Sierra Leonean financial technology company Monime has officially launched Dash, a new digital payment application that allows customers to send, receive and make payments directly from their bank accounts using their mobile phones without having to share their bank account numbers.

The application, launched on Saturday, November 7, 2026, is designed to make banking services more accessible and reduce the difficulties customers face when transferring money between banks, mobile money platforms and businesses.

The launch event brought together representatives from several financial institutions, including GTBank, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Access Bank, QMoney and Afrimoney, alongside agents already using Monime’s payment services.

Representatives from participating banks who delivered statements at the event expressed appreciation to Monime for developing the payment platform and welcomed the company as a partner in making it easier for customers to move money from their bank accounts to individuals and businesses.

The bank representatives also acknowledged the importance of collaboration between financial institutions and technology companies in improving access to digital payment services in Sierra Leone.

Speaking in an interview with Salone Messenger Monime’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sorieba Daffae, said Dash represents an important step for the company, which has spent years developing payment infrastructure used by businesses and financial institutions across Sierra Leone.

“This is the first time we have built something that you can now experience as an individual,” Daffae said.

He explained that the application allows customers to connect their existing bank accounts and move money across different payment platforms without first depositing funds into a separate digital wallet.

Making bank accounts easier to use

According to Daffae, one of the major challenges facing bank customers in Sierra Leone is the difficulty of accessing and using money already deposited in their accounts.

He explained that many employees receive their salaries through banks but often have to withdraw cash before making everyday payments.

“Most of you receive your salaries in a bank account,” he said, explaining that customers often have to write cheques, withdraw cash and carry money around to complete transactions.

Daffae said Dash was developed to address that inconvenience by allowing customers to access their bank accounts directly from their mobile phones.

The application introduces a unique payment identification system known as DashTag, which allows users to receive money through a registered name instead of sharing their bank account numbers.

Once a customer links an account with a participating bank, they can use the application to transfer money to other Dash users, bank accounts and supported mobile money wallets.

Unlike conventional mobile money services, Dash does not hold customer funds. Instead, money remains in the customer’s existing bank account until a transaction is authorised.

“We’re not a wallet. We’re just giving you an elegant banking experience,” Daffae told Salone Messenger.

He explained that customers can use the application to access their linked bank accounts, check their balances and securely transfer money.

Banks and mobile money operators welcome partnership

The presence of representatives from GTBank, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Access Bank, QMoney and Afrimoney at the launch highlighted the involvement of financial institutions and mobile money providers in the country’s developing digital payment sector.

During the event, representatives from banks who addressed the gathering thanked Monime for its work in developing payment solutions and welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the company.

They recognised Monime as a partner in efforts to make financial transactions more convenient, particularly by enabling customers to move money from their bank accounts to other payment channels.

Their statements reflected support for cooperation between traditional banking institutions and financial technology companies in improving payment services.

Agents using Monime’s services were also present at the event, which provided an opportunity for the company to introduce Dash to stakeholders already involved in its payment ecosystem.

The launch also demonstrated Monime’s approach of working with existing financial institutions rather than creating a separate banking system.

Monime says Dash is not competing with mobile money operators

Daffae addressed questions about how Dash differs from existing mobile money platforms, including Orange Money and Afrimoney.

He explained that the company’s objective is not to replace those services but to connect the different financial institutions and payment providers already operating in Sierra Leone.

According to him, Monime has worked with banks, mobile money operators and other financial service providers to develop a system that allows customers to move money more easily.

The company has also announced a partnership with Afrimoney, allowing Dash customers to make payments at more than 2,500 merchant locations across Sierra Leone.

Under the arrangement, customers can pay participating businesses directly from their bank accounts without first transferring money into a mobile money wallet.

The development gives consumers another payment option while creating opportunities for businesses to receive digital payments from bank customers.

CEO speaks on transaction charges and payment limits

During the interview, Salone Messenger questioned Daffae about the cost of using Dash, particularly when transferring money between bank accounts and mobile money platforms.

Daffae said the company wants to keep transaction charges affordable to encourage more Sierra Leoneans to use digital payment services.

“It’s very cheap. It’s the cheapest in the market to move money around. You can try it yourself and see what it looks like,” he said.

