# Jamaica — payment codes and schemes

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

## Summary

- **JAM-DEX** CBDC with QR (2022)
- **Dynamic QR** testing complete (Sept 2024)
- **282,274** wallet users (end 2024)
- **Lynk** sole wallet provider
- **10,000 PoS** upgrade commitment

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Bank of Jamaica (BoJ)
- **Website:** https://boj.org.jm/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, JAM-DEX operation

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | National Commercial Bank | Local | NCB App |
| 2 | Scotiabank Jamaica | International | Scotia App |
| 3 | First Caribbean | Regional | CIBC FirstCaribbean |
| 4 | Sagicor Bank | Local | Sagicor App |
| 5 | JN Bank | Local | JN App |

### Market Structure
- **JAM-DEX:** Central bank digital currency
- **Lynk:** Sole wallet provider (2024)
- **2,379 merchants:** Signed on (Sept 2024)
- **$276M minted:** Since 2022

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| JAM-DEX | Bank of Jamaica | CBDC | Active |
| ACH Jamaica | Banks | Clearing | Active |
| RTGS | BoJ | High-value | Active |
| Card networks | Visa/MC | Cards | Active |

### JAM-DEX CBDC
- Launched 2022
- Digital Jamaica Dollar
- QR code payments
- Wallet ID transfers
- Government payment integration

### Government Use Cases
- Fitness fees at TAJ
- Property taxes
- Traffic tickets
- Seasonal work payments

---

## QR code standards

### JAM-DEX QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Operator** | Bank of Jamaica |
| **Type** | CBDC |
| **Testing** | Dynamic QR (Sept 2024) |
| **PoS upgrade** | 10,000 machines |

### JAM-DEX QR Features
- Personal QR code
- Merchant QR scanning
- Wallet ID alternative
- Send/receive money
- Government payments

### Dynamic QR Testing (Sept 2024)
- Successfully completed
- Single PoS integration
- Merchant preference addressed
- Same device for card/CBDC
- Customer experience focus

### PoS Upgrade Initiative
- 50,000 PoS machines in Jamaica
- BoJ funding 10,000 upgrades
- Modern machines priority
- Technology provider engaged
- JAM-DEX QR support

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| Lynk | NCB | Yes | JAM-DEX wallet |
| Bank Apps | Various | Limited | Banking |

### Lynk Wallet
- Sole JAM-DEX provider (2024)
- QR code generation
- Wallet ID system
- Send/receive funds
- Merchant payments

### Adoption Challenges
- Limited wallet providers
- PoS integration gap
- 2,379 merchants only
- $276M minted (static since 2022)
- Physical currency: $286.1B

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [JAM-DEX QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/JM/jam-dex-qr) | CBDC QR | BoJ | 282K users | [`jam-dex-qr`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/jam-dex-qr) |
| [Dynamic QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/JM/dynamic-qr) | PoS QR | Unified | Testing | — |
| [Lynk](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/JM/lynk) | Wallet | App | Sole | — |

## Sources

- [Bank of Jamaica - CBDC](https://boj.org.jm/core-functions/currency/cbdc/)
- [Bank of Jamaica - CBDC FAQs](https://boj.org.jm/core-functions/currency/cbdc/cbdc-faqs/)
- [Jamaica Observer - JAM-DEX Gains](https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025/04/23/jam-dex-gains-ground/)
- [Jamaica Observer - BoJ Going All Out](https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2024/01/17/boj-going-all-out-for-jam-dex-success/)
- [Ledger Insights - PoS Upgrades](https://www.ledgerinsights.com/jamaica-cbdc-pos-upgrades/)
- [CBDC Tracker - JAM-DEX](https://cbdctracker.org/currency/jamaica-jam-dex)

## Full country report

[JM-jamaica.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/JM)