What PayCard does

PayCard SA is a Conakry-headquartered, privately held Guinean fintech licensed as an Electronic Money Institution by the Central Bank of Guinea (Decision No D/2016/003/CAM, 2016). The company operates an integrated digital payment platform anchored by three Visa card tiers (Virtual, Premium, Premium BLACK) and a mobile wallet application, with Visa cards issued in partnership with Ecobank Guinea SA. The technology stack combines NFC contactless payments, 3D Secure authentication, PCI DSS v4-compliant processing, and a USSD *717# channel on the Orange Guinea network for transactions without internet connectivity, supported by native integrations with Orange Money, MTN MoMo, and Guinea's major banks (BSIC, UBA, Orabank, NAFA) and utility billers (EDG, SEG, Canal+, StarTimes).

The company serves three primary customer segments. Individual consumers in Guinea use PayCard for cash-in/cash-out via a nationwide CashPoints agent network, domestic and international money transfers, bill payments, airtime purchases, and Visa acceptance online and in-store. Enterprise employers use PayCard for salary disbursement, configurable employee expense cards, and meal/fuel/communication allowances. Merchants (Star Oil, Shell, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants) accept PayCard as a payment method, and a growing roster of third parties (NSIA insurance, BlackCab taxi, DigitalCodes.app) are integrated into the app. A specialized PayCard Etudiant Premium account serves government scholarship students verified through the MESRSI INE system.

PayCard earns revenue from annual card fees (59,000-895,000 GNF), transaction-based fees (1-2.5% on transfers, withdrawals, and recharges), international remittance margins via subsidiary PayCard TF SARLU (licensed 2025), merchant commissions, enterprise B2B contracts, and PaaS licensing. Distribution is hybrid: product-led for consumers through the mobile app and USSD channel, with direct enterprise sales for B2B and co-branding/PaaS offerings. Operations are currently confined to Guinea, with stated plans for sub-regional expansion.

Name

PayCard

Legal name

PayCard SA

Website

https://paycard.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PayCard is a Guinean fintech operating a licensed digital wallet and Visa card platform that serves individual consumers, enterprise employers, and merchants across Guinea via a nationwide CashPoints agent network, mobile money integrations, and USSD access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Payments

NAICS

Credit Card Issuing (522210), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232), Payroll Services (541214)

akta.pro primary industry

Bill Pay, Invoicing & Payables Platforms (BPAMAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Payroll Cards & Salary Prepaid (FSAMANAE), International Bill Pay & Cross-Border Airtime/Top-Up (FSAGAKAM), Carrier Billing & Telco Mobile Money (FSAMAEAD)

Keywords

• Digital payments
• Mobile wallet
• Prepaid visa cards
• Money transfer services
• Merchant payment solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Conakry

HQ country

Guinea

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Card Issuance and Annual Fees: PayCard earns revenue from annual subscription fees charged for Visa card issuance and renewal. Three tiers: Virtual (59,000 GNF), Premium (99,000 GNF), and Premium BLACK (895,000 GNF).
2. Transaction Fees: Transaction fees including 1% for transfers to Orange Money/MTN MoMo/bank accounts, 1% (min 1,000 GNF) for CashPoint withdrawals, 2% (min 15,000 GNF) for Visa ATM withdrawals, 2.5% for recharges via Visa/MasterCard, and 5,000 GNF for local Visa payments.
3. International Transfer Services: Revenue from international money transfers to over 60 countries, with transparent fees and exchange rate margins. International transfers handled via PayCard TF SARLU subsidiary.
4. Enterprise Solutions: Revenue from enterprise offerings including co-branded cards, payroll disbursement services, and PaaS (Payments-as-a-Service) platform licensing.
5. PaaS (Payments-as-a-Service): Launch own payment solutions using PayCard's multifunctional platform for electronic payment businesses in Guinea.
6. Merchant Commission: Commission from merchant payment solutions, e-commerce integrations, and distribution network through CashPoints.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PayCard is a licensed electronic money institution offering a digital wallet and Visa-branded prepaid cards (Virtual, Premium, Premium BLACK) for individuals and businesses in Guinea. The platform supports domestic and international money transfers, bill payments (electricity, water, TV), airtime purchases, and merchant payment acceptance through a mobile app, USSD *717# channel, and nationwide CashPoints network. Enterprise offerings include salary disbursement, configurable employee cards with meal/fuel/communication benefits, co-branded card programs, and a Payments-as-a-Service (PaaS) platform.

