In collaboration with Sarafa Fintech

The Settlement Switch
for Africa

Connecting banks, payment networks and digital settlement rails. Imara is a multi-rail settlement switch built to connect financial institutions and payment networks across Africa. We enable financial institutions to route and settle transactions across banks, mobile money networks, payment providers, currencies and digital settlement assets through a single infrastructure layer.

Explore the platform

Connect. Route. Settle. Reconcile.

Abstract visualization of the Imara settlement network
T+0
Settlement finality
24/7
Rail uptime
40+
Currency corridors
Banks
Payment networks
Digital settlement assets
FX & liquidity
One integration

The Platform

One Switch. Multiple Settlement Rails.

Africa's financial markets operate across fragmented banking systems, currencies, payment networks and liquidity pools. Imara brings them together. Through one integration, institutions can access multiple settlement routes and move value efficiently across markets.

Banks

Connect financial institutions and enable direct or routed bank-to-bank settlement.

  • Direct bank connectivity
  • Routed bank-to-bank settlement
  • Institutional counterparties

Payment Networks

Connect mobile money operators, payment service providers and other payment rails.

  • Mobile money operators
  • Payment service providers
  • Additional payment rails

Digital Settlement Assets

Use regulated digital settlement mechanisms, including stablecoins where permitted and appropriate.

  • Regulated digital mechanisms
  • Stablecoins where permitted
  • A rail, not the destination

FX & Liquidity

Access liquidity across currencies and optimize the settlement path for each transaction.

  • Cross-currency liquidity
  • Path optimization
  • Per-transaction routing

Settlement Lifecycle

How Imara Works

One integration. Multiple settlement routes. A unified view across the entire settlement lifecycle.

01

Connect

Financial institutions and payment providers connect to Imara through APIs.

02

Route

Imara determines the appropriate settlement route based on the transaction, currency, destination, liquidity and available rails.

03

Settle

The transaction is settled through the appropriate bank, payment network or digital settlement rail.

04

Reconcile

Imara provides a unified view of transactions across the entire settlement lifecycle.

Institutions

Designed for Financial Institutions

Integrate once. Reach multiple settlement rails. Imara is built for banks, fintechs, payment service providers, remittance companies, mobile money operators, FX providers and large enterprises.

Banks

Banks

Connect financial institutions and enable direct or routed bank-to-bank settlement across markets.

Platforms

Fintechs & payment service providers

Integrate once and reach multiple settlement rails without rebuilding around a single technology.

Networks

Remittance & mobile money

Connect remittance companies and mobile money operators to banks, payment networks and digital settlement assets.

Treasury

FX providers & large enterprises

Access liquidity across currencies and optimize the settlement path for each corridor and transaction.

Developers

Integrate once. Reach multiple rails.

Financial institutions and payment providers connect to Imara through APIs. Route and settle across banks, mobile money networks, payment providers and digital settlement assets without rebuilding around a single technology.

One API

Connect once and reach banks, payment networks and digital settlement rails through a single interface.

Route, then settle

Imara selects the appropriate rail from currency, destination, liquidity and available routes.

Unified reconciliation

A single view of transactions across the entire settlement lifecycle.

settle.ts
1// Connect once and settle across the appropriate rail
2const settlement = await imara.settle({
3  from: "NGN",
4  to: "KES",
5  amount: 250000,
6  destination: "inst_8f2a",
7})
8
9const route = await imara.route({
10  settlementId: settlement.id,
11  prefer: "best_path",
12})
Abstract map of Imara's settlement corridors connecting Africa's financial markets

Cross-border

Built for Cross-Border Settlement

Traditional cross-border payments often require multiple intermediaries, fragmented integrations and complex reconciliation. Imara provides a common settlement layer between participating institutions.

Originating Institution → Imara → Settlement Rail → Imara → Receiving Institution

The underlying settlement mechanism can vary. The switch remains the same.

Stablecoins Are a Rail. Not the Destination.

Stablecoins can provide an efficient mechanism for moving value between markets. Imara incorporates stablecoin settlement alongside traditional financial rails, allowing institutions to select the most appropriate settlement mechanism for each corridor.

This gives financial institutions flexibility without forcing them to rebuild their infrastructure around a single settlement technology.

Beyond Payments

From domestic bank settlement to cross-border payments, Imara creates interoperability between institutions that operate on different systems. The goal is simple: make moving value across Africa as easy as moving data.

40+
Currency corridors
24/7
Settlement uptime
1 API
For every rail
T+0
Settlement finality
4
Settlement rail types
1
Switch

The Settlement Infrastructure
for Africa

Africa does not need another wallet. It needs better infrastructure connecting the financial institutions, payment networks and liquidity pools that already exist. Imara is building that infrastructure.