The Burundi Central Bank (BRB) announced Thursday that it has successfully upgraded its Automated Transfer System (ATS) to the international ISO 20022 standard, a major step in modernizing the country’s financial infrastructure. Starting Friday, Feb. 6, banks and the Régie Nationale des Postes will resume interbank operations using the new system.
Edouard Normand Bigendako, Governor of the BRB, said the move is a decisive advance in the digitalization of Burundi’s financial sector, aligning with the country’s Vision 2040 and Vision 2060 goals. “This transition to ISO 20022 positions Burundi’s payment ecosystem alongside international best practices and allows integration with regional and global payment networks,” he said.
ISO 20022 is a global financial messaging standard that enables banks to exchange structured and consistent payment data. It provides richer transaction information, allowing faster, safer, and more automated processing. The standard is widely used internationally for domestic and cross-border payments and has been endorsed by major financial bodies, including the G20 and the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures.
For Burundi, the migration is expected to improve efficiency, security, and interoperability across the national financial system. It also supports regulatory oversight and financial inclusion, as mobile and digital payment platforms can now operate on a more advanced, internationally compatible framework. Experts say the adoption of ISO 20022 also lays the groundwork for future financial innovation in the country.
With this upgrade, the BRB says Burundi is better positioned to integrate with global and regional payment systems while strengthening the efficiency and inclusiveness of its domestic financial sector.
