# MB Way

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/mb-way
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [MB Way — official](https://www.mbway.pt/)

## Overview

**MB Way** is **Portugal's leading bank-consortium mobile-wallet**, operated by **SIBS — Sociedade Interbancária de Serviços** (Portuguese bank-consortium payment-systems operator) <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Portugal report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/PT)</sup>. Launched **2014**, MB Way is **Portugal's leading mobile wallet with 45% market share of e-commerce transactions + 5+ million users**. **Christmas 2025 transaction growth**: **+36% e-commerce transactions (+31% value)** + **+21% in-store transactions (+29% value)** YoY; **peak December 23rd at 1:03 PM: 82 transactions per second**.

**Major 2025 cross-border milestones**:
- **March 31, 2025**: **Bancomat (Italy) + Bizum (Spain) + MB Way (Portugal) launched first instant cross-border transactions** via European Mobile Payment Systems Association (EMPSA).
- **Mid-2025**: MB Way users can send/receive money from **Spain (via [Bizum](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bizum))** + **Italy (via [BANCOMAT Pay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bancomat-pay))** using mobile phone number.
- **End-2025 target**: Cross-border transfers between **13 European countries** (AD, BE, DK, FI, FR, DE, IT, LU, NL, NO, PT, ES, SE).

## History

**2014 — MB Way launches by SIBS** <sup>[2][2]</sup>: Portuguese bank-consortium response to emerging fintech wallets.

**2015-2020 — Mass Portuguese adoption** <sup>[2][2]</sup>: Major Portuguese bank participation; near-universal Portuguese banking-app integration.

**2020-2024 — Multi-product expansion** <sup>[2][2]</sup>: P2P, e-commerce checkout, in-store QR, bill split.

**March 31, 2025 — Bancomat + Bizum + MB Way first cross-border transactions** <sup>[3][3], [4][4]</sup>: European Mobile Payment Systems Association (EMPSA) initiative.

**Mid-2025 — Portuguese-Spanish-Italian cross-border integration** <sup>[5][5]</sup>: Phone-number-based instant transfers.

**Christmas 2025 — Major transaction-volume growth** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: +36% e-commerce tx + 82 transactions/second peak Dec 23.

**End-2025 target — 13-country European cross-border** <sup>[5][5]</sup>: AD + BE + DK + FI + FR + DE + IT + LU + NL + NO + PT + ES + SE.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **SIBS — Sociedade Interbancária de Serviços** — Portuguese bank-consortium payment-systems operator.

**SIBS shareholders**: Major Portuguese banks (Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Millennium BCP, Santander Totta, Novo Banco, BPI, ActivoBank, etc.).

**Regulator**: **Banco de Portugal** + **Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários (CMVM)**.

**International alliance**: **European Mobile Payment Systems Association (EMPSA)** — alliance with [Bizum](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bizum) Spain + [BANCOMAT Pay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bancomat-pay) Italy + others.

## Technical integration

MB Way is **Portuguese bank-consortium mobile wallet with EMPSA cross-border interoperability** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>:

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Channel** | **MB Way standalone mobile app** (iOS + Android) — separate from individual bank apps |
| **Identifier** | **Phone number** mapped to Portuguese bank account |
| **Authentication** | Bank-app + biometric + PIN |
| **Cross-border (post-March 2025)** | **Bizum (Spain) + Bancomat Pay (Italy)** instant transfers via EMPSA |
| **Target 2025**: 13-country European cross-border |
| **Use cases supported** | P2P + e-commerce + in-store QR + bill split + ATM withdrawal |

## Users & growth

**Portugal (2025)** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>:
- **Users**: 5+ million (continues growing)
- **E-commerce transaction market share**: 45%
- **Christmas 2025 e-commerce growth**: +36% transactions / +31% value YoY
- **Christmas 2025 in-store growth**: +21% transactions / +29% value YoY
- **Dec 23 2025 peak**: 82 transactions per second

## Use cases

**P2P transfers via phone number** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: Cardinal use.

**E-commerce checkout (MB Way button)** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: 45% of Portuguese e-commerce transaction market.

**In-store QR-payment** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: Growing rapidly (+21% Christmas 2025).

**Bill-splitting** <sup>[2][2]</sup>: Common Portuguese use.

**ATM withdrawal via MB Way (cardless)** <sup>[2][2]</sup>: Distinctive Portuguese feature.

**Cross-border Bizum + Bancomat Pay transfers (March 2025+)** <sup>[3][3]</sup>: EMPSA-enabled.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: **SIBS — Sociedade Interbancária de Serviços** (Portuguese bank-consortium).

