The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) just gave banks, e-money firms, and payment institutions across the UEMOA zone three extra months to connect to PI-SPI, the interoperable instant payment platform of the region. A decision published Thursday, June 25, sets the new deadline at September 30, 2026.
The extension only applies to banks, e-money establishments, and payment institutions.
Microfinance institutions still face their original deadline: June 30, 2027. The central bank explained the delay simply. Connected institutions need more time to finish technical integration and meet the platform’s service standards.
Luc Kpenou, who heads digital finance and payments at GIM-UEMOA, the regional interbank group, called the move realistic. « You can’t expect every player to move at the same pace, » he said.
He pointed out that microfinance institutions often face different constraints than banks do: outdated information systems, fewer technical resources, and tighter budgets.
The central bank, he added, listens to the field and chooses successful integration over a race against the clock.
Progress on the ground continues steadily. By June 24, 80 participants had already connected to PI-SPI, giving millions of users access to instant payment services. Another 74 institutions kept testing under real conditions before rolling out services publicly.
PI-SPI launched on September 30, 2025, as one of WAEMU’s key financial infrastructure projects.
The system lets users move money instantly, any time of day, between bank accounts, e-wallets, and microfinance accounts, regardless of network.
Through this initiative, BCEAO wants stronger financial integration, smoother transactions, and wider access to digital payments across the region.
Aicha KOUROUMA
