Comcach Launches Gambia’s First E-Wallet Visa Card, Introduces 100 Bill-Payment Services

Comcach empowered by Comium on Thursday launched what it describes as The Gambia’s first e-wallet Visa card, alongside 100 bill-payment services, in a move aimed at expanding digital payments and giving customers access to a wider range of financial services.

The card, unveiled at the company’s headquarters along Kairaba Avenue, will allow customers to make local and international payments, including online transactions and purchases on international shopping platforms.

Speaking at the launch, Comcach managing director Hussein Kammouny said the company was seeking to offer a different experience from existing mobile money services.

“We are not trying to be just another wallet. We want and we are looking forward to establishing a really different experience,” he said.

Mr Kammouny said the service was open to customers across all GSM networks, despite Comcach being a subsidiary of Comium.

He said the Visa card would be available in both physical and virtual forms, giving customers the option to use it for online payments and transactions when travelling abroad.

Customers will also be able to move funds between their Comcach wallets and cards, while the application allows them to lock, freeze or close their cards if they suspect unauthorised access.

The company said it plans to introduce prepaid and debit cards, with credit cards also expected in the future. Access to the different card categories will partly depend on customers’ transaction history and performance on the platform.

Comcach technical director Sheikh Cham said the company had also introduced 100 bill-payment services at once, covering government payments, education, banking, insurance and other sectors.

“There is no wallet that has ever launched 100 billers at a go,” he said.

Mr Cham said the services were intended to make payments that previously required customers to visit banks more accessible, particularly for people outside the formal banking system.

The platform includes payments for government services, school-related transactions and Hajj and Umrah packages, among other services.

On charges, management said customers would initially pay no fees for bill payments made through the application.

Addressing concerns about security, the company said its platform uses 3D security systems and end-to-end encryption to protect transactions, including those involving linked bank accounts.

Management also said the company was working to improve access in rural communities through its agent network. It disclosed that its team had recently completed a two-week visit to the provinces to assess how customers could access its services and identify challenges facing users.

The company acknowledged that maintaining sufficient cash with agents could be a challenge for mobile money operators but argued that its expanded bill-payment services would reduce customers’ need to withdraw money before making payments.

On opportunities for small businesses, start-ups and traders, management said the Visa card would make international payments easier, including payments for website development and access to online payment gateway services.

Mr Kammouny said the launch was part of a wider plan to expand the company’s digital payment services, with additional products expected in 2027.