# Lesotho — payment codes and schemes

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

## Summary

- **M-Pesa** dominant mobile money (Vodacom)
- **EcoCash** active competitor (Econet)
- **QR code** payments on both platforms
- **5,000+ agents** nationwide network
- **Central Bank of Lesotho** regulator

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL)
- **Website:** https://www.centralbank.org.ls/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, mobile money regulation

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | Standard Lesotho Bank | International | SLB Mobile |
| 2 | Nedbank Lesotho | International | Nedbank App |
| 3 | First National Bank Lesotho | International | FNB App |
| 4 | Lesotho PostBank | State | PostBank Mobile |

### Market Structure
- **M-Pesa:** Largest mobile money service
- **EcoCash:** Econet Telecom Lesotho
- **Dual currency:** LSL and ZAR accepted
- **5,000+ agents:** Nationwide

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| M-Pesa | Vodacom Lesotho | Mobile money | Dominant |
| EcoCash | Econet (ETL) | Mobile money | Active |
| Bank Transfers | Banks | RTGS | Active |

### M-Pesa Lesotho
- Largest mobile financial service
- 5,000+ agents nationwide
- QR code scan enabled
- Deposits/withdrawals

### EcoCash Features
- QR code merchant payments
- Bill payments
- Bank to wallet transfers
- Standard Lesotho Bank link

---

## QR code standards

### M-Pesa QR Payments

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Provider** | Vodacom Lesotho |
| **App** | My M-Pesa Lesotho |
| **Feature** | QR Code Scan |
| **Merchants** | Buy Goods QR |

### M-Pesa QR Features
- Faster, safer transactions
- Merchant QR with amount
- Till number embedded
- PIN to confirm
- Updated till stickers with QR

### M-Pesa Business App
- Merchants generate QR codes
- Include transaction amount
- Customer scans to pay
- Agent withdrawal via QR scan

### EcoCash QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Provider** | Econet Telecom Lesotho |
| **App** | EcoCash App Lesotho |
| **Feature** | QR Code Function |
| **Use** | Merchant payments |

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| My M-Pesa Lesotho | Vodacom | Yes | Full wallet, QR scan |
| M-Pesa Business | Vodacom | Yes | Merchant app |
| EcoCash Lesotho | Econet | Yes | QR payments |

### My M-Pesa Lesotho Features
- Send and receive money
- Pay bills
- Buy airtime
- QR code scan payments
- 5,000+ agent network

### M-Pesa Business App Features
- Generate customer QR codes
- Include Till Number + amount
- Customer scans to complete
- Withdraw via agent QR scan
- Transaction management

### EcoCash Lesotho Features
- Pay merchants via QR
- Send money
- Pay bills and insurance
- Airtime purchase
- Bank to wallet (SLB)

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [M-Pesa QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/LS/m-pesa-qr) | Mobile QR | App | 5,000+ agents | [`m-pesa-qr`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/m-pesa-qr) |
| [EcoCash QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/LS/ecocash-qr) | Mobile QR | App | Active | [`ecocash-qr`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/ecocash-qr) |
| [Bank Transfer](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/LS/bank-transfer) | Interbank | RTGS | Active | — |

## Sources

- [Vodacom Lesotho - M-Pesa](https://www.vodacom.co.ls/terms-conditions/m-pesa-t-cs/)
- [Vodacom Lesotho - M-Pesa Business App](https://www.vodacom.co.ls/financial-services/help-and-support/mpesa-business-app/)
- [Vodacom Lesotho - M-Pesa Fees](https://www.vodacom.co.ls/financial-services/help-and-support/mpesa-fees/)
- [ETL - EcoCash](https://www.etl.co.ls/ecocash/)
- [Google Play - My M-Pesa Lesotho](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vodafone.mpesa.ls)
- [Google Play - EcoCash App Lesotho](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ecocash.ecocashapp)
- [Wise - M-Pesa International](https://wise.com/us/blog/mpesa-international-money-transfer)
- [TemoGroup - M-Pesa Charges Lesotho](https://www.temogroup.com/2021/10/mpesa-charges-lesotho.html)

## Full country report

[LS-lesotho.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/LS)