
- **No unified national** QR standard
- **Bank-specific** QR implementations
- **Growing digital** banking adoption

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Bank of Botswana
- **Website:** https://www.bankofbotswana.bw/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, payment oversight

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | Absa Botswana | International | Spark |
| 2 | First National Bank | International | FNB App |
| 3 | Standard Chartered | International | SC Mobile |
| 4 | Stanbic Bank | Pan-African | Stanbic App |
| 5 | AccessBank | Development | Access Mobile |

### Market Structure
- **International banks:** Dominant players
- **Mobile banking:** Growing adoption
- **Mobile money:** PosoMoney, others
- **QR payments:** Emerging

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| BISS | Bank of Botswana | RTGS | Active |
| ACH | Bank of Botswana | Clearing | Active |
| EFT | Banks | Transfers | Active |

### Mobile Money Services
- **PosoMoney:** BotswanaPost service
- **Spark:** Absa digital wallet
- **Bank wallets:** Various offerings

### Digital Banking Growth
- Mobile banking expansion
- Bill payment services
- P2P transfers
- Agent networks

---

## QR code standards

### Spark QR (Absa)

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Operator** | Absa Botswana |
| **Type** | Wallet QR |
| **Features** | Pay/Receive |
| **Status** | Active |

### Spark QR Features
- Contactless QR payments
- Fund wallet with any bank card
- Pay at any POS
- Transfer to own account
- Deposit/withdraw at agents

### Merchant QR (Spark)
- "Receive QR payments" option
- Customer scans merchant QR
- Encrypted payment details
- Amount specification
- Tap 'Generate your own amount'

### QR Payment Flow
1. Click 'QR Pay' button
2. Customer scans QR on device
3. Or scan displayed QR code
4. Confirm payment
5. Instant settlement

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| Spark | Absa | Yes | Full wallet |
| PosoMoney | BotswanaPost | USSD | Mobile money |
| SC Mobile | Standard Chartered | Limited | Banking |
| Access Mobile | AccessBank | Limited | Banking |

### Spark by Absa
- Digital wallet
- QR code payments
- Fund via any card
- Pay at POS terminals
- P2P transfers
- Agent network

### PosoMoney (BotswanaPost)
- Mobile phone-based
- Works on any phone/network
- Fully patented SMS technology
- Money transfers
- Banking services
- Payment services

### AccessBank Mobile
- Bill payments (electricity, water, DStv)
- Send money to any mobile
- Fast Cash via ATM
- Access Closa Agent network

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Spark QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BW/spark-qr) | Wallet | Absa | Growing | [`spark-qr`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/spark-qr) |
| [PosoMoney](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BW/posomoney) | Mobile money | SMS | Active | — |
| [Bank Apps](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BW/bank-apps) | Mobile banking | Various | Active | — |

## Sources

- [Absa Botswana - Spark](https://www.absa.co.bw/spark/)
- [BotswanaPost - Mobile Money](https://botswanapost.post/mobile-money)
- [AccessBank - Digital Banking](https://botswana.accessbankplc.com/products/digital-banking/internet-banking-mobile-banking-and-app)
- [Standard Chartered - Digital Banking](https://www.sc.com/bw/digital-banking/)
- [Bank of Botswana - Payment Systems](https://www.bis.org/cpmi/paysys/botswana.pdf)
- [Payment Providers - Botswana](https://paymentproviders.io/botswanan-payment-providers)
- [BB Codes - Bank Codes Botswana](https://www.bbcodes.com/en/bank-codes/bw-botswana/)
- [Money Matters ZA - Bank Codes](https://moneymattersza.com/complete-list-of-bank-codes-and-branch-locations-in-botswana/)

## Full country report

[BW-botswana.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BW)