PaySika
Two Cameroonian engineers who met in French engineering school built the region's first chatbot neobank — a 2020 pilot hit 275% month-over-month growth with zero marketing; now in Visa's Fast Track programme.
Chatbot-first neobank for francophone Africa — free Visa cards managed from WhatsApp, Messenger or Telegram; issued with Ecobank Cameroon.
The facts
| Category | traditional · underbanked |
| HQ | Douala, CM |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Custody | Custodial |
| Regulation type | Other / mixed |
| License detail | Cards issued by Ecobank Cameroon under Visa license; PaySika Holding registered in France |
| Card | Visa · Prepaid (virtual + physical) |
| Stablecoins | No |
| KYC | Yes |
| Active regions | Africa |
| Countries | Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire |
| Founders | Roger Nengwe Ntafam, Stezen Bisselou-Nzengue |
| Funding | ~$350K pre-seed (2021); Oui Capital's first Cameroon investment (2025) |
Verified links: official site ↗ · terms ↗ · @Paysika_Afrique ↗
Common questions about PaySika
What is PaySika?
PaySika is a fiat neobank built for underbanked, headquartered in Douala, CM and founded in 2020. Your money is held custodially, so PaySika or its partner bank holds the balance and you hold a claim on it. Its regulatory structure is mixed (Cards issued by Ecobank Cameroon under Visa license; PaySika Holding registered in France).
Does PaySika have a card, and where can you use it?
It issues a Visa prepaid (virtual and physical) card. It is available in 2 countries, across Africa.
Does PaySika require KYC?
Yes. PaySika requires identity verification (KYC) to open an account, as a other / mixed.
Early investors
Head-to-head
Peers
Wise · TymeBank · OPay · PalmPay · Bank Zero · Discovery Bank
PaySika appears in
Neobanks available in Africa (93) · Neobanks built for the underbanked (23) · Neobanks that issue a Visa card (183)
Figures compiled from public sources, for comparison only — not financial advice. "Up to" rates change constantly; always confirm with the issuer. Spotted an error? Suggest a fix.