Paying by card in Sudan: debit, prepaid and rare credit cards
In Sudan, a true revolving credit card hardly exists: Islamic banks mainly issue debit and prepaid cards that work on the national network, while everyday payments increasingly go through Bankak and mobile transfers.
Why revolving credit has no place
A standard credit card charges interest on the unpaid balance, which Sudanese Islamic finance forbids. The few deferred-payment products rely on fixed fees or guarantee contracts, with no interest proportional to the amount used.
Debit cards on the national network
Sudanese banks issue debit cards that work at cash machines and payment terminals connected to the national switch. Before the war they were used mostly in Khartoum; since then, working cash machines have been concentrated in Port Sudan and a few eastern towns.
The legacy of US sanctions
US economic sanctions, lifted in 2017, and Sudan's removal from the list of state sponsors of terrorism at the end of 2020, had cut banks off from international networks. Locally issued Visa or Mastercard cards therefore remain few.
Prepaid cards for travel and online payments
Some banks offer reloadable prepaid cards in foreign currency for travellers, students abroad or online purchases. Topping them up depends on access to foreign currency, which the Central Bank controls and which has often been difficult since the conflict.
Bankak, the everyday wallet
To pay a shopkeeper, rent or a taxi, many Sudanese now use Bankak: an instant transfer from one Bank of Khartoum account to another, often by scanning an account number displayed in the shop. This largely replaces the card.
Cash shortages and electronic payment
The cash shortage and the replacement of banknotes in 2024 pushed traders to accept mobile transfers. Some, however, charge a higher price for electronic payment than for cash, a difference worth checking before buying.
Instalment purchases as an alternative
To spread a large expense, the realistic solution remains a murabaha against an invoice, described on the page about the personal loan in Sudan. The total cost is fixed in advance, unlike a revolving credit card.
Card and app security
Fraud mostly involves obtaining the confirmation code sent by SMS or the banking app login details. No Sudanese bank employee asks for these codes by phone; sharing them amounts to authorising a fraudulent transfer.
Using a Sudanese card abroad
Sudanese refugees in Egypt or Chad find that their local cards rarely work outside the country. Opening an account in the host country or using an international prepaid card is often the only practical option.
Credit cards elsewhere in the region
In Uganda or Tanzania, banks issue conventional interest-bearing credit cards. For a closer comparison, see the credit card in South Sudan page, where card use also remains limited, just as it does in Sudan.
Fees to watch on local cards
Issuing, renewal and withdrawal fees vary between banks and are charged in Sudanese pounds. A foreign currency prepaid card also carries exchange commissions, often calculated at a rate that is unfavourable to the customer.
Preparing for larger financing
An active account history, fed by a salary or by transfers received through the bank, later makes a car or home murabaha easier. The guide to credit in Sudan presents the players and the contracts available.
Getting a bank card in Sudan
- Open a current account at a Sudanese bank with your national number and proof of address.
- Request a local debit card and activate the bank's mobile app at the same time.
- For travel, ask whether the bank offers a reloadable foreign currency prepaid card and on what terms.
- Check issuing, withdrawal and exchange fees before loading the card.
- Turn on SMS alerts and never share the confirmation code you receive.
Fees on Sudanese cards and mobile payments
| Fee | Description | What makes it vary |
|---|---|---|
| Card issuance | Charged when the card is delivered | Bank and card type |
| Annual renewal | Card maintenance fee | Bank |
| Cash machine withdrawal | Commission per transaction | Network and the machine's bank |
| Exchange on prepaid card | Margin on the rate applied | Currency and daily rate |
| Bankak transfer | Often free or low between customers | Amount and type of transfer |
Documents to get a card from a Sudanese bank
- ID card or passport with national number
- Proof of address or neighbourhood certificate
- Recent passport photo
- Signed account opening form
- Air ticket and visa for a foreign currency prepaid card
Card mistakes and fraud in Sudan
- Assuming a Sudanese card will work for online payments on foreign websites, when most are valid only on the national network.
- Giving the Bankak confirmation code to a fake adviser who claims to unlock an account or a transfer.
- Accepting a higher price for paying by transfer without negotiating, a common practice during the liquidity crisis.
- Buying a so-called international credit card sold on social media, which is often stolen or does not exist.
Bank cards in Sudan: practical answers
Can you get a Visa card in Sudan?
A few banks launched Visa or Mastercard cards after sanctions were lifted, mostly prepaid ones. Availability depends on the bank and on access to foreign currency, which has been severely constrained since 2023. Check directly with a branch.
Does a debit card allow an overdraft?
No. Interest-bearing overdrafts do not exist in the Sudanese Islamic system. A debit card only lets you spend the available balance; some banks may offer short-term cash facilities to businesses through other contracts.
Does Bankak replace a card?
For many everyday uses, yes: shopkeepers display their account number and the customer pays by transfer from the app. The service does, however, depend on the internet connection and on having a Bank of Khartoum account.
Can refugees use their Sudanese cards in Egypt?
Rarely. Sudanese cards are mainly linked to the national network. Refugees rely instead on banking apps to send money to relatives who stayed in the country, and on accounts opened in the host country.