Myanmar Payment Union
Myanmar Payment Union (MPU) is the Central Bank-backed national payment switch of Myanmar, operated as a consortium of 30 member banks to provide interoperable ATM, POS, e-commerce, and interbank fund transfer services across the country.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersYangon, Myanmar (Burma)
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Myanmar Payment Union does
Myanmar Payment Union (MPU) is the designated National Payment Switch (NPS) operator of Myanmar, established in 2011 under the guidance of the Central Bank of Myanmar and incorporated as a Public Co.,Ltd in July 2015. The company is consortium-owned by 30 member banks and is not publicly traded or venture-backed. MPU operates the domestic electronic payment rail of Myanmar, connecting member banks, financial institutions, merchants, and consumers through four core service modules: ATM cash access, POS card acceptance, E-Commerce online payments, and IBFT (Inter Bank Fund Transfer). It supports domestic MPU-branded debit, credit, and prepaid cards, as well as MPU-JCB and MPU-UPI co-brand cards for international acceptance.
The underlying technology is a centralized switch infrastructure that standardizes interoperability across all participating banks, with 39,000+ POS terminals, 600+ online merchants, and 905,000+ registered e-commerce users, processing 158,000+ transactions per day. POS hardware is sourced from 20 certified brands including Sunmi, Ingenico, Verifone, and Nexgo, and international card schemes (JCB, UPI) are accepted at the network level.
MPU monetizes primarily through transaction-based fees: interchange of 0.5%–1% on ATM withdrawals, IBFT charges of 200 kyats flat plus 0.05% of the transferred amount, and network/service fees from member banks. The company distributes through member bank branches, the ATM/POS network, and a self-service e-commerce enrollment portal. Its go-to-market is essentially partnership-led (banks issue MPU cards and deploy terminals), supplemented by direct consumer enrollment for e-commerce. There is no disclosed consumer-facing mobile app, and the company does not publish audited revenue figures.
Myanmar Payment Union firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Myanmar Payment Union
- Legal name
- Myanmar Payment Union Public Co.,Ltd
- Website
- https://myanmarpaymentunion.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Myanmar Payment Union (MPU) is the Central Bank-backed national payment switch of Myanmar, operated as a consortium of 30 member banks to provide interoperable ATM, POS, e-commerce, and interbank fund transfer services across the country.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Myanmar Payment Union industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Payment Network Services
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232)
- SIC
- Functions Related To Depository Banking, Nec (6099), Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) Enablement (BNPL, wallets, local methods) (FSAMACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bank-to-Bank Transfers & Pay-by-Bank (Consumer & Merchant) (FSAMAFAC), Alternative Payment Method (APM) Acquiring (e.g., BNPL, wallets, local methods) (FSAMABAL), Cross-Border Card-Based Transfers & Multi-Currency Cards (FSAGAKAE)
Keywords
Where Myanmar Payment Union is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Yangon
- HQ country
- Myanmar (Burma)
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Myanmar Payment Union business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Interchange Fees: Transaction fees charged on cash withdrawals and fund transfers. ATM cash withdrawals (Off-Us) at member bank branches charged at 0.5% to 1% interchange fee. IBFT transfers charged at flat 200 kyats plus 0.05% of transfer amount.
- Network Services: Fees from member banks for connecting to the national payment switch, ATM, POS, and e-commerce infrastructure.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | ATM Withdrawal Fee (Off-Us) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | IBFT Transfer Fee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | POS Daily Limit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | E-commerce Daily Limit |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Myanmar Payment Union product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Myanmar Payment Union (MPU) operates Myanmar's national payment switch (NPS) infrastructure, connecting 30 member banks and enabling interoperable electronic payments across ATM cash withdrawals, POS card acceptance, e-commerce transactions, and inter-bank fund transfers. MPU issues MPU-branded credit, debit, and prepaid cards (plus MPU-JCB and MPU-UPI co-brand variants) processed through its central switching network.
