9 eCommerce Solutions You Should Know - Choosing the Right Payment Gateway for Jamaican MSMEs in 2025

Small Business Portal
Jun 16
34 min read

Listen to this article in summary format. Pronunciations may be off at points.

Jamaican MSME Payment Gateways_ A Guide (1)Small Business Portal

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Digital payments have become a lifeline for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Jamaica’s evolving economy. As of 2024, 84% of Jamaican consumers prefer using debit or credit cards for online purchases – a clear signal that businesses must offer convenient card-based payment options. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated e-commerce adoption and government initiatives have pushed to digitize thousands of MSMEs.

Yet a Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) study found only 17% of local MSMEs have adopted e-commerce so far, indicating both a challenge and an opportunity. In 2025, choosing the right payment gateway matters more than ever: the ideal solution can help a small business seamlessly accept online payments, gain customer trust, and even tap into global markets, all while keeping costs manageable.

Why Payment Gateways Matter: A good payment gateway ensures secure, easy transactions – critical in a climate where online fraud is a concern for many entrepreneurs. It also affects how quickly a business gets paid and what fees they incur. From local fintech startups to bank-backed platforms, Jamaican MSMEs now have a range of gateway options tailored to their needs. Below, we explore 10 recommended payment gateways for Jamaican businesses, with insights on their usage, success stories, developer-friendly features, and key operational details. Whether you’re a tech-savvy web developer or a business owner seeking guidance, these gateway profiles will help you navigate the choices and find a solution that fits your situation.

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1. EzeePayments

Overview: EzeePayments is a home-grown Jamaican payment facilitator that has quickly gained popularity among small and mid-sized businesses. Launched in early 2022, it enables merchants to accept Visa, Mastercard, and even local NCB KeyCard payments online – without requiring a traditional website or merchant account. By early 2023 EzeePayments was already serving around 350 merchants in Jamaica.

Co-founded by Narda Ventura of SkyBlue Transactions, the platform was designed as an “e-commerce in a box” solution to onboard MSMEs in 24–48 hours. Notably, EzeePayments acts as a full payment aggregator (PayFac), handling the heavy lifting with banking partners. Transactions are processed through National Commercial Bank (NCB) and its overseas processor, First Atlantic Commerce (FAC), then settled to the merchant’s local bank account twice weekly. This quick setup and predictable payout cycle have attracted even businesses that previously used other solutions.

Jamaican Usage: EzeePayments is used by a range of local enterprises – from online retailers to service providers. For example, tour operators have signed on to easily collect booking payments via links and social media. The platform’s appeal extends to web developers as well, who can integrate EzeePayments into client websites to “close out projects with a ready solution”. In a few clicks, a merchant can generate a payment page or “Pay Now” button that directs customers to a secure checkout, akin to a familiar Amazon-like experience. Because 97% of Jamaican businesses are MSMEs (many with limited tech resources), EzeePayments’ all-in-one approach – including optional website-building assistance – has been a timely enabler. The CEO notes that even previously cash-only vendors and creatives have come on board, and the platform supports transactions in both JMD and USD for tourism-facing businesses. If you know how much of our national revenue comes from Tourism, then you know why this is a big deal.

Dev/Integration: For developers and IT leads, EzeePayments offers a straightforward integration. Any website platform is supported, and if a business has no website, customers can be sent to a hosted payment page. The checkout is mobile-friendly and secured by the platform’s compliance with PCI standards via FAC. Since EzeePayments is a fully hosted gateway, merchants do not need to handle sensitive card data themselves – reducing security burden. Implementation is as simple as embedding a link or button, which makes it attractive for quick deployments. The service provides email transaction notifications and a dashboard for transaction history, useful for reconciling sales. Branding can be customized to a degree, and notably, the platform can even be white-labeled by other companies for their own payment needs. This speaks to EzeePayments’ API maturity under the hood, even if the outward offering is plug-and-play. Another developer-friendly aspect is the flat pricing model, which simplifies back-end calculations for fees.

Key Features & Fees:

Merchant Onboarding: Fast approval, often live within 24–48 hours for a new merchant – far quicker than traditional bank merchant accounts.
Costs: J$2,000 setup fee + J$1,500 monthly subscription, and a flat 4.25% per transaction (no additional per-transaction fees). No surprise charges, which appeals to MSMEs budgeting for fees.
Settlement: Funds from Visa/Mastercard/KeyCard sales are deposited to any local bank twice per week (Tuesdays and Fridays), improving cash flow predictability. Merchants are not required to bank with NCB – settlements can go to any Jamaican bank.
Integration: Provides payment links, social media integration, and website plugins. EzeePayments pages can be linked on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp stores, or embedded in a website checkout. No coding needed for basic setup; advanced users can integrate via simple form post or API if needed.
Support & Security: The platform handles PCI DSS compliance via its back-end processor. It offers customer support for onboarding and even referrals for web development help if a merchant needs an online store built. All major credit/debit cards are accepted, and transactions use 3-D Secure and other fraud measures through FAC.

2. WiPay

Overview: WiPay is often dubbed “the PayPal of the Caribbean,” operating as a regional payment platform across 7+ Caribbean countries including Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago (where it originated), Barbados, and others. Since opening its Jamaica office in 2021, WiPay has positioned itself as a transformative, inclusive payment solution for everyone from farmers and market vendors to online stores. For Jamaican MSMEs, WiPay offers multiple ways to get paid: online gateway integration, mobile point-of-sale terminals, QR code payments, and invoicing tools. Businesses can accept local and international Visa/Mastercard payments through WiPay’s gateway without having to directly obtain a bank merchant account – WiPay acts as the aggregator in between, simplifying compliance and onboarding. The platform gained visibility by supporting cashless initiatives at major events and partnering with established companies (for example, LASCO Financial initially teamed up with WiPay to roll out digital payments locally).

Jamaican Usage: WiPay has steadily grown its footprint in Jamaica. It has been adopted by e-commerce websites, event promoters, and even government agencies for certain projects. A high-profile example is WiPay’s involvement in Carnival in Jamaica 2024 – the company reports it facilitated “tens of millions” of Jamaican dollars in transactions during the Carnival season. This included online band costume sales, event ticketing, food and drink purchases via QR codes, and more. By providing e-commerce plugins for band websites and POS/scan-to-pay solutions for vendors, WiPay effectively powered a cashless Carnival ecosystem. Such case studies showcase WiPay’s versatility: a merchant can use their WooCommerce plugin or API on a website, while a street vendor can use the WiPay mobile app or a portable terminal to accept card or wallet payments. WiPay’s marketing investments – from sponsoring Reggae Sumfest to setting Guinness World Records promotions – indicate its commitment to widespread adoption. Being a licensed payment provider connected to First Atlantic Commerce for transaction processing, WiPay brings credible processing infrastructure with a user-friendly Caribbean flavor.

Dev/Integration: From a developer’s perspective, WiPay offers ready-made plugins and APIs that make integration relatively straightforward. They provