The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) and the National Bank of Cambodia have launched a pilot service to facilitate money transfers between the two countries, enabling customers in Cambodia to send money to recipients in Rwanda faster, more securely and at lower cost.
The pilot will link Cambodia’s Bakong payment and money transfer platform with Rwanda’s eKash system. Both are digital financial platforms designed to facilitate transactions across different financial institutions.
The two central banks announced the launch on Sunday, November 15, 2026, during the Black Swan Summit Cambodia, an international conference taking place in Phnom Penh from November 15 to 16, 2026.
The service will operate by connecting Cambodia’s Bakong platform to Rwanda’s electronic payment system, eKash, which is managed by R-Switch.
Under the arrangement, Cambodia’s ACLEDA Bank Plc will serve as the intermediary connecting customers to the service, while I&M Bank will handle the receipt and transfer of funds on the Rwandan side.
This will enable customers of ACLEDA Bank and other financial institutions connected to Bakong in Cambodia to transfer money directly to bank accounts belonging to beneficiaries in Rwanda.
BNR and the National Bank of Cambodia said the initiative would simplify cross-border transfers, reduce existing barriers to international payments and make financial services more affordable for users.
The initiative is also expected to benefit individuals and businesses involved in activities that require sending or receiving money between Rwanda and Cambodia.
In particular, it will facilitate payments for trade, investment and tourism-related services, helping strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
The two central banks expect the integration of the digital platforms to promote efficient financial services and expand access to electronic money transfer and payment solutions.
The pilot follows cooperation between the National Bank of Rwanda and the National Bank of Cambodia aimed at modernising payment systems and strengthening collaboration in the financial sector.
