# Papua New Guinea — payment codes and schemes

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

## Summary

- **Digital Kina** CBDC QR pilot (2024)
- **Hyperledger Iroha 2** first CBDC
- **National Switch** 8 banks connected
- **Wantok Wallet** BSP mobile
- **Kina Pei** contactless NFC

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG)
- **Website:** https://www.bankpng.gov.pg/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, CBDC development

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | BSP | Regional | Wantok Wallet |
| 2 | Kina Bank | Local | Kina Pei |
| 3 | Westpac PNG | International | Westpac App |
| 4 | ANZ PNG | International | ANZ App |
| 5 | National Development Bank | State | NDB App |

### Market Structure
- **BSP:** Dominant regional
- **Digital Kina:** CBDC pilot
- **Kina Bank:** Local innovation
- **High unbanked:** 85%+ population

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| Digital Kina | BPNG | CBDC | Pilot 2024 |
| National Switch | BPNG | Interbank | 8 FIs |
| KATS | BPNG | RTGS | Active |
| Mobile wallets | Banks | Mobile money | Growing |

### Digital Kina CBDC
- Proof of concept end 2024
- Port Moresby pilot
- QR code merchant payments
- Hyperledger Iroha 2 blockchain
- Japan METI + Soramitsu partnership

### National Switch
- 8 financial institutions (July 2024)
- Tisa Bank, Credit Bank PNG added
- 2025: More banks + MNOs
- Interoperability expansion

---

## QR code standards

### Digital Kina QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Type** | CBDC |
| **Technology** | Hyperledger Iroha 2 |
| **Status** | Pilot (2024) |
| **Partners** | Japan METI, Soramitsu |

### Digital Kina Features
- Mobile app download
- Scan merchant QR
- Instant payment
- First Iroha 2 CBDC
- Government-backed

### Kina Bank QR
- Kina Pei app
- Contactless tap-and-go
- NFC enabled
- Visa Debit (Oct 2024)
- Modern digital

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| Digital Kina | BPNG | Yes | CBDC |
| Wantok Wallet | BSP | Limited | USSD |
| Kina Pei | Kina Bank | Yes | NFC + QR |
| WhatsApp Banking | Kina Bank | No | Text |

### Wantok Wallet
- BSP operated
- USSD technology
- Unbanked access
- Text-based commands
- Growing adoption

### Financial Inclusion
- 85%+ unbanked population
- Mobile wallets key solution
- 50% inclusion potential
- Rural access challenge

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Digital Kina](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/PG/digital-kina) | CBDC QR | Blockchain | Pilot | [`digital-kina`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/digital-kina) |
| [National Switch](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/PG/national-switch) | Interbank | BPNG | 8 FIs | [`national-switch`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/national-switch) |
| [Kina Pei](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/PG/kina-pei) | NFC/QR | Bank | Active | — |

## Sources

- [NFCW - Digital Kina CBDC](https://www.nfcw.com/2025/02/07/389936/bank-of-papua-new-guinea-pilots-central-bank-digital-currency-in-port-moresby/)
- [Business Advantage PNG - Mobile Wallets](https://www.businessadvantagepng.com/mobile-wallets-making-moves-in-papua-new-guinea/)
- [Kina Bank](https://www.kinabank.com.pg/)
- [BPNG - REPS Statistics](https://www.bankpng.gov.pg/publications/reps-monthly-statistics-updates)

## Full country report

[PG-papua-new-guinea.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/PG)