# Congo, The Democratic Republic of the — payment codes and schemes

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

## Summary

- **23.1 million** mobile money users (Q1 2024)
- **M-Pesa** largest operator (Vodacom 52%)
- **Orange Money** second major player
- **40% penetration** mobile money accounts
- **Dual currency** CDF and USD transactions

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Banque Centrale du Congo (BCC)
- **Website:** https://www.bcc.cd/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, payment oversight

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | Rawbank | Local | Illicocash |
| 2 | Equity Bank | Regional | Equity Mobile |
| 3 | Ecobank DRC | Pan-African | Ecobank Mobile |
| 4 | FINCA | Microfinance | FINCA App |
| 5 | UBA DRC | Pan-African | UBA App |

### Market Structure
- **Vodacom:** Market leader (52%)
- **Orange:** Major competitor
- **Airtel/Africell:** Other players
- **57.5 million** mobile users total

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| M-Pesa | Vodacom | Mobile money | Dominant |
| Orange Money | Orange | Mobile money | Active |
| Airtel Money | Airtel | Mobile money | Active |
| Africell Money | Africell | Mobile money | Active |

### Mobile Money Statistics (Q1 2024)
- **23.1 million** mobile money users
- **40.33%** of mobile users with accounts
- **Q1 2023:** 18.2 million users
- **Q1 2020:** 8.1 million users

### Growth Rate
- 27% year-over-year growth
- 185% growth since 2020
- Rapid adoption
- Financial inclusion driver

---

## QR code standards

### M-Pesa QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Operator** | Vodacom DRC |
| **Type** | Merchant QR |
| **App** | M-Pesa DRC |
| **Currencies** | USD and CDF |

### M-Pesa Features
- QR code payments
- Merchant scanning
- Dual currency (USD/CDF)
- Bank integration
- Bill payments

### Bank Integrations
- FINCA transfers
- EQUITY bank link
- Ecobank integration
- Rawbank connection
- UBA and AccessBank

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| M-Pesa DRC | Vodacom | Yes | Full wallet |
| Orange Money | Orange | Limited | Mobile money |
| Airtel Money | Airtel | Limited | Transfers |

### M-Pesa DRC App
- Secure PIN login
- Balance checks
- Dual currency (USD/CDF)
- Send money to contacts
- Merchant payments
- Bill payments (Canal+, Startimes, DSTV)
- Salary advances
- Currency exchange

### Orange Money DRC
- Electronic Money Issuer (2016)
- Receive international payments
- Mobile wallet services
- Growing network

### African Mobile Money Scale
- 178 active services (2024)
- 280 million monthly active accounts
- 70%+ of global activity in SSA

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [M-Pesa](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CD/m-pesa) | Mobile money | QR | 52% share | — |
| [Orange Money](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CD/orange-money) | Mobile money | App | Active | — |
| [Bank Integration](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CD/bank-integration) | Interop | Multiple | 6+ banks | — |

## Sources

- [BANKABLE - Mobile Money Q1 2024](https://bankable.africa/en/business-climate/0310-350-mobile-money-drc-had-23-1m-users-in-q1-2024-up-from-18-2m-in-q1-2023)
- [M-Pesa DRC - App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/m-pesa-drc/id1668805076)
- [M-Pesa DRC - Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vodafone.mpesa.drc)
- [Wikipedia - Orange Money](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Money)
- [WorldRemit - DRC Mobile Money](https://www.worldremit.com/en/congo-drc/mobile-money)
- [Sendwave - DRC](https://www.sendwave.com/en-us/countries/congo-drc)
- [Tech In Africa - Mobile Money Platforms](https://www.techinafrica.com/top-mobile-money-platforms-for-african-marketplaces/)
- [GSMA - Mobile Money DRC](https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Mobile-Money-in-the-DRC_July-2013.pdf)

## Full country report

[CD-drc.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/CD)