Comcach has introduced what it describes as The Gambia’s first Visa-linked mobile wallet card, in a move aimed at expanding access to digital financial services and providing customers with greater flexibility in making local and international payments.
The card, known as the Comcach e-Visa Card, was introduced during a media briefing where the officials outlined its features, payment capabilities and broader plans to transform the country’s digital financial services landscape.
Comcach is a digital finance and mobile money platform operated by the Gambian telecom provider Comium.
Speaking at the briefing, Managing Director Hussein Kamouny said the initiative was not simply about introducing another mobile wallet into an increasingly competitive market but about providing services that address gaps in the country’s financial ecosystem.
He noted that The Gambia has more than 20 licensed mobile wallets, several of which have contributed to financial inclusion by facilitating money transfers and other payment services.
However, he said, Comcach intends to distinguish itself by connecting customers to wider financial opportunities through an integrated platform that combines telecommunications and financial services.
“We are not trying to be just another wallet. We want to establish a really different experience,” he said.
Kamouny explained that the platform would provide access to prepaid and debit cards, with plans to eventually introduce credit cards based on customers’ transaction history and internal assessment.
He also emphasised that Comcach services are open to subscribers across all GSM networks, despite the company’s association with Comium.
Providing a technical overview, Comcach’s Technical Director Sheikh Chaw said the platform was designed to address challenges in the country’s financial services sector, particularly for people without access to traditional banking services.
He disclosed that the company had integrated more than 100 bill-payment services into the application, covering government services, education, banking and finance, insurance, electricity, water and travel-related payments.
According to him, customers would be able to pay for services such as national identification documents, passports, electricity and water bills, as well as Hajj and Umrah packages, through the application without having to visit multiple payment centers.
He said the platform would also enable users to maintain digital records of their transactions and monitor their contributions towards financial commitments.
On security, the technical team said the application incorporates end-to-end transaction encryption and 3D Secure technology to protect customers against unauthorised transactions.
Customers would also have the ability to transfer funds between their wallets and cards, freeze or lock their cards, and move funds back into their wallets if they suspect unauthorized access.
During the questioning session, the company further explained that both virtual and physical cards would be available, with customers initially accessing prepaid cards before potentially qualifying for debit and credit cards based on their transaction history and internal customer-scoring system.
Addressing transaction charges, Director Kamouny explained that the
management said Comcach would initially offer its bill-payment services at zero transaction fees as part of efforts to encourage customers to adopt the platform.
On international transactions, he said the Visa-linked cards would allow customers to make online purchases and payments on international platforms, as well as carry out transactions locally and abroad.
He also highlighted opportunities for small businesses, traders and technology startups, saying the platform would support merchant payments and provide access to application programming interfaces (APIs) for businesses seeking to integrate payment solutions into their operations.
Addressing concerns about accessibility in rural communities, Kamouny said the services would be supported by Comium’s 4G network and an extensive agent network across the country.
Comcach Technical Director Chaw also disclosed that the team had recently undertaken a two-week nationwide engagement to better understand the needs of customers, particularly those in rural communities, while acknowledging the importance of customer education in ensuring wider adoption.
On the possibility of collaboration with other mobile wallet providers, MD Kamouny expressed openness to interoperability arrangements that would improve customers’ access to funds and make transactions easier.
The company also acknowledged that cash liquidity at agent outlets remains a challenge across the mobile money sector, saying it intends to expand its agent network and introduce additional services to reduce customers’ dependence on cash withdrawals.
When asked whether the Visa card and its operational arrangements had received Central Bank’s approval, Chaw said the company was working through a banking partner licensed by the Central Bank of The Gambia.
The management further indicated that the introduction of the card forms part of its broader expansion plans, with additional digital financial services and payment solutions expected in 2027.
