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The BCEAO Makes PI-SPI Mandatory and Revolutionizes Instant Payment Fees in the UEMOA Published on 5 October 2026 by Lawing Tech Newsroom (3 min read)
The West African States Central Bank (BCEAO) has made PI-SPI mandatory for all interoperable electronic money transactions in the UEMOA as of November 2, 2026. This decision comes with a restructuring of fees, including free national transfers up to 8,000 FCFA, and signals a commitment to developing new uses for the platform.
Video: Advertising Spot - Interoperable Platform of the UEMOA Instant Payment System (PI-SPI) (BCEAO, YouTube) PI-SPI Becomes a Legal Requirement, No Longer a Regulatory Choice
As of November 2, 2026, PI-SPI (Interoperable Platform of Instant Payment Systems) is no longer an option for financial institutions in the UEMOA but a legal requirement. According to Financial Afrik , this measure aims to standardize interoperable electronic money transactions within the Union. Until now, connecting to PI-SPI was encouraged under regulatory pressure but without formal constraints.
This decision aligns with a regional trend where similar platforms, such as the PIX in Brazil or UPI in India, have demonstrated the impact of a centralized instant payment system. The BCEAO justifies this obligation by emphasizing the need to strengthen service quality and availability while fostering an environment conducive to innovation.
This fee revision aims to enhance financial inclusion and position PI-SPI as a central infrastructure for instant payments within the Union.
Photo: Full set of usual West African monetary union XOF BCEAO UEMOA franc coins (Sommerluk, CC0) A Fee Restructuring to Democratize Access to Instant Payments
The BCEAO has also announced a major overhaul of its fee schedule, with measures designed to reduce costs for users. National transfers via PI-SPI will now be free up to 8,000 FCFA per day and per user , with no limit on the number of transactions, as detailed by Burkina24 . This free service applies only to sending funds, while receiving remains free, as it already was.
For amounts exceeding 8,000 FCFA, a rate between 0 and 0.8% of the amount will apply. The BCEAO estimates that this measure will cover 75% of electronic money transactions in the UEMOA, reflecting the significance of small amounts in daily exchanges. Cross-border transfers will follow the same rules starting June 1, 2027, a deadline that gives institutions time to adapt.
PI-SPI already counts 175 institutions and 38 million users, but adoption of the Business API remains limited
Since its launch, PI-SPI has seen significant adoption: 175 financial institutions are now connected, serving over 38 million people across the eight UEMOA countries, according to Financial Afrik . This growth is driven by countries like Côte d'Ivoire (38 institutions), Senegal (43), Burkina Faso (20), and Mali (19), reflecting strong interest in instant payment solutions.
However, access to the Business API , which enables businesses to develop innovative financial services, remains restricted. Only 24 institutions were certified for this tool by mid-September 2026, including Ecobank , the only one present in all eight UEMOA countries. This limitation could hinder the development of new use cases, although the BCEAO has now explicitly stated its goal to improve services and encourage the emergence of additional features.
What this means here: toward a unified and inclusive financial infrastructure for UEMOA
For businesses and administrations in Benin and West Africa, the mandatory use of PI-SPI could simplify cross-border transactions by reducing costs and processing times. SMEs, in particular, could benefit from free transfers up to 8,000 FCFA for their daily payments, especially in trade and agriculture sectors where exchanged amounts are often small.
Public administrations, facing cash flow and decentralized payment challenges, could also optimize their financial flows through a unified and secure platform. The gradual introduction of free cross-border transfers, scheduled for 2027, would strengthen the attractiveness of the UEMOA region for regional investments by reducing friction in fund movements.
Finally, the BCEAO’s focus on developing new use cases through PI-SPI opens opportunities for fintechs and banks looking to innovate. Mass adoption of the Business API, if realized, could enable the rollout of services such as scheduled payments, instant microloans, or integrations with mobile money systems already present in several countries in the region, like Kenya.
Sources Prepared by Lawing Tech's technology watch from the sources cited. Our editorial charter
