# Sierra Leone — payment codes and schemes

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

## Summary

- **Orange Money** QR payments active
- **Afrimoney** bank interoperability
- **Afro Mobile Money** QR platform
- **16% adoption** mobile money users
- **Bank integration** enabled

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL)
- **Website:** https://www.bsl.gov.sl/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, payment oversight

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | Rokel Commercial Bank | State | Rokel Mobile |
| 2 | UBA Sierra Leone | Pan-African | UBA Mobile |
| 3 | Ecobank Sierra Leone | Pan-African | Ecobank Mobile |
| 4 | Access Bank SL | Pan-African | Access App |
| 5 | Sierra Leone Commercial Bank | Local | SLCB Mobile |

### Market Structure
- **Orange Money:** Major provider
- **Afrimoney:** Africell service
- **Afro:** Payment service provider
- **16%:** Active mobile money

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| Orange Money | Orange SL | Mobile money | Active |
| Afrimoney | Africell | Mobile money | Active |
| Afro Mobile Money | Afro Int'l | PSP | Active |
| Bank Transfers | Banks | RTGS | Active |

### Mobile Money Adoption
- Decade+ of availability
- 7 million+ mobile subscribers
- Only 16% active mobile money users
- Growth potential significant

### Bank Integration
- Afrimoney bank interoperability
- Transfer to/from accounts
- Major banks connected
- Enhanced convenience

---

## QR code standards

### Orange Money QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Provider** | Orange Sierra Leone |
| **App** | Orange Money Africa |
| **Feature** | QR or merchant number |
| **Status** | Active |

### Orange Money QR Features
- Scan QR at merchants
- Merchant number alternative
- No cash needed
- Instant transactions
- Multi-country app

### Afro Mobile Money QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Provider** | Afro International |
| **Experience** | 20+ years in SL |
| **Feature** | QR Code Payments |
| **Cross-wallet** | Orange/Afrimoney |

### Afro QR Features
- QR code payments
- Cross-wallet transfers
- Orange Money integration
- Afrimoney integration
- #1 PSP in Sierra Leone

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| Orange Money Africa | Orange | Yes | Multi-country |
| Afrimoney | Africell | Limited | Bank interop |
| Afro Mobile Money | Afro | Yes | QR payments |

### Orange Money Features
- Balance check
- Fund transfers
- Merchant QR payments
- Bill payments
- International available

### Afrimoney Features
- Money transfer
- Airtime top-up
- Bill payment
- Salary disbursement
- Bank interoperability
- Daily limit: 15,000 NLe

### Afro Mobile Money Features
- QR code payments
- Cross-wallet to Orange/Afrimoney
- Wallet management
- Send/receive money
- 20+ years experience

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Orange Money QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/SL/orange-money-qr) | Mobile QR | App | Active | [`orange-money-qr`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/orange-money-qr) |
| [Afro QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/SL/afro-qr) | PSP QR | App | Active | — |
| [Afrimoney](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/SL/afrimoney) | Mobile | Interop | Active | [`afrimoney`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/afrimoney) |

## Sources

- [Orange SL - Orange Money](https://www.orange.sl/en/orange-money.html)
- [Africell - Afrimoney](https://www.africell.sl/afrimoney/)
- [App Store - Afro Mobile Money](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/afro-mobile-money/id1599751835)
- [Orange SL - My Orange App](https://www.orange.sl/en/orange-money-app.html)
- [Google Play - Orange Money Africa](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.orange.orangemoneyafrique)
- [Betts Firm - Cash Crisis](https://thebettsfirmsl.com/blog/sierra-leone-s-cash-crisis-an-opportunity-to-promote-digital-payments)
- [UBA SL - Orange Money](https://www.ubasierraleone.com/orange-money/)
- [Orange SL - FAQ](https://www.orange.sl/en/b2c_orange_money_faq.html)

## Full country report

[SL-sierra-leone.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/SL)