Pesa Joins Payments Canada Ahead of Real-Time Rail

In Short

Pesa has joined Payments Canada as a member. The move creates a pathway for Pesa to apply to participate in Canada’s national payment systems, if it meets the technical, operational, and security requirements.

What Happened

Pesa, a cross-border financial services provider focused on diaspora customers, said it is now a member of Payments Canada. Payments Canada is the public-purpose organization that runs core payment infrastructure in Canada.

The membership follows changes to the Canadian Payments Act. Those amendments expanded eligibility so registered payment service providers can become members, if they are registered under Canada’s Retail Payment Activities Act, also known as RPAA.

Pesa said membership gives it a more direct route to engage with Canada’s payments infrastructure. It also gives the company a formal pathway to apply for participation in national payment systems, subject to meeting requirements.

The company operates across several corridors including the UK, Canada, the US, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, the UAE, and parts of Europe. For many African diaspora users, that inbound corridor into Canada can shape how quickly money moves and how clearly fees and status are shown.

Pesa also tied the timing to Canada’s Real-Time Rail, or RTR. RTR is Canada’s upcoming instant payments network, meaning money can move in seconds, 24/7, with richer data attached to each transfer. Payments Canada has said RTR is scheduled for Q4 2026, and onboarding will be phased.

Why It Matters

For African fintech and remittance operators, direct access to national payment rails can reduce reliance on intermediaries, although it still requires compliance work and approvals.

If Pesa later qualifies to participate in RTR-linked systems, it could improve parts of the Canada-side payment experience. That can translate into faster settlement, better tracking, and fewer “black box” delays for customers sending money across borders.

The bigger signal is regulatory. Canada is widening access to its payment ecosystem for non-bank payment providers, which may create new expansion options for Africa-focused cross-border payments firms building in North America.