CBN reviews capital base for payment firms

CBN reviews capital base for payment firms

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has set new capital requirements for payment firms in the country.

The CBN disclosed the capital requirements in a circular on Monday titled ‘New license requirements for the payments system’.

The CBN stated that to have a Payment Terminal Service Provider licence, a firm was required to have N100 million shareholders’ funds unimpaired by losses.

It retained super agent’s licence at N50 million; Switching and Processing firm’s licence at N2 billion; Mobile Money Operator’s licence at N2 billion; Payment Solution Services at N250 million and Payment Solution Service Provider at N100 million.

The CBN specified non-refundable application fee of N100,000 via the licensing fees.

According to the capital requirements, the payment firms must have an escrow of refundable N2 billion into CBN PSP share capital deposit account.

It stated that the deposit for escrow must be in full (one lump sum) and must be made in the name of the company applying for licence (not an individual or related company).

The CBN stated that escrowed funds were invested in treasury bills, subject to availability of treasury instruments, which would be refunded accordingly.