Today marks a defining moment for Rwanda’s digital economy. Following Directive No. 45/2026, issued by the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) on 9 January 2026, the country has completed its transition to a fully connected payment system through eKash, the Rwanda National Digital Payment System (RNDPS).
Effective 14 July 2026, every transfer between banks and electronic money issuers (Account to Wallet, Wallet to Account, Account to Account, and Wallet to Wallet) runs through a single, unified instant payment rail.
The Rwanda Bankers’ Association (RBA) and its member banks welcome this milestone as a major step in Rwanda’s financial sector development and digital transformation journey. Achieving interoperability at this scale reflects strong collaboration among banks, electronic money issuers, RSwitch, and BNR, requiring aligned systems, security standards, and operational processes, all while preserving customer trust.
In practice, this collaboration has delivered a system that is:
Affordable by design – transactions carry a maximum fee of RWF 20, with institutions free to offer lower or zero-fee options as part of their value proposition.
Built for scale – eKash supports transactions up to RWF 10 million, giving banks room to serve everyday retail transfers and significant business payments alike, with institutions retaining the ability to apply their own prudent limits.
Familiar to customers – no new registrations or applications required. Customers continue using existing accounts and wallets through USSD, mobile banking, and internet banking.
For customers and businesses, a bank account is no longer bound by institutional walls — it’s a gateway to the national financial ecosystem. Funds move instantly across banks and e-money issuers, and merchant payments can be made from any preferred account or wallet, regardless of which institution issued the merchant code.
For the banking sector, eKash is a platform for innovation. With shared, trusted infrastructure in place, institutions can focus on delivering greater value, digital savings tools, data-driven lending, merchant services, and other products built around evolving customer needs.
This transition will expand access for underserved communities, enable more tailored products for SMEs, strengthen digital commerce, and support deeper integration with regional and cross-border payment systems.
RBA and its members remain committed to working with BNR and RSwitch to ensure this infrastructure serves every Rwandan well, reinforcing banks’ role as the trusted foundation of the country’s financial future.
Customers with questions about eKash, fees, or transaction limits are encouraged to reach out to their financial institution for further assistance.