# Mauritania — payment codes and schemes

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

## Summary

- **Bankily** first mobile bank (2020)
- **QR code + NFC** payments enabled
- **550,000+ customers** BPM leading
- **38% financial inclusion** (2023)
- **Digital revolution** in banking

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Banque Centrale de Mauritanie (BCM)
- **Website:** https://www.bcm.mr/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, digital banking oversight

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | BPM (Banque Populaire de Mauritanie) | Local | Bankily |
| 2 | Société Générale Mauritanie | International | SG Mobile |
| 3 | BNM | State | BNM Mobile |
| 4 | Chinguitti Bank | Local | Chinguitti App |
| 5 | GBM | Local | GBM Mobile |

### Market Structure
- **Bankily:** Leading mobile bank
- **BPM:** 550,000+ customers
- **38%:** Financial inclusion (2023)
- **Digital banks:** Industry disruption

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| Bankily | BPM | Mobile bank | Leading |
| National Switch | BCM | Interbank | Active |
| Bank Transfers | Banks | RTGS | Active |
| Other Mobile Banks | Various | Competing | Active |

### Bankily Launch
- January 2020 launch
- First mobile bank in Mauritania
- BPM partnership with Comviva
- Digital account opening

### Financial Inclusion Impact
- 38% inclusion by September 2023
- Significant growth from Bankily
- Other banks followed with mobile solutions
- Unbanked segment access

---

## QR code standards

### Bankily QR Payments

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Provider** | BPM/Bankily |
| **Launch** | January 2020 |
| **Feature** | QR Code + NFC |
| **Access** | App + USSD |

### Bankily QR Features
- Scan QR code at merchants
- Enter merchant code alternative
- Contactless NFC payments
- Smartphone scanning
- Multiple merchant categories

### Transfer Options
- Mobile phone number
- Facebook contact selection
- NFC tap-and-pay
- QR code scanning
- Bank account number

### Merchant Network
- Supermarkets
- Grocery stores
- Pharmacies
- Fuel stations
- Travel agencies
- Hospitals, schools
- Restaurants

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| Bankily | BPM | Yes | Full mobile bank |
| Other Bank Apps | Various | Varies | Competing |

### Bankily Features
- Remote account opening
- Money transfers (phone/QR/NFC)
- Bill payments
- Merchant payments
- QR code scanning
- Contactless NFC
- Facebook integration

### Access Channels
- Bankily mobile app (smartphone)
- USSD *888# (Mattel subscribers)
- Basic phone support
- Web portal

### Service Coverage
- Banked segment access
- Unbanked segment access
- Urban and rural reach
- All mobile phone types

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Bankily QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/MR/bankily-qr) | Mobile QR | App | Leading | [`bankily`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bankily) |
| [NFC](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/MR/nfc) | Contactless | Tap | Active | — |
| [USSD](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/MR/ussd) | Basic | *888# | Active | — |

## Sources

- [Bankily Official](https://www.bankily.mr/en/)
- [Comviva - Bankily Success](https://www.comviva.com/resources/success-stories/inclusive-banking-to-transform-mauritania-towards-a-digital-economy/)
- [Comviva - Press Release](https://www.comviva.com/press-releases/bankily-brings-digital-banking-revolution-in-mauritania/)
- [TransFi - Mauritania Payment Rails](https://www.transfi.com/blog/mauritanias-payment-rails-how-they-work---national-switch-e-banking-mobile-wallet-expansion)
- [Business Focus - Mobile Revolution](https://businessfocus.org.uk/a-mobile-revolution-in-mauritanian-financial-services/)
- [The Paypers - Bankily](https://thepaypers.com/fintech/news/bankily-brings-digital-banking-solutions-in-mauritania)
- [Fintech Times - Digital Revolution](https://thefintechtimes.com/bringing-a-digital-banking-revolution-in-mauritania/)
- [FFNews - Bankily](https://ffnews.com/newsarticle/bankily-brings-digital-banking-revolution-in-mauritania/)

## Full country report

[MR-mauritania.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/MR)