Windhoek: Instant Payments Namibia (IPN) on Monday unveiled WayaMe as the consumer-facing brand of the country's Instant Payment Solution (IPS), which is expected to support faster and more accessible digital payments.

According to Namibia Press Agency, WayaMe will serve as the national identifier for payment services powered by the IPS and will be used by participating financial institutions and payment service providers in consumer awareness and education initiatives. IPN Chief Operating Officer Marsorry Ickua said the launch marks an important step in the country's payment modernisation efforts.

'The introduction of WayaMe marks a significant milestone in Namibia's payments modernisation journey and forms part of broader efforts to create a more inclusive, interoperable and digitally enabled payment ecosystem,' he said. Derived from the phrase 'Wire Me', WayaMe is intended to provide a recognisable identity for instant payment services and support public understanding and adoption of the platform.

Ickua said the brand was selected because of its familiarity and association with electronic money transfers. 'It embodies the vision of a payment experience that is instant, accessible and designed around the needs of all Namibians,' he said. The statement said the IPS supports the National Payment System Vision 2030 and aims to improve interoperability between banks, digital wallets and other payment channels.

Over time, the platform is expected to support government-to-person payments, person-to-person transfers, merchant payments, business transactions and cash withdrawals from any wallet at any automated teller machine. Participating financial institutions will continue to operate under their own brands, while WayaMe will serve as a common identifier for services enabled through the IPS. The payment solution is administered by Instant Payments Namibia, a subsidiary of the Bank of Namibia.