Paying and borrowing by bank card in the archipelago
Credit cards remain rare in São Tomé and Príncipe: locally issued Visa and Mastercard cards only appeared in 2021, and most cardholders use a debit card on the Dobra24 network, with credit limits reserved for good customers.
Dobra24, the backbone of local payments
Since October 2011, Dobra24 has connected the cash machines and payment terminals of local banks. The network is run by a company majority-owned by the BCSTP and works first and foremost for domestic cards denominated in dobras.
Visa and Mastercard arrive in 2021
It was only in May 2021 that Visa and Mastercard platforms went live for cards issued in the country. Before then, a Santomean needed a foreign card to pay online or to travel abroad with plastic money.
Cash machines and terminals mostly in the capital
At the end of 2021, the country had 31 cash machines and 138 payment terminals, about 70% of them around the capital. In Neves, Santana or Santo António, using a card is often limited to withdrawing cash.
Debit, prepaid or credit cards from local banks
A debit card draws directly on the account, a prepaid card works once topped up, and only a credit card offers a reserve repayable later. Most cards issued in the archipelago belong to the first two categories rather than the third.
Card-issuing banks in São Tomé
BISTP, Ecobank, Afriland First Bank and BGFIBank offer cards to their customers. Whether you get a credit limit depends on having your salary paid in, the age of the account and the absence of any reported incident.
A limit based on your domiciled salary
The limit granted is generally proportional to the income paid into the account each month. For a bigger or longer need, a personal loan in São Tomé often costs less than a revolving reserve attached to the card.
Paying in euros on a trip to Lisbon
Thanks to the fixed parity of 24.5 dobras to the euro, the converted amount is predictable. Fees for paying abroad and for withdrawals outside the network still apply, however, and appear in each bank's tariff schedule.
Online purchases and Príncipe hotels
Hotel bookings, plane tickets and digital subscriptions account for most of the demand for international cards. Tourist establishments on Príncipe accept cards more readily than the small shops of the capital do, which still prefer cash.
Card fraud and security in the archipelago
The Dobra24 network did not hold PCI-DSS certification, according to the UNCDF assessment published in 2025. It is therefore wise to switch on alerts, protect your PIN and check your statements carefully after every trip abroad.
The wider credit context in the country
Cards are scarce because of the market's size and the country's recent banking history. Our guide to financing in São Tomé and Príncipe describes this background, from the role of the BCSTP to the credit register.
The Cameroonian card market
In the CEMAC zone the offer is broader, as described on the credit card in Cameroon page, backed by a regional interbank network. São Tomé, outside that monetary union, relies on its own national payment system.
Unpaid card balances and the Central de Riscos
An unpaid credit card balance is reported like any other debt. It remains visible in the BCSTP Central de Riscos and can compromise a later application for a mortgage or a car loan with any bank.
Getting a card with a credit limit in São Tomé
- Open a current account at a local bank and have your income paid into it.
- Ask the branch which card types are available, along with their limits and annual fees.
- Fill in the application, stating whether you want international use, especially for online payments.
- Sign the contract setting the limit, the rate charged on the balance and the repayment terms.
- Activate the card, choose a PIN and test it at a Dobra24 cash machine.
Fees linked to a São Tomé bank card
| Fee | Guide | Depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Amount set by the bank | Card range, domestic or international |
| Interest on the balance used | Contractual rate in dobras | Bank and customer profile |
| Out-of-network or foreign withdrawal | Commission per transaction | Country and cash machine |
| Foreign currency payment | Exchange fee or commission | Issuer's tariff schedule |
| Replacing a lost card | Reissue charge | Issuing bank |
What a São Tomé bank asks for before issuing a card
- Bilhete de Identidade or passport
- Applicant's NIF
- Recent proof of income
- Statements from the account receiving your salary
- Signed card application form
Card misuse to avoid in the archipelago
- Believing a debit card lets you pay on credit, then having a payment declined abroad because the account lacks funds.
- Giving your PIN or card number to a fake bank agent calling on behalf of BISTP or Ecobank.
- Leaving a card balance unpaid, which builds up interest and leaves a mark in the Central de Riscos.
- Travelling without checking the card is enabled for international use, when many local cards work only on the domestic network.
Lenders to contact
- Ecobank São Tomé e Príncipe: São Tomé subsidiary of the pan-African Ecobank network, offering personal banking services as well as financing solutions for local businesses.
Credit cards from São Tomé: practical questions
Does a card issued in São Tomé work in Portugal?
Yes, if it carries the Visa or Mastercard logo and the international option is switched on. Local banks have been able to issue this kind of card since 2021, but fees for paying in foreign currency do apply.
Can you pay by card at the municipal market?
Rarely. Terminals are mostly found in supermarkets, hotels, petrol stations and restaurants in the capital. Markets and small neighbourhood shops still work mainly in cash, in dobras, even for large purchases.
Is mobile payment replacing cards in the archipelago?
Not yet. No mobile money service was licensed at the end of 2021, unlike in many mainland African countries. Cards and bank transfers therefore remain the main means of electronic payment for now.
What should you do if you lose your card abroad?
Contact your bank in São Tomé immediately to block the card, by phone or through its official messaging channel. Keeping the branch number somewhere other than your wallet lets you act quickly and limit fraudulent charges.