Product overview

PayCard is a Guinean fintech company offering an integrated digital payment ecosystem centered on Visa-branded cards and an electronic wallet. The core offering includes three Visa card tiers (Virtuelle, Premium, and Premium BLACK) and a mobile wallet application supporting domestic/international transfers, bill payments, airtime purchases, and merchant payments. Enterprise solutions encompass employee salary disbursement, configurable employee cards, meal/fuel/communication benefits, merchant acquiring, e-commerce integration, and a CashPoints distribution network. Advanced offerings include co-branding cards, card program management, and Payments-as-a-Service (PaaS) for entrepreneurs building independent payment businesses. The platform also features USSD (*717#) for non-internet transactions and specialized student accounts for scholarship recipients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PayCard Mobile Application Electronic wallet mobile application enabling money transfers, bill payments, airtime purchases, card management, and international remittances for Guinean individuals and businesses. Features NFC contactless payment capability, E-Banking with 24/7 access, and SMS/email alerts.
• Visa Virtuelle Virtual Visa card for secure online purchases without a physical card. Features instant issuance, linking to PayCard account, ability to block/unblock, and change of CVV security code.
• Visa Premium Physical Visa card with contactless payment capability for in-store and online purchases, accepted globally on the Visa network. Delivered within 24 hours in Conakry, includes ATM withdrawal and CashPoint access, with a 3-year duration.
• Visa Premium BLACK Invitation-only premium tier Visa card with higher transaction limits, 2x PayCard Rewards points, complimentary virtual Visa card, and concierge service including event tickets, restaurant/hotel bookings, and flight reservations.
• International Money Transfer International remittance service connecting to over 60 countries for bank and mobile wallet transfers with transparent fees and competitive exchange rates. Operated by PayCard TF SARLU subsidiary. Individual limits up to 5,000 USD/day and 10,000 USD/month; business limits up to 10,000 USD/day and 20,000 USD/month.
• Employee Card Solutions Business-configurable Visa cards for employee compensation and customer loyalty programs. Cards can be restricted to specific payment categories according to company policy.
• Salary Payment Service Employee salary disbursement service enabling companies to pay wages securely and efficiently, with employees able to withdraw funds at any PayCard partner network location.
• Employee Benefits Management Employee perk management service covering meal vouchers (restaurant network), fuel allowances (Star Oil and Shell stations), and mobile phone credit across all Guinea operators.
• Merchant Payment Solutions Merchant acquiring service allowing businesses to accept PayCard payments, increasing sales and customer reach while eliminating cash handling issues.
• E-Commerce Payment Integration Online payment gateway enabling merchants to accept PayCard, Visa, and MasterCard payments with simple integration for e-commerce checkout.
• Co-Branding Card Program White-label card issuance allowing businesses to offer PayCard-branded cards customized to their brand identity for their customer base.
• Card Program Management Custom card issuance for businesses to manage internal employee cards or customer cards restricted to their own network with full control and tracking.
• PaaS (Payments-as-a-Service) Platform-as-a-service offering giving entrepreneurs access to PayCard's multifunctional payment platform infrastructure for building independent electronic payment businesses in Guinea.
• USSD *717# Service USSD code service enabling financial transactions without internet connection, including payments, balance inquiries, phone recharges, and fund transfers on the Orange Guinea network.
• PayCard Etudiant Premium Specialized premium account for Guinean students receiving government scholarships, verified through the INE (Identifiant National de l'Etudiant) system and assigned PayCard Etudiant Premium accounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Available in over 60 countries for international transfers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers26 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and significant.

