Tanzania’s NMB Bank Plc, in partnership with Mastercard, has introduced the country’s first QR Pay by Link (QR PBL) payment solution. This groundbreaking system allows small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to accept card payments through QR codes or secure links, revolutionizing the way businesses in the country operate by eliminating the need for costly point-of-sale (POS) terminals.
The launch also marks Africa’s first in-store use of Mastercard’s Click 2 Pay technology—an advanced, password-free checkout system designed to offer consumers a fast, secure, and seamless digital payment experience.
With the rising demand for digital solutions, particularly among SMEs, QR PBL offers a simple and cost-effective way for businesses to integrate digital payments, ensuring both convenience and security for merchants and consumers alike.
A game-changer for Tanzanian businesses
For businesses across Tanzania, the ability to accept payments via QR codes or links has the potential to be transformative. Instead of relying on physical payment terminals, merchants can now display a QR code that directs consumers to a secure payment link on their smartphones. This new system not only reduces operational costs but also makes digital payments more accessible to businesses previously excluded due to the high cost of payment infrastructure.
“This innovative solution is a game-changer for businesses of all sizes,” said Ruth Zaipuna, Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank. “With just a simple link, we’ve made it easier, safer, and faster for people to make payments, no matter where they are. It allows businesses to focus on what they do best while offering customers the convenience of seamless payments.”
From local markets to taxis and restaurants, the new payment solution is expected to have a broad impact. With over 3 million small businesses employing more than 5 million people across the country, the QR PBL system will drive growth in key sectors, including hospitality, retail, transportation, and tourism. Small businesses that previously struggled with cash-only transactions can now embrace the digital economy, enhancing customer convenience while cutting down on cash-handling risks.
Empowering SMEs through financial inclusion
For Mastercard, this launch represents another step in its broader mission to promote financial inclusion across Africa. “This launch reinforces our commitment to driving financial inclusion and digital transformation in Tanzania,” said Shehryar Ali, Senior Vice President and Country Manager for East Africa and Indian Ocean Islands at Mastercard. “We’re proud to collaborate with NMB Bank to introduce this cutting-edge solution, which enables merchants to offer secure, touchless payments without the need for expensive payment terminals.”
Ali highlighted the significance of this innovation in reducing barriers for small businesses. By simplifying the payment process, QR PBL allows merchants to accept payments through a secure URL embedded in an EMVCo-compliant QR code. This also includes Mastercard card acceptance and support for other payment schemes like UPI, ensuring businesses can offer a wide range of payment options.
Catalyzing growth in Tanzania’s key sectors
Tanzania’s economy, which relies heavily on sectors like hospitality, tourism, and retail, stands to benefit significantly from this digital payment revolution. As the tourism industry continues to recover post-pandemic, businesses across Zanzibar and the broader market are now better equipped to offer fast, secure, cashless transactions. For customers, this shift to contactless payments brings both convenience and safety, while for businesses, it opens up new opportunities for growth in a rapidly digitizing economy.
By enabling seamless digital payments, the QR PBL solution helps SMEs participate more fully in Tanzania’s growing digital economy, where the potential for scaling businesses is vast. For many merchants who previously faced challenges accepting card payments, the innovative use of QR codes lowers the cost of entry and removes the need for physical payment infrastructure, which can be prohibitively expensive for small businesses.
A global commitment to digital inclusion
This launch forms part of Mastercard’s global initiative to bring 1 billion people and 50 million small businesses into the digital economy by 2025. As part of this goal, the company aims to drive economic progress and inclusive growth by offering digital solutions tailored to the needs of emerging markets like Tanzania.
As digital transformation continues to reshape economies around the world, Tanzania is poised to lead the charge in Africa with this first-of-its-kind payment system. By offering a simple, secure, and scalable solution, the collaboration between NMB Bank and Mastercard will enable thousands of businesses to thrive in a rapidly changing financial landscape, while ensuring that consumers enjoy a modern, frictionless payment experience.
As Tanzania embraces this new era of digital payments, QR PBL could redefine the country’s payment ecosystem, making everyday transactions faster, more secure, and more accessible for everyone.