National Bank of Rwanda Introduces eKash to Enable Interoperable Digital Payments Across Financial Institutions

The National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) has announced the rollout of eKash, Rwanda’s national digital payment system designed to enable instant, secure, affordable and seamless transactions across licensed financial institutions.

The new payment infrastructure will allow customers to transfer money between bank accounts and mobile wallets through a single interoperable platform, strengthening Rwanda’s digital payments ecosystem and expanding access to financial services.

Effective 14 July 2026, Person-to-Person (P2P) interoperable transfers will be processed through eKash, allowing customers to send and receive funds instantly across different financial service providers.

Through eKash, customers will be able to conduct bank-to-bank, wallet-to-wallet, bank-to-wallet and wallet-to-bank transfers using their existing bank accounts and mobile wallets.

eKash Supports Instant Payments across Financial Institutions

The National Bank of Rwanda said eKash provides a common instant payment infrastructure that connects licensed financial institutions, enabling customers to transact more easily across different platforms.

The system is expected to reduce barriers associated with separate payment networks by allowing customers to move money between different providers without needing to switch accounts or use multiple payment channels.

NBR said eKash is designed to improve accessibility, reliability, affordability and financial inclusion by creating a more connected digital payments environment.

The transaction limit through eKash has been set at a maximum of FRW 10 million per transaction, providing customers with flexibility for both personal and business-related transfers.

eKash Transaction Fees Capped at FRW 20

To promote affordable digital payments, the National Bank of Rwanda has set a maximum customer charge of FRW 20 per Person-to-Person transfer conducted through eKash.

However, participating financial institutions may charge lower fees, including offering zero-fee transactions, depending on their individual pricing decisions.

The low transaction cost structure is aimed at encouraging wider adoption of interoperable digital payments among individuals, businesses and other users across Rwanda.

NBR to Supervise eKash Operations and Customer Protection

As part of its regulatory and supervisory mandate, the National Bank of Rwanda will oversee eKash operations to ensure the system remains safe, reliable and compliant with applicable requirements.

NBR said it will work with participating financial institutions and other stakeholders to monitor key areas, including participant readiness, service availability, transaction performance, customer protection measures and complaint resolution mechanisms.

The central bank will also continue assessing the performance of the payment system to support stability and maintain public confidence in digital financial services.

eKash Expected to Boost Financial Inclusion in Rwanda

The introduction of eKash is expected to accelerate Rwanda’s financial inclusion agenda by making digital payments more accessible to individuals who use different banking and mobile money platforms.

By connecting banks and electronic money issuers through a unified payment system, the platform is expected to support greater participation in the formal financial system and encourage increased use of digital financial services.

NBR said the initiative will contribute to building a stronger, more connected and resilient national payments ecosystem.

The system also aligns with Rwanda’s broader efforts to expand digital transformation and improve the efficiency of financial services through technology-driven solutions.

Financial Institutions Urged to Educate Customers on eKash Services

The National Bank of Rwanda has directed participating financial institutions to continue providing public awareness on eKash, including applicable transaction fees, limits and customer support channels.

Customers have been encouraged to obtain information from their respective banks or electronic money providers regarding the use of eKash services.

Users who experience challenges or have concerns can report them through their financial institution’s customer care channels or directly to NBR through the Intumwa Chatbot and the central bank’s social media platforms.