Access Bank Namibia has officially joined the Namclear NamPay payment system, enabling its integration into Namibia’s interbank payment infrastructure following the granting of a full commercial banking licence by the Bank of Namibia (BoN).
The bank went live on the system on Monday, 9 November 2026, marking another step towards its full participation in Namibia’s banking sector.
Namclear confirmed the integration, welcoming Access Bank Namibia as a participant in the country’s payment clearing system.
The development follows the central bank’s decision to grant Access Bank Namibia Limited authorisation to conduct banking business, allowing the lender to accept deposits and provide banking services to the public.
The authorisation took effect on 2 October 2026 under Section 13(2) of the Banking Institutions Act, 2023, following a comprehensive regulatory assessment by the central bank.
The approval concluded a nearly two-year licensing process during which Access Bank operated under provisional authorisation and received several extensions to meet outstanding regulatory requirements.
Access Bank Namibia initially received a provisional banking licence on 4 October 2024, giving it six months to establish its operations and comply with the conditions required for full authorisation.
The full licence allows Access Bank to compete for deposits and customers alongside existing commercial banks, while its integration into NamPay provides access to the country’s interbank payment clearing infrastructure.
Namclear operates Namibia’s Automated Clearing House (ACH), a designated Financial Market Infrastructure responsible for clearing interbank transactions, including electronic fund transfers and card payments.
The clearing house also facilitates settlement processes on behalf of participating financial institutions through the Namibian Interbank Settlement System (NISS), operated by the Bank of Namibia.
Access Bank Namibia forms part of Nigerian-headquartered Access Bank Plc’s broader expansion strategy across Africa, with Namibia previously identified as one of eight priority markets for the banking group.
The NamPay integration follows the bank’s transition from provisional licensing to full regulatory authorisation, establishing its participation in Namibia’s domestic payment system.
