CEMAC (regional) vs China · Real-time payment systems compared
| Capability | GIMACPay | IBPS |
|---|---|---|
| QR Code Payments | ◐ | — |
| Wallet Support | ✓ | — |
| 24/7 Availability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-Border | ✓ | — |
| ISO 20022 | — | — |
| Request to Pay | — | — |
| Open API | ◐ | — |
| Alias/Proxy | ✓ | — |
CEMAC region's interbank interoperable retail payment platform, operated by GIMAC (Groupement Interbancaire Monétique de l'Afrique Centrale) under BEAC regulatory oversight. Covers six Central African countries (Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea) with a shared XAF rail. Connects banks, microfinance institutions, mobile money operators, payment institutions, public treasuries and fintech aggregators, supporting person-to-person, wallet-to-bank and card-to-wallet transfers across all six countries. Mobile money now accounts for roughly three-quarters of transaction volume.
China's Internet Banking Payment System processes 24/7 interbank transfers across the country's massive banking network, operated by the China National Clearing Center (CNCC) under the People's Bank of China. IBPS handles both small-value real-time payments and bulk transfers, complementing the HVPS (high-value) and BEPS (bulk) systems. With China's 1.4B population and rapidly digitising economy, IBPS is one of the highest-volume payment systems globally, supporting online banking, mobile payments, and cross-bank settlement.