Regulated payment establishment or licensed local gateway
BCEAO publishes UMOA payment-establishment information, including Mali entries, so regulated status should be one of the first due-diligence checks.
Do not assume offshore access to Mali wallet, bank or WAEMU payment-establishment routes. Confirm entity, local bank account, KYB, tax, merchant account and regulator requirements directly with the contracting provider.
- Whether the provider is authorized for the exact payment service it is offering.
- Whether it contracts directly with merchants or only provides technology through a bank or wallet partner.
- Which bank, wallet or settlement account receives merchant funds and handles disputes.