• Ecobank Guinea SAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2016Ecobank Guinea SA is the issuing bank partner for PayCard Visa cards, providing the banking infrastructure and licensing framework. The cards are issued by Ecobank in partnership with PayCard SA under a Visa Inc. license and can be used wherever Visa is accepted.
• Visa Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationVisa Inc. provides the payment network and licensing for PayCard's Visa-branded cards (Virtual, Premium, Premium BLACK). Cards are issued under a Visa license and operate on the international Visa network.
• Orange MoneycoreTechnology or IntegrationOrange Money integration allows PayCard users to transfer funds to and from Orange Money wallets, and recharge their Orange phone credit. USSD *717# service is available on Orange Guinea network.
• MTN MoMo (MTN Guinea)coreTechnology or IntegrationMTN MoMo integration enables money transfers between PayCard accounts and MTN mobile money wallets in Guinea.
• Star OilmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor fuel station network with dozens of locations throughout Guinea. Star Oil locations accept PayCard payments for fuel and some have CashPoints for deposits/withdrawals.
• ShellmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational fuel company with multiple Shell stations in Guinea accepting PayCard payments. Shell locations include airports, major roads, and urban areas.
• NAFAmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFinancial services partner with agency locations throughout Guinea handling money transfers and financial transactions.
• KS-PAYmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPayment services provider with multiple CashPoints and agent locations throughout Guinea (Matoto, Sonfonia, Kagbelen, Kissosso, etc.).
• Cash MoovmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoney transfer operator with agency network throughout Guinea. Multiple Cash Moov locations serve as PayCard CashPoints for deposits and withdrawals.
• BSIC (Banque Sahélo-Saharienne Internationale de Crédit)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBanking partner with multiple branch locations (Kipé, Lambanyi, Matoto, Kagbelen, Bambeto, Madina, etc.) serving as PayCard service points.
• UBA (United Bank for Africa)significantChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor African banking group with Guinea presence, serving as PayCard partner for financial services.
• OrabanksignificantChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional banking group serving as PayCard partner for financial services in Guinea.
• EDG (Electricité de Guinea)significantTechnology or IntegrationNational electricity provider enabling bill payment through PayCard for EDG electricity bills.
• SEG (Société des Eaux de Guinea)significantTechnology or IntegrationNational water utility enabling bill payment through PayCard for water bills.
• PayCard TF SARLUcoreTechnology or IntegrationWholly-owned subsidiary of PayCard SA, licensed money transfer company (Decision n° 2025/001/IFI/ETDA) headquartered in Conakry. Handles all international money transfer operations and cross-border transactions under regulatory authorization.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Chipper Cash: Africa-focused cross-border payments app enabling free P2P transfers and remittances across 20+ African countries. Directly comparable to PayCard TF SARLU on the international money-transfer line of business.
• Wave: Mobile money operator expanding across West Africa (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gambia, etc.). Closest mobile-money peer by business model and target customer, though not yet active in Guinea — represents both the regional expansion template and the competitive threat PayCard would face going sub-regional.
• Sendwave: Africa-focused remittance app (owned by WorldRemit/Zepz) with strong corridor coverage to mobile wallets including MTN MoMo. Closest direct comp on the mobile-wallet-targeting African remittance model PayCard TF SARLU operates.

Broad incumbents

• WorldRemit: Global digital remittance platform sending money to mobile wallets and bank accounts across Africa. Directly comparable to PayCard TF SARLU on inbound remittances into Guinea, but operates at much larger scale with broader corridor coverage.
• Ecobank Mobile: Pan-African bank-led digital banking and payment platform from Ecobank, the same institution that issues PayCard's Visa cards. Overlaps with PayCard on account-based payments, transfers and card services, but sits within a much larger banking group.
• Airtel Money: Telco-led mobile money service from Airtel Africa active in multiple West and Central African markets. Comparable product set (P2P, bill pay, merchant) and a likely competitor if Airtel expands more deeply into Francophone West Africa.
• M-Pesa: The original and largest African mobile money platform, operated by Safaricom/Vodafone across multiple markets. Useful benchmark for the scale, agent network depth and product surface PayCard is aiming to replicate within Guinea.

Direct peers

• Orange Money: Telco-owned mobile money wallet operated by Orange across Africa, including Orange Guinea. Directly competes with PayCard for consumer P2P transfers, bill payment and merchant payments, while also serving as a PayCard integration partner — making it the most directly comparable peer.
• MTN MoMo: MTN Group's mobile money platform available in Guinea via MTN Guinea. Competes head-to-head with PayCard on P2P transfers, airtime, merchant payments and cash-in/cash-out, while also being a PayCard integration partner.

Others

• Flutterwave: Pan-African payment infrastructure provider enabling merchants and fintechs to accept and process payments across the continent. Comparable to PayCard's e-commerce gateway and PaaS ambitions, though Flutterwave operates upstream of the consumer wallet rather than issuing cards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mapaycard
• Facebookfacebook.com/mapaycard
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mapaycard

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PayCard