Product overview
Myanmar Payment Union (MPU) operates a national payment network infrastructure comprising four core service modules: ATM (cash withdrawal and balance services), POS (card payment acceptance at merchants), E-Commerce (online payment processing), and IBFT (inter-bank fund transfers). The network issues and processes three primary card types (Credit, Debit, and Prepaid) under the MPU brand, supplemented by two co-brand variants (MPU-JCB and MPU-UPI) that extend acceptance internationally. MPU connects 30+ member banks, processes 158,000+ daily transactions across 39,000+ POS terminals, and serves 905,000+ registered e-commerce members. The platform functions as a national switch enabling interoperability and standardization across Myanmar's financial landscape.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ATM Service Automated Teller Machine service enabling MPU cardholders to withdraw cash up to 500,000 kyats per transaction (weekly max 2,000,000 kyats), with balance inquiry and international card support (JCB, UPI).
- POS (Point of Sale) Service Card payment acceptance service at merchant locations with MPU-logo branding, supporting MPU, JCB, and UPI co-brand cards in Myanmar Kyats (and USD for international cards). Daily transaction limits of 1,000-50,000 kyats at 39,000+ POS terminals.
- E-Commerce Service Online payment processing service launched February 13, 2015, enabling MPU cardholders to purchase services and products online, pay taxes, and conduct e-commerce transactions. Registration approved within 3-5 business days.
- IBFT (Inter Bank Fund Transfer) Inter-bank fund transfer service enabling MPU cardholders to transfer money between different banks through ATM machines. Fee is 200 kyats flat plus 0.05% of transfer amount, with daily limit of 10,000,000 kyats.
- MPU Credit Card Credit card issued by MPU member banks, accepted across the MPU network at ATMs, POS terminals, and supported online transactions. Available as single card or co-brand variants (MPU-JCB, MPU-UPI).
- MPU Debit Card Domestic debit card issued by banks in Myanmar, accepted on the MPU network for ATM withdrawals, POS payments, and supported online transactions. Available as single card or co-brand variants.
- MPU Prepaid Card Prepaid card issued by member banks on the MPU network, allowing users to load funds and use at ATMs, POS terminals, and for online transactions up to the loaded amount.
- MPU-JCB Co-brand Card Co-brand card partnership with JCB (Japanese Credit Bureau) enabling domestic and international acceptance on MPU network. Used for payments in Myanmar Kyats or USD at ATMs and POS terminals.
- MPU-UPI Co-brand Card Co-brand card partnership with UnionPay International (UPI) enabling domestic and international acceptance on the MPU network. Available from AGD Bank, UAB Bank, MOB Bank, and MAB Bank; accepted at MPU ATMs and POS terminals.
Quantifiable outcome
- Daily transaction volume of 158,000+ transactions across all channels
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Myanmar Payment Union
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Myanmar Payment Union technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature4 records
Myanmar Payment Union partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.
- Network for Electronic Transfer Singapore Pte.Ltd (NETS)strategicMOU signing ceremony held on April 26 at Sedona Hotel Yangon for technology cooperation partnership between MPU and NETS.
- RITZ Cyber SecuritystrategicPartnership for cybersecurity assessment of online payment systems. MOU signing held on January 8, 2020 at Pan Pacific Yangon, with MPU CEO U Ye Lin Thant and RITZ Managing Director.
- UnionPay International (UPI)coreIn early 2013, MPU signed an agreement with UnionPay International to use UPI cards issued by national banks and cooperate with UPI for acquiring activities. This partnership enables acceptance of UPI cards on the MPU network.
- JCB (Japanese Credit Bureau)coreIn mid-2013, MPU partnered with JCB to accept their cards on the MPU network. This enables international card acceptance alongside domestic MPU cards.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Myanmar Payment Union competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- UnionPay International: UnionPay International is one of MPU's strategic partners and the dominant international card network with significant Asian market presence. While not a direct switch peer, it is comparable as a card network operator serving cross-border payments in the same geographies.
