# Sao Tome and Principe — payment codes and schemes

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

## Summary

- **GTI Switch** national interconnection platform
- **Mobile money QR** and mPOS enabled
- **AfDB $3.2M** system upgrade (2023)
- **Financial inclusion** focus
- **Limited infrastructure** developing

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Banco Central de São Tomé e Príncipe (BCSTP)
- **Website:** https://www.bcstp.st/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, payment oversight

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | BISTP | State | BISTP Mobile |
| 2 | Afriland First Bank | Regional | Afriland App |
| 3 | BGFI Bank | Regional | BGFI Mobile |
| 4 | Ecobank STP | Pan-African | Ecobank Mobile |

### Market Structure
- **GTI Switch:** National platform
- **AfDB:** Development partner
- **Financial inclusion:** Priority
- **Small economy:** Island nation

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| GTI Switch | GTI | National switch | Active |
| Mobile Money | Various | Wallets | Active |
| Bank Cards | Visa/MC | Cards | Limited |

### GTI Switch Platform
- Interconnects all financial institutions
- Mobile money enablement
- Electronic banking
- Digital wallets
- Interoperability

### AfDB Investment (2023)
- $3.2 million loan agreement
- National Switch upgrade
- March 2023 signed
- Payment system modernization

---

## QR code standards

### Mobile Money QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Platform** | GTI Switch |
| **Feature** | QR + mPOS |
| **Status** | Active |
| **Focus** | Financial inclusion |

### QR Payment Features
- Merchant QR acceptance
- mPOS devices available
- Mobile phone payments
- No physical cash needed
- Unbanked access

### Payment Flow
- Send and receive money
- Pay bills
- Make purchases
- Mobile-based
- Secure transactions

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| Mobile Money | Various | Yes | Wallets |
| Bank Apps | Banks | Limited | Banking |

### Mobile Money Features
- Money transfers
- Bill payments
- Purchases
- Cash elimination
- Secure platform

### Financial Inclusion
- Remote area access
- Account opening
- Salary receipt
- Credit access
- Insurance services

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [GTI Switch](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ST/gti-switch) | National | Platform | Active | [`gti-switch`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/gti-switch) |
| [Mobile Money QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ST/mobile-money-qr) | Mobile | App/mPOS | Active | — |
| [Card Payments](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ST/card-payments) | Card | Visa/MC | Growing | — |

## Sources

- [GTI Switch - STP](https://www.gtiswitch.com/stp/)
- [AfDB - Payment System Upgrade](https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/sao-tome-and-principe-african-development-bank-signs-32-million-loan-agreement-upgrade-national-switch-payment-system-60125)
- [Fintech Times - AfDB Agreement](https://thefintechtimes.com/sao-tome-and-principe-upgrades-payment-system-following-african-development-bank-loan-agreement/)
- [MoneyMatrix - STP Payments](https://moneymatrix.com/country/sao-tome-and-principe/)
- [Shift Thought - Digital Money STP](https://digitalmoney.shiftthought.com/sage/Country_SAO+TOME/)
- [Send Money to Africa - STP](https://www.sendmoneytoafrica.com/country/sao-tome)
- [Monito - Currency STP](https://www.monito.com/en/what-is-the-currency-in/sao-tome-and-principe)
- [Exiap - Wise Card STP](https://www.exiap.com/guides/using-the-wise-card-in-sao-tome-and-principe)

## Full country report

[ST-sao-tome-and-principe.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ST)