He explained that Monime works with partner banks and other financial service providers, which also play a role in delivering the service.

For the company, he said, the priority is encouraging digital transactions rather than focusing only on generating revenue from individual payments.

“It’s not about making money. We need to unlock digitisation,” he said.

Daffae also discussed transaction limits, explaining that the platform operates within limits set by the relevant financial authorities.

He indicated that the service is primarily designed to support everyday payments, including smaller transactions that customers would otherwise complete using cash.

However, the exact charges for different types of transactions and the applicable daily and per-transaction limits were not independently confirmed during the interview.

Reducing dependence on cash

Daffae believes that increasing the use of digital payments could help reduce Sierra Leone’s dependence on physical cash.

He explained that many countries have moved towards payment systems that allow customers to complete everyday transactions electronically.

According to him, carrying large amounts of money is not always convenient, particularly when customers need to make payments at restaurants, shops and other businesses.

He said Dash is intended to give customers the option of completing such transactions using their phones.

The Monime CEO also argued that greater use of electronic payments could improve the ability of financial regulators to monitor transactions within the formal financial system.

He explained that once cash leaves a bank, it becomes more difficult to track how it circulates through the economy.

Digital transactions, he suggested, could provide greater visibility within the regulated financial system while making payments more convenient for consumers.

New opportunities for small businesses

Beyond personal transactions, Daffae said Dash could create opportunities for small businesses to reach more customers through digital services.

He explained that the platform is designed to support businesses such as restaurants and other service providers that may not have the resources to develop their own digital ordering and payment systems.

According to him, customers could eventually access services from smaller businesses, place orders and make payments without having to visit those businesses physically.

The application also introduces a feature known as Dots, which allows businesses to offer services directly within Dash.

At launch, the services available through Dots include Seacoach travel ticket purchases, internet service payments and WATU payments.

The feature allows customers to access participating services and complete payments without leaving the application.

Monime says businesses can make their services available through the platform, while customers must give consent before their personal information is shared with service providers.

Daffae believes the system could help smaller businesses expand their operations and benefit from the growing use of digital financial services.

Built using Sierra Leonean expertise

Daffae also emphasised the local development of the technology, saying Monime’s understanding of Sierra Leone’s financial system played an important role in designing the platform.

He explained that the company had spent years working with banks, mobile money operators and other financial institutions, gaining experience in how money moves within the country’s payment ecosystem.

He said the technology was developed locally, drawing on the company’s knowledge and experience of Sierra Leone’s financial market.

According to him, that experience has helped Monime develop a product intended to meet the needs of Sierra Leonean customers.

He acknowledged that changing people’s payment habits would take time, particularly in a country where many everyday transactions are still conducted using cash.

However, he expressed confidence that the company’s knowledge of the local market would help it expand access to digital financial services.

What Dash could mean for Sierra Leone’s financial sector

The introduction of Dash adds another service to Sierra Leone’s digital payment market, where banks and mobile money operators already provide different ways for customers to send and receive money.

One of the main differences is that Dash allows customers to initiate payments directly from linked bank accounts rather than requiring them to maintain a separate balance within the application.

Its DashTag system also provides an alternative to sharing bank account numbers when receiving payments.

The integration with Afrimoney’s merchant network could make it easier for bank customers to pay for goods and services at participating businesses.

However, the wider success of the platform will depend on several factors, including the number of participating banks, transaction charges, reliability, customer trust and access to smartphones and internet services.

While Monime says the platform is designed to make payments more secure and convenient, its performance and wider adoption will become clearer as more customers begin using the service.

How to access Dash

Dash is currently available for Android users through Google Play, while Monime says an iPhone version is expected to become available on Apple’s App Store soon.

Customers interested in the service can visit the company’s official website at https://dashit.to for further information.

For Daffae, the launch represents more than the introduction of another financial application. It is part of Monime’s broader ambition to make existing banking services easier to use and encourage more Sierra Leoneans to conduct everyday transactions digitally.

Although the transition from cash to digital payments may take time, the company believes connecting bank accounts, mobile money services and businesses through a single platform could help change how people send, receive and spend money in Sierra Leone.