Sierra Leone has taken a major step toward digital financial inclusion with the official launch of its National Instant Payment Switch. Enabled by the FASTT program, the new system is set to transform the country's financial ecosystem and advance regional economic integration.

The switch enables real-time, interoperable transactions between banks and mobile money operators—eliminating the need for checks and other outdated methods. At the launch ceremony held on February 13, 2025, in Freetown, Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh underscored the system's potential to drive economic reforms and improve public financial management.

Rolled out in phases, the initiative began in 2023 with ATM and point-of-sale interoperability. The newly launched phase—delivered with technical assistance through the FASTT program—introduces instant payments across providers and channels. A third phase, planned for later this year, will integrate Sierra Leone's system with international payment gateways.

FASTT has been instrumental in this transformation, providing technical assistance and global expertise to ensure a smooth and secure transition to fast payment systems. Seven banks and two mobile network operators are already connected to the platform, with the Bank of Sierra Leone setting April 1, 2025, as the deadline for full integration. The new system will be crucial for driving economic reform and positioning Sierra Leone as a regional hub for digital financial services.