The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) says the new eKash instant payment system has been well received by the public, having processed more than FRW 960 billion in transfers in under a month, while the number of people using interoperable payment services between financial institutions has grown by 166%.
eKash was launched nationwide on July 14, 2026, to make it easier for Rwandans and residents to send and receive money between different bank accounts and mobile wallets.
In a press release issued on August 5, 2026, BNR said that since eKash began operating, it has processed more than 10.5 million transactions, with 98.6% completed successfully. During this period, customers transferred over FRW 960 billion through the platform.
Beyond transaction volumes, the number of people using interoperability services between different financial institutions has also risen sharply. BNR said users grew from 740,787 in the corresponding period in June to 1,971,522 by the end of July 2026, an increase of 166%.
The central bank said it welcomes the public’s positive response to eKash, noting that customer feedback has played an important role in identifying areas that still need improvement.
While most transactions have gone smoothly, some customers reported delays and failed transfers during the initial rollout.BNR said these issues are being addressed by participating financial institutions and the system operator under its oversight, with continuous improvements underway to strengthen system performance and customer service.
BNR has also launched a nationwide public awareness campaign to help the public understand the changes introduced by eKash. Under the system, customers can transfer money between different bank accounts, from a bank account to a mobile wallet, and from a mobile wallet to a bank account. The maximum amount that can be sent per transaction is FRW 10 million, and the maximum fee charged per transaction is FRW 20.
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