# Mali — payment codes and schemes

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

## Summary

- **Orange Money QR** via Max it app
- **Sarali QR** merchant payments
- **GIM-UEMOA** regional integration
- **Mastercard partnership** (2024/2025)
- **20% banked** population only

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** BCEAO (Central Bank of West African States)
- **Website:** https://www.bceao.int/
- **Role:** Regional monetary policy (WAEMU zone)

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | BDM (Banque de Développement du Mali) | State | BDM Mobile |
| 2 | Ecobank Mali | Pan-African | Ecobank Mobile |
| 3 | Banque Atlantique | Regional | Atlantic App |
| 4 | BNDA | State | BNDA Mobile |
| 5 | Coris Bank | Regional | Coris App |

### Market Structure
- **Orange Money:** Leading mobile money
- **GIM-UEMOA:** 130+ institutions
- **20%:** Adults with bank accounts
- **Mobile money:** Dominant channel

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| Orange Money | Orange Mali | Mobile money | Dominant |
| GIM-UEMOA | Regional | Interbank | Active |
| Moov Money | Moov | Mobile money | Active |
| Bank Cards | Various | Debit/Credit | Active |

### GIM-UEMOA
- Created 2003 by BCEAO
- 130+ member institutions
- 8 WAEMU countries
- Cross-border payments
- Card and ATM network

### Mobile Money Focus
- Most Malians use mobile money
- Only 20% have formal bank accounts
- Orange Money leads market
- GIM-UEMOA card-focused

---

## QR code standards

### Orange Money QR (Max it)

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Provider** | Orange Mali |
| **App** | Orange Max it |
| **Feature** | QR Code/Sarali |
| **Merchants** | Authorized partners |

### Orange Money QR Features
- Scan QR at merchants
- Secure shopping experience
- Download Orange QR card
- Electronic version available
- Simplified payments

### Sarali QR
- Merchant payment system
- Integrated with Max it
- QR code scanning
- Partner network

### Mastercard Partnership (2024)
- Virtual debit cards
- Physical card option
- Global merchant access
- Rolling out by 2025
- Mali among first countries

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| Orange Max it | Orange | Yes | Full wallet + QR |
| Orange Money Africa | Orange | Yes | Multi-country |
| Moov Money | Moov | Limited | Mobile money |

### Orange Max it Mali
- Mobile money management
- QR code payments (Sarali)
- Bill payments
- Airtime purchase
- Orange services
- Merchant scanning

### Orange Money Africa
- Multi-country support
- Mali included
- QR merchant payments
- International transfers
- Developer API

### Financial Inclusion Goals
- Bill payments with partners
- Online payments
- Merchant QR payments
- Three core objectives

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Orange Money QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ML/orange-money-qr) | Mobile QR | Sarali | Active | [`orange-money-qr`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/orange-money-qr) |
| [GIM-UEMOA](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ML/gim-uemoa) | Regional | Card/ATM | Active | — |
| [Mastercard](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ML/mastercard) | Virtual | Card | 2025 | — |

## Sources

- [TransFi - Mali Payment Rails](https://www.transfi.com/blog/malis-payment-rails-how-they-work---gim-uemoa-mobile-money-expanding-digital-access)
- [Google Play - Orange Max it Mali](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oml.dsi.orangemobile)
- [Google Play - Orange Money Africa](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.orange.orangemoneyafrique)
- [Orange Developer - Web Payment API](https://developer.orange.com/apis/om-webpay)
- [Mastercard - Orange Partnership](https://www.mastercard.com/news/eemea/en/newsroom/press-releases/en/2024/october/orange-middle-east-and-africa-and-mastercard-partner-to-digitize-payments-for-millions-across-africa-by-2025/)
- [GIM-UEMOA](https://www.gim-uemoa.org/en/accueil)
- [Payment Expert - Orange Money Africa](https://paymentexpert.com/2025/06/10/how-addressing-african-financial-inclusion-led-to-orange-money-leading-with-mobile-payments/)
- [Wikipedia - Orange Money](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Money)

## Full country report

[ML-mali.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ML)