When you work hard in South Africa, you need a bank account that works hard with you. One that accepts your salary, lets you spend safely, and sends money home when your family needs it. And one you can open with your passport or asylum document, without a South African ID or proof of address.
The Mama Money Card is that account. It is a bank account for foreign nationals in South Africa, powered by Bank Zero, a South African digital bank regulated by the South African Reserve Bank. One card. One account. Get paid, shop, and send money home on your terms.
Many people using other cards experience frustrating delays when it comes to salary payments. Their money goes through third-party clearing banks before it reaches them, which can mean waiting days to access wages that should have arrived on payday. That is not helpful when bills are due or your family needs support.
With the Mama Money Card, your salary reflects within hours of being paid. There is no unnecessary waiting and no delays.
Bank Zero processes salary EFTs directly rather than routing them through intermediary clearing banks. When your employer sends your salary to your Mama Money Card account, it goes straight to Bank Zero without an additional clearing step in between. That is why the money arrives the same day it is paid, not days later. It is a system that is reliable for employers and empowering for employees, because your money is always ready when you are.
Your employer pays into your Mama Money Card the same way they would pay into any South African bank account. All they need is your account number and branch code.
Open the Mama Money App and go to the Mama Money Card section
Tap "Bank Details" to find your Bank Zero account number and branch code
Share these details with your employer or HR department. That is all they need to set up your salary payment. No branch visits, no paperwork.
You can also access your bank details via WhatsApp by messaging +27 60 091 5591 and following the prompts. Receiving salary into your Mama Money Card is free, and your account can hold up to R100,000.
Mama Money tip
Go to the Mama Money Card section in the app and tap "Bank Details." Your Bank Zero account number and branch code are there whenever you need them: to share with a new employer, update your payroll details, or set up a debit order.
Learn more about the Mama Money CardThe Mama Money Card is not just for getting paid. It is your all-in-one account for managing your money every day.
Get paid directly into your account. Free to receive. Reflects the same day. Hold up to R100,000 in your account.
Use your card anywhere Mastercard is accepted in South Africa, including online. Shop on international platforms like Temu and Shein from your card balance.
Withdraw cash from any ATM in South Africa, up to R5,000 per transaction and R10,000 per day. Always there when you need it.
Send money by EFT to any Absa, Standard Bank, FNB, Nedbank, or other South African bank account for R5 per transfer. Pay rent, split costs, or support family in South Africa directly from your account.
Send to 90+ countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe at a flat 5% fee, directly from your card balance. See all countries.
Real-time notifications in the app every time money moves. Download your monthly bank statement. View a mini-statement via WhatsApp anytime.
New feature
Most alternative financial products for foreign nationals in South Africa cannot send money to other South African banks by EFT. The Mama Money Card can. Pay rent to your landlord's Standard Bank account, split groceries with a flatmate's Absa account, or send money to anyone in South Africa with a bank account. R5 per transfer. No branch visit. Done from the app.
See all card featuresThe Mama Money Card is managed through the Mama Money App or via WhatsApp. Both are available 24 hours a day. Managing your money should not cost extra, which is why WhatsApp banking is designed to use as little data as possible.
| Feature | Mama Money App | |
|---|---|---|
| Check balance | Yes | Yes |
| View account and branch code | Yes | Yes |
| Freeze and unfreeze card | Yes | Yes |
| Buy airtime, data, electricity | Yes | Yes |
| Buy vouchers and DStv | Yes | Yes |
| Send money internationally | Yes | Yes |
| Mini-statement | Yes | Yes |
| Full monthly bank statement | App required | Yes |
| Save in USD | App required | Yes |
| Mama Wallet | App required | Yes |
For everyday banking, WhatsApp covers everything you need. For features like Save in USD, the Mama Wallet, and downloadable monthly bank statements, use the Mama Money App.
No surprises. Here is everything you will pay, from April 2026.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly account fee | R29.00 |
| Card purchase (once-off) | R99.00 |
| Card replacement fee | R5.70 |
| Reset card PIN | R2.50 |
| Bank Transfer In / Receive Salary | Free |
| Load Cash | Varies by store (app shows cheapest) |
| Use Card In-Store | Free |
| Use Card Online | R1.50 |
| Cashback at Till | R7.50 |
| Cash Send (within South Africa) | R19.00 |
| Bank Transfer Out | R5.00 |
| ATM Cash Withdrawal | R12 + R2.00 per R100 |
| ATM Balance Enquiry | R6.00 |
| Airtime / Data / Electricity / Vouchers / DStv | R1.00 |
| International money transfer | 5% of the transfer amount |
| Decline at Shop | R4.50 |
| ATM Decline | R8.59 |
| Online Purchase Decline | R1.50 |
Getting started takes under 10 minutes. Here is exactly what to do.
The app is free on Google Play, Apple App Store, and Huawei AppGallery. Or register via WhatsApp by messaging +27 60 091 5591. All you need is your passport, SA ID, or asylum document. No proof of address is needed.
Upload a photo of your identity document and take a selfie. This is the FICA identity verification required by South African law for all financial services. It applies to everyone, not just foreign nationals, and can be completed entirely in the app in a few minutes.
Purchase your card for R99 at any Pick n Pay with a Money Market desk, through any of over 5,000 Mama Money agents across South Africa, or get it delivered to your nearest PEP store. Use the card locator to find the closest option.
Follow the prompts in the Mama Money App to activate your card and set your 4-digit PIN. Go to the Mama Money Card section and tap "Bank Details" to find your account number and branch code. Share these with your employer for salary setup. Your account is live.
For employers
If you employ foreign nationals in South Africa, paying salaries can be complicated when your staff cannot open a traditional bank account. Cash payments create security risks, administrative friction, and no audit trail. Direct EFT is better for everyone, but it requires your employees to have an account that accepts it.
The Mama Money Card solves this. Your employees can open a bank account with their passport or asylum document. Salary deposits reflect the same day and are free to receive. Your staff get a proper bank account with their own account number, monthly statements, and the ability to manage their money from their phone. No queues. No paperwork. Reliable for you, empowering for them.
Download the employer information guideNo waiting days to access your salary. No complicated processes. Just a simple, secure way to get paid, spend, send, and save, on your terms.