🇧🇭 Bahrain · Path A — Sponsored model

Launching in Bahrain under a CBB-licensed bank

Instead of applying for a standalone Payment Service Provider licence, Pocket Pay boards merchants on a sponsor bank's existing licence as a technical partner (ISV / Aggregator). Faster to market, lower capital requirement, and fully supervised by the Central Bank of Bahrain.

Schedule a banking partnership call Compliance & legal

Path A — chosen

Standalone CBB PSP / EMI licence

• 12–24 months, heavy documentation
• Paid-up capital and ongoing reporting
• Full compliance team in-country
• Revisit once volumes justify it

Partnership roadmap

Six steps from pitch deck to first sponsored merchant.

Partnership pack

One-pager, product demo link, transaction flow diagram, and security posture (PCI DSS scope, MPoC roadmap, tokenisation).

Sponsor bank shortlist

Approach innovation / digital banking teams at Bahraini banks and regional acquirers with an ISV sponsorship proposal.

CBB Regulatory Sandbox

Apply to the Central Bank of Bahrain Regulatory Sandbox — up to 9 months of live testing with real customers under supervision.

Sandbox integration

Connect to the sponsor's test acquiring APIs (BENEFIT / Network International / PayTabs) while Pocket Pay stays in Demo Mode.

Compliance build-out

AML/CFT programme, MLRO appointment, KYC/KYB tiers, transaction monitoring, data residency and outsourcing agreement.

Go-live under sponsorship

Merchants are boarded on the bank's licence. Pocket Pay operates the experience layer; the bank holds funds and settles.

Sponsor shortlist

Bank ABC (ila Bank)

Strongest digital innovation track record; active fintech partnerships.

Recommended first approach

National Bank of Bahrain (NBB)

Large merchant acquiring base and a dedicated innovation unit.

Recommended

BENEFIT Company

National payment scheme — essential rail for local cards and BenefitPay QR.

Scheme partner

Bahrain Islamic Bank / Al Baraka

Best fit if the offering is positioned as Shariah-compliant.

Alternative

Network International

Regional acquirer able to sponsor Visa / Mastercard / Amex acceptance.

Acquirer

What the sponsor will ask for

✓Bahraini commercial registration (CR) with the correct payment-related activity

✓Ultimate beneficial ownership disclosure and clean background checks

✓AML/CFT policy pack plus a named Money Laundering Reporting Officer

✓Information security policy, penetration test report and incident response plan

✓PCI DSS attestation (SAQ or ROC depending on card-data scope)

✓PCI MPoC alignment for contactless acceptance on merchant phones

✓Outsourcing / technology service agreement approved by the sponsor bank

✓Professional indemnity cover or a bank guarantee sized to expected volumes

This page is an operational roadmap, not legal advice. Final requirements are set by the Central Bank of Bahrain and the sponsoring institution. Legal enquiries: Legal@maurooth.com.sa.

Talk to us about sponsorship