On July 13, 2026, Bank Al-Maghrib and the Competition Council announced an agreement to end the monopoly of Centre Monétique Interbancaire (CMI) in Morocco's payment services sector. This decision aims to foster competition and innovation in electronic payments.
The agreement follows a review by the Competition Council, which identified anti-competitive practices in the market. CMI, previously the sole operator for interbank payment processing, will now face competition from new entrants, potentially lowering costs for merchants and consumers.
Bank Al-Maghrib stated that the liberalization will align Morocco with international standards and encourage digital payment adoption. The timeline for implementation and specific regulatory changes are expected to be detailed in the coming months.
