1) What is e-zwich?
e-zwich is the brand name for the common platform, the National Switch, that links the payment systems of all licensed banks and non-bank financial institutions e.g. savings and loans companies, credit unions, money transfer institutions, and rural banks in Ghana.

2) What is the e-zwich smartcard?
The e-zwich smartcard is a new and very secure way of paying for goods and services throughout the country based on biometric (finger print) identification. e-zwich allows smartcard holders and merchants to load and spend funds as well as settle various transactions.

3) What can I use the e-zwich smartcard for?
The card can be used to perform various banking and retail functions. These include cash withdrawals, payments for goods and services, money transfers, receiving salary and wage payments, and making bill payments from any e-zwich Point of Sale (POS) or ATM across the country.

4) Can I pay my utility and other bills using my e-zwich smartcard?
Yes. This can be done through the POS or ATM or registered merchants. A few institutions like the electricity and water companies will be automatically set up on the system for your convenience but you can also designate specific third-party payees if you have their relevant bank details to receive your payment.

5) Can I use my e-zwich card on other banks’ ATMs and POS?
Yes. Because e-zwich links the payments platforms of all licensed banks, non-bank financial institutions and rural banks, your e-zwich smartcard can be used in other bank’s ATMs (when the ATM integration process is completed later this year) and Points of Sale (POS).

6) Will I be charged for the use of my card?
Purchases or payments made by individuals using the e-zwich smartcard will not attract any fees. However, you will be charged a small fee for money transfers, cash withdrawals and some other transactions.

7) Do I need a bank account to have an e-zwich card?
No. You can just walk into any bank, rural bank and savings and loans company or their authorized agents and get your card without having to open an account. Your card will act as your bank account.

8) What will be required to get an e-zwich smartcard?
You will need a photo ID (e.g. a Student ID card, Voters ID card, Drivers License or Passport) and of course your finger prints.

9) How long does it take to get an e-zwich smartcard?
The process itself should take between 5 and 10 minutes.

10) How do I load money onto my e-zwich smartcard?
You can load your e-zwich smartcard with funds by paying in cash at any licensed financial institution e.g. bank, rural bank and savings and loans company, money transfer institution or their authorized agents (e.g. Ghana Post). You can also instruct your employer to pay your wages and salary to your card’s unique serial number or receive transfer of funds from other card holders irrespective of which financial institutions issued their cards.

11) Can I load money on my e-zwich smartcard at a retail merchant?
Yes, if the merchant is authorized to offer this service.

12) How do I check the balance on my e-zwich smartcard?
You can perform a balance enquiry at any e-zwich POS or ATM anywhere in the country.

13) How do I authenticate a transaction?
All your e-zwich transactions will be authenticated through your finger prints on the e-zwich ATM or POS.

14) What do I do if my finger print is not recognised?
During registration and enrolment, all 10 finger prints are taken. You will be able to use another finger if one is not recognized.

15) What happens when I lose my e-zwich smartcard?
If you lose your smartcard you do not lose your money. Your e-zwich card cannot be used by another person because of the finger print authentication requirement. When you report to the financial institution that issued your card or any authorized agent, you will be re-issued with a new card and your balance on the card restored in a maximum of 48 hours. e-zwich will reject any attempt to utilize your old card even by yourself.

16) Can I withdraw money from my bank account using my e-zwich card?
Yes, if you choose to link your traditional bank account to your card. Once linked, you have the convenience to perform an online transaction to load or unload money from and to your traditional bank account from any e-zwich POS and ATM across the country.

17) Where can I get an e-zwich card? Can I have more than one card?
You can get an e-zwich smartcard from any bank, rural bank or savings and loans company or their authorized agents. You can also have as many cards as possible but not from the same bank.

18) Will I be able to use my card in remote areas without electricity and reliable telecommunications network?
Yes, this is because the e-zwich POS devices work offline on battery power for long hours and can work in areas without electricity and reliable telecommunications.

19) What type of bank accounts can I have on my e-zwich smartcard?
The e-zwich smartcard allows you to have a current account and a savings account in separate wallets on the card.

20) Will I receive interest payment for money on my e-zwich card?
Yes, if you keep funds in the savings account. Funds kept in the savings account will attract interest using the rates set by the financial institution that issued your card.

21) What happens to the funds on my e-zwich card if I become deceased?
In this case your card is treated as part of your estate and funds can be recovered through the established legal procedures.

22) What is the difference between the e-zwich smartcard and other bank issued cards currently available?
Most bank issued cards only work online, requiring an active connection to the bank to complete a transaction. The e-zwich smartcard works both online and offline. This means that it does not require an active connection to a bank to complete a transaction. The e-zwich smartcard uses more secure finger print identification to authenticate transactions and also has a magnetic stripe like the existing bank cards.