Finance

GIM-UEMOA and Backbase join forces to boost banking innovation and financial inclusion in West Africa

GIM-UEMOA and Backbase join forces to boost banking innovation and financial inclusion in West Africa
Tuesday, 18 July 2023 20:35

The GIMpay digital platform aims to support a unique digital ecosystem to foster financial innovation in the UEMOA zone.

GIM-UEMOA, the international organization in charge of the interbank electronic payment system for the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) zone, has joined forces with Backbase, the pioneer of engagement banking, to develop the Super App, GIMpay.

The GIMpay infrastructure and the associated new ecosystem under construction constitute the GIM-UEMOA's new mutualization proposal that will redefine the digital financial landscape in the UEMOA, promoting financial inclusion, fintech innovation and improved customer experience.

The partnership aims to provide simplified digital financial services that go beyond conventional banking, offering a solution blending lifestyle and financial offerings to the region's digitally-savvy younger generations.

The GIMpay Super App, powered by the Backbase Engagement Banking platform, will offer a comprehensive suite of financial services enabling an instant, frictionless customer experience while cultivating a dynamic ecosystem that stimulates collaboration and innovation between banks, microfinance structures, e-money institutions, fintech, mobile money providers and states in the region.

“GIM-UEMOA has the ambition to match the opportunity for growth and need for financial inclusion in West Africa,” Jouk Pleiter, Founder and CEO of Backbase said. “We are excited and proud to partner with them to bring this game-changing service to their members and their customers.”

"GIMpay is a catalyst for the initiatives of banks, e-money institutions, decentralized financial services, fintech and national treasuries in mastering the customer experience," said Minayegnan Coulibaly, Managing Director of GIM-UEMOA. "I look forward to seeing the value this can create for the ecosystem and the economic impact it can have for the citizens of our countries."

About Backbase

Backbase is on a mission to re-architect banking around the customer.

Backbase created the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform a unified platform with the customer at the center, empowering banks to accelerate their digital transformation. From customer onboarding, to servicing, loyalty and loan origination, our single platform open and frictionless, with ready-to-go apps improves every aspect of the customer experience. Built from the ground up with the customer at the heart, our Engagement Banking Platform easily plugs into existing core banking systems and comes pre-integrated with the latest fintechs so financial institutions can innovate at scale.

Industry analysts Gartner, Celent, Omdia and IDC continuously recognize Backbase’s category leadership. Over 120 financials around the world have embraced the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform including AIB, Banorte, Barclays, BIAT, Bank of the Philippine Islands, BDO, BNP Paribas, Banque Saudi Fransi, BRD, Citibank, Citizens Bank, Discovery Bank, First National Bank, HDFC, Ila Bank, KeyBank, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest, Navy Federal Credit Union, OTP Group, PostFinance, Raiffeisen, RBC, Standard Bank, Saudi National Bank, Société Générale, Truist, and TPBank.

Backbase is a private fintech company, founded in 2003 in Amsterdam (Global HQ), with regional offices in Atlanta (Americas HQ), Boise, Cardiff, Dubai, Hyderabad, Kraków, London, Mexico City, Milano, New York, Singapore (Asia HQ), Sydney, and Toronto. www.backbase.com

About GIM-UEMOA

The Groupement Interbancaire Monétique de l'UEMOA (GIM-UEMOA) brings together 145 members, including banks, financial and postal institutions, microfinance structures and electronic money institutions. Our main mission is to promote electronic payment systems and means to the banking and financial sectors, administrations and populations of the UEMOA. www.gim-uemoa.org

LOGO

On the same topic
Unilever Nigeria hit a decade-high profit in 2025, with its net income doubling to reach $21.2 million, or 214.3 billion naira Nearly 60% of...
CEMAC member states plan to raise between $2.9 billion and $3.1 billion in Q2 2026. The issuance target rises by 67% to 80% compared...
BOAD approves CFA30 billion refinancing for Coris Bank units Funds to support lending, energy projects, and food security in Burkina Faso Move...
A $147M Novastar Ventures fund backed by major Japanese firms offers co-investment rights into African startups to bridge the funding...
Most Read
01

Novo Nordisk cuts Wegovy prices in South Africa amid competition Move targets rival Eli Lil...

Drugmakers ramp up competition in South Africa’s obesity treatment market
02

Firms move beyond payments toward integrated SME platforms Services include invoicing, inve...

African fintechs are moving beyond payments - and into business operations
03

The BCEAO now allows UEMOA citizens abroad to open CFA franc accounts under the same conditions as...

West Africa Targets Diaspora Funds With New Banking Access Rules
04

WAEMU posts 3.31 trillion CFA francs trade surplus in Q4 Exports surge 50.4%, led by gold, ...

WAEMU Trade Surplus Widens to $5.8 Billion in Q4 2025 on Strong Export Gains
05

ECOWAS, Energy China discuss regional power infrastructure cooperation Talks cover $36.3...

ECOWAS, China Discuss Cooperation on West Africa Power Projects Under $36.39B Plan
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72


EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.