Retail Payment Systems
In the OIC Member Countries
61
Retail Payment Systems
There are three main payment systems providers and some mobile money operations in Ivory
Coast. Unlike more prosperous countries, however, there is relatively little use of online
commerce with few internet service providers, few users, and little use of digital financial
services. Nevertheless, some service providers offer online payment services and point of sale
networks, and Ivory Coast’s role as a regional economic centre has brought it access to a small
variety of competing services choices.
Payment Service Providers
1. GIM-UEMOA. The GIM-UEMOA is the official card and electronic switch for the UEMOA
region with 2 million debit cards in circulation and 80 banks participating. It was
established in 2009 to reduce switching and distribution costs for banks in order to
increase the number of banked and has gone through multiple iterations of
implementation of its mobile platform, online payment platform and point of sale network.
There is 52% ownership by the BCEAO and 47% ownership by member banks. The GIM is
used by 13 out of 23 banks (BICICI and SGBCI are not members). It offers card switching,
online payment, point of sales for merchant purchases, an ATM network as well as a
mobile payment and mobile banking platform called GIM-Mobile.
2. Celpaid. Celpaid is the only private company licensed both as a bank and mobile payment
service provider in Ivory Coast. It operates with independent agent locations including 66
branches of Banque Atlantique and caters to clients mostly receiving salaries on their
mobile wallets. It is open to all networks, customers initiate transactions via SMS and
confirm by PIN when Celpaid customer service calls back to confirm the transaction.
Opening fees for the service apply. Other MFSPs do not charge opening fees.
3. E-Tranzact. This is the Nigerian multi-platform payment service provider that opened an
office in Abidjan in 2008 with the intention of rapid growth but has been slowed by
subsequent country development. It is currently integrated with 2 smaller banks with a
card product offering, evolving towards an aggregator for payment collection services. Its
platform is capable of powering MNO’s mobile money offerings.