Infrastructure
Modernising national payment switches in emerging markets
2 Sept 2026 · 6 min read · Payzess Insights
Lessons from central banks building inclusive, interoperable instant payment systems.
Across Africa, the Western Balkans and Latin America, central banks are investing in national instant payment systems designed to drive financial inclusion and reduce reliance on cash.
The technology is rarely the hardest part. Governance, participation rules, pricing and interoperability with mobile money operators determine whether a new switch achieves real adoption.
We see the greatest success where the operator engages participants early, publishes a clear roadmap of overlay services and measures adoption by end-user usage rather than connected institutions.