- Visa Inc. Visa is a global card network that competes in the same merchant acceptance and card payment space as MPU. Visa acquired Artajasa (Indonesia's switch), demonstrating the strategic interest in national switch infrastructure in MPU's peer set.
- Mastercard: Mastercard is a global card network operator serving consumers, merchants, and banks with cross-border payment services. It is broadly comparable to MPU in providing card-based payment acceptance, though operating globally rather than as a domestic switch.
- JCB Co., Ltd. JCB is one of MPU's co-brand card partners and operates as an international card network with strong Asia-Pacific presence. It is comparable as a card scheme serving cross-border consumer and merchant payments in similar markets.
- National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI): NPCI operates India's national payment switch infrastructure (RuPay, UPI, IMPS), the closest direct functional analog to MPU as a domestic payment switch operator. It is significantly larger in scale but serves the same fundamental role of connecting banks and merchants under central bank oversight.
Direct peers
- Artajasa Pembayaran Elektronis: Artajasa operated Indonesia's national payment switch (ATM Bersama) before being acquired by Visa. It served as a directly comparable national interbank switch operator in a larger Southeast Asian market, similar in structure to MPU's role in Myanmar.
- MEPS (Malaysian Electronic Payment System): MEPS operated Malaysia's national interbank ATM and fund transfer switch before being integrated into Bank Negara Malaysia's operations. It is a direct functional peer as a national interbank switch serving consumer banking transactions.
- NAPAS (Vietnam National Payment Switch): NAPAS operates Vietnam's national payment switch connecting banks for ATM, POS, and interbank transfers. As a regional peer operating a similar national switch model under central bank guidance, NAPAS is directly comparable to MPU's business model.
- NETS (Network for Electronic Transfers Singapore): NETS operates Singapore's national payment switch for ATM, POS, and electronic transfers. MPU and NETS signed a technology cooperation MOU in April 2022, making NETS the most direct functional peer given overlapping services and ASEAN geographic context.
- BancNet Inc. BancNet is the Philippines' national ATM and electronic payments network connecting member banks. It is directly comparable to MPU in operating as a consortium-owned interbank switch providing ATM, POS, and fund transfer services domestically.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Myanmar Payment Union social profiles
Digital presenceMyanmar Payment Union financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Myanmar Payment Union leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Myanmar Payment Union funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Myanmar Payment Union M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Myanmar Payment Union
What does Myanmar Payment Union do?
Myanmar Payment Union (MPU) operates Myanmar's national payment switch (NPS) infrastructure, connecting 30 member banks and enabling interoperable electronic payments across ATM cash withdrawals, POS card acceptance, e-commerce transactions, and inter-bank fund transfers. MPU issues MPU-branded credit, debit, and prepaid cards (plus MPU-JCB and MPU-UPI co-brand variants) processed through its central switching network.
Is Myanmar Payment Union a public or private company?
Myanmar Payment Union is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Myanmar Payment Union founded?
Myanmar Payment Union was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Myanmar Payment Union based?
Myanmar Payment Union is headquartered in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma), in the Asia region.
How does Myanmar Payment Union make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Interchange Fees are the primary driver. The others are network Services.
Who are Myanmar Payment Union's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are UnionPay International, Visa Inc., Mastercard, JCB Co., Ltd. and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Direct peers are Artajasa Pembayaran Elektronis, MEPS (Malaysian Electronic Payment System), NAPAS (Vietnam National Payment Switch), NETS (Network for Electronic Transfers Singapore) and BancNet Inc..
Does Myanmar Payment Union have an API?
No public API is recorded for Myanmar Payment Union.
What industry is Myanmar Payment Union in?
Myanmar Payment Union's product category is Payment Network Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMACAE, Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) Enablement (BNPL, wallets, local methods), with a secondary code of FSAMAFAC, Bank-to-Bank Transfers & Pay-by-Bank (Consumer & Merchant). Its NAICS code is 52232 and its SIC code is 6099.