**Bank participants**: Major Portuguese banks (CGD, Millennium BCP, Santander Totta, Novo Banco, BPI, ActivoBank).

**International alliance**: **EMPSA** with [Bizum](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bizum) (ES) + [BANCOMAT Pay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bancomat-pay) (IT) + others.

**Regulator**: **Banco de Portugal**.

**International model parallels**: [Bizum](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bizum) (Spain 40-bank consortium), [BANCOMAT Pay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bancomat-pay) (Italy 105-bank consortium), [Swish](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/swish) (Sweden 6-bank consortium), [Vipps MobilePay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/vipps-mobilepay) (Nordic merged consortium), [Zippay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/zippay) (Ireland 3-bank consortium).

## Fun facts

- **2014 launch by SIBS** — Portugal's bank-consortium response to emerging fintech wallets (similar timing to MobilePay DK + Vipps NO).
- **5+ million users + 45% Portuguese e-commerce transaction market share** — dominant.
- **March 31, 2025 first Bancomat + Bizum + MB Way cross-border transactions** — historic European cross-border-payment milestone.
- **Christmas 2025 peak: 82 transactions/second on Dec 23 at 1:03 PM** — substantial Portuguese-payment-system load.
- **+36% e-commerce + +21% in-store Christmas 2025 YoY** — continued growth.
- **End-2025 target: 13-country European cross-border** via EMPSA.
- **EMPSA (European Mobile Payment Systems Association)** — formal European bank-consortium-wallet interoperability initiative.

## Comparison

| Feature | MB Way | [Bizum](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bizum) (ES) | [BANCOMAT Pay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bancomat-pay) (IT) | [Swish](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/swish) (SE) | [Vipps MobilePay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/vipps-mobilepay) (Nordic) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **SIBS (PT bank consortium)** | 40+ Spanish bank consortium | 105 Italian bank consortium | Getswish AB (6-bank consortium) | Vipps MobilePay AS (post-Nov 2022 merger) |
| Country | Portugal | Spain | Italy | Sweden | NO + DK + FI + SE |
| Users | **5M+** | 30M+ | 11.5M+ (11M+ active) | 8.9M | 12M+ |
| Cross-border | **EMPSA: Bizum + Bancomat Pay (Mar 2025+)** | EMPSA member | EMPSA member | Limited | Cross-Nordic + EuroPA pending |
| Standalone app | Yes (MB Way app) | No (in-banking-app) | Yes (Bancomat Pay app) | Yes | Yes |
| Distinctive | **45% PT e-commerce market share** | 50.35% bank-transfer share | 105-bank-consortium | 86% population penetration | 4-country merger |

## Status

**Active, leading Portuguese wallet + EMPSA cross-border** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3]</sup>:
- **SIBS (Portuguese bank consortium)** since 2014 launch.
- **5+ million Portuguese users** + 45% e-commerce market share.
- **March 31, 2025 EMPSA cross-border launch** (Bizum + Bancomat Pay).
- **End-2025 target: 13-country European cross-border**.
- **Christmas 2025**: +36% e-commerce tx + 82/sec peak.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.corporate.sibs.com/christmas-2025/ "Christmas 2025 — SIBS"
[2]: https://www.ppro.com/payment-methods/mb-way/ "MB Way — PPRO"
[3]: https://empsa.org/news/leading-european-mobile-payment-solutions-bancomat-bizum-and-mb-way-pioneer-interoperability-launching-first-instant-transactions/ "EMPSA Bancomat + Bizum + MB Way first instant cross-border — EMPSA"
[4]: https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2026-04-17/mbway-to-be-available-in-european-countries/1008229 "MB Way European countries availability — The Portugal News"
[5]: https://italianismo.com.br/en/mb-way-unira-portugal-espanha-e-italia-em-transferencias-digitais/ "MB Way PT + ES + IT digital transfers — Italianismo"
[pt-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/PT

- [1] [Christmas 2025 — SIBS][1]
- [2] [MB Way — PPRO][2]
- [3] [EMPSA cross-border launch — EMPSA][3]
- [4] [MB Way European countries — The Portugal News][4]
- [5] [MB Way PT + ES + IT — Italianismo][5]
- <sup>[Portugal report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/PT)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/PT-portugal.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [mb-way.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/mb-way). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.