Wave Mali review
Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Wave Mali issues a prepaid business card with a monthly fee of XOF 0 and free top-ups, supervised by Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest in Mali. It suits businesses wanting a simple card for staff spending with nothing to pay to keep it open.
Key facts
- Best for
- Businesses in Mali that want a prepaid staff card with no monthly or top-up charge.
- Monthly fee
- F CFA 0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card type
- Prepaid (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Top-up fee
- Free (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- WAVE SA (Wave Mali, in partnership with United Bank for Africa Mali SA) (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Mali (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2018 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Phone, Email (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Audience
- Business
- Official website
- wave.com
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App StoreGoogle Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- Monthly fee is XOF 0, against €5 a month at Skrill.
- Top-ups are free, so money can move into the account without a loading charge.
- The card is prepaid and aimed at business accounts.
- Support runs on phone and email.
Cons
- Support runs on phone and email only, so there is no live chat for a quick answer.
- The card is issued from ML, which rules it out for anyone banking in another market.
Who it suits
- Businesses in ML paying staff or suppliers from one card
- Teams that want a prepaid card with a XOF 0 monthly fee and free top-ups
- Readers who prefer phone and email help, since support runs on phone and email
Who should look elsewhere
- Skrill, if you want euro pricing and can live with €5 a month
- JMMB Moneyline and JMMB Money Transfer prepaid card, if another prepaid card at a JMD 0 monthly fee is the better fit
- CrediMax Cardy EX prepaid Visa, if you would rather hold a prepaid Visa at a BHD 0 monthly fee in a different market
Fees and FX
The monthly fee is XOF 0, so keeping a Wave Mali account open costs a business nothing in the way of a standing charge. Top-ups are free, which is the part that matters when a company is paid in and pays out several times a month. Between them, the two charges cover the everyday cost of running the card, so a small team can set its budget from just these figures.
The company behind it
The legal entity is WAVE SA, which operates Wave Mali in partnership with United Bank for Africa Mali SA, and the account is based in Mali. The business was founded in 2018 and falls under Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, the regional central bank. Support runs on phone and email, so a call or an email reaches the same team.
How Wave Mali compares
8.6 vs 9.4
8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 8.9
8.6 vs 9.2
8.6 vs 8.8
8.6 vs 8.5
8.6 vs 8.5
8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 8.8
8.6 vs 8.8
8.6 vs 8.7
8.6 vs 9.2
8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 8.9
8.6 vs 8.8
8.6 vs 9.6
8.6 vs 9.2
8.6 vs 9.1
8.6 vs 9.1
8.6 vs 9.1
8.6 vs 8.9
8.6 vs 8.8
8.6 vs 8.8- 8.6 vs 8.8
- 8.6 vs 8.8
8.6 vs 8.8
8.6 vs 8.5
8.6 vs 8.5
8.6 vs 8.5
8.6 vs 8.3
8.6 vs 8.2
8.6 vs 8.0
8.6 vs 8.0
Where Wave Mali is available
- Available
- Mali
- Licence in Mali
- Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO), checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Wave Mali account cost each month?+
The monthly fee is XOF 0, so a business pays no standing charge to keep the account open. The card is prepaid, which means the balance you load is the balance you spend, so there is no credit line to repay.
Are top-ups free on this card?+
Top-ups are free. For a business that is paid in and then pays staff or suppliers, that removes the usual loading charge from the flow of money through the account. It keeps the cost of moving money in and out predictable.
Who regulates Wave Mali?+
The card is supervised by Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, the regional central bank for the area. The legal entity is WAVE SA, which runs Wave Mali in partnership with United Bank for Africa Mali SA.
Is the card prepaid or debit?+
It is a prepaid card built for business use. The balance you load is the balance you spend, which suits a company that wants to set a ceiling on what a card can take in a month.
How do I get help from Wave Mali?+
Support runs on phone and email, so a call or an email is the route to an answer. There is no live chat or community forum in the list, which matters if a card is blocked mid transaction.
Who is Wave Mali for?+
Wave Mali is built for business accounts in Mali. A small firm paying staff or suppliers from a single card fits the setup better than someone who needs to spend across several markets.
When was Wave Mali founded?+
The business was founded in 2018 and is based in Mali. The legal entity is WAVE SA, which runs Wave Mali in partnership with United Bank for Africa Mali SA, so a bank partner sits behind the card.
How does the monthly fee compare with Skrill?+
Wave Mali charges XOF 0 a month, while Skrill charges €5. For a business that keeps a card open all year, that gap is the whole argument for the Mali card, at no standing cost.
Sources
- wave.com/en checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Top-up fee
“Personal / Business (Wave offers a separate Business product)”
- wave.com/en/about checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Monthly fee
“Wave is building the first modern financial network - no account fees, instantly available, and accepted everywhere!”
- wave.com/fr/terms_uba_ml checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type, Founded, Headquarters, Legal entity, Support channels, Licences
“Downloading the Wave app and signing up for a Wave mobile wallet does not create a checking account or any other form of bank account for you or the beneficiary with WAVE SA or one of its distributors”
Compiled from 3 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Currency conversion fee, Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.
Related by the facts
Wave Mali
Businesses in Mali that want a prepaid staff card with no monthly or top-up charge.