Online payments for Moroccan merchants: a CMI guide
Accepting card payments in Morocco goes through CMI. Here is how the process works, what it costs, and how to connect it to your online store.
Why online payment is no longer optional
A customer lands on your website, picks a product, and finds no way to pay online. They close the tab. That sale is gone.
This happens dozens of times a week for Moroccan merchants who have done the hard work of building an online presence but have not completed the last step: accepting card payments.
The good news is that this has become much more accessible. CMI (Centre Monétique Interbancaire) is the official card payment gateway in Morocco, and several integrations exist to connect your store to it.
How CMI works
CMI is an institution created by Moroccan banks to manage card transactions between merchants and customers. When a customer pays on your site with a Moroccan Visa or Mastercard, the transaction flows through CMI.
To accept these payments, you need to sign an e-commerce contract (CCE) with your bank. Your bank — Attijariwafa, CIH, BMCE, Banque Populaire, or another — acts as the intermediary between you and CMI.
The four-step process:
- Request a CCE contract from your bank
- Your bank approves and sends you your CMI credentials
- You (or your developer) integrate the CMI gateway into your site
- Payments land directly in your bank account
Real costs
Fees vary by bank, but here is what to expect:
- Per-transaction commission: between 1.5% and 2.5% depending on your bank and volume
- Monthly subscription: often 100–200 MAD depending on the institution
- Activation fee: sometimes 500–1,500 MAD at opening, sometimes waived
These are indicative figures. Negotiate with your bank, especially if you already have an active business account with them.
Timelines to plan for
Activation typically takes 2–4 weeks. Your bank needs to validate your business, check your website (it must have legal notices, a returns policy, and a physical address), then transmit your access credentials.
Build this into your launch timeline — especially if you are opening a store for a specific season like Ramadan or the back-to-school period.
The technical integration
Once you have your credentials, your store needs to connect to the CMI API. If you use WooCommerce or PrestaShop, plugins are available. For a custom site, a developer can integrate the API directly.
Key points:
- Payment must take place on a secure HTTPS page
- The customer should never leave your site for an unbranded interface
- Plan a clear order confirmation page with a full order summary
What about cash payments?
Cash on delivery remains very common in Morocco. Offer both options: online card payment and cash on delivery. Some customers prefer to test the experience first, then switch to online payment once trust is established.
At Tadnun, we help merchants in Casablanca, Rabat, Fès and Tanger build complete online stores — with CMI integration, inventory management, and order tracking. Let's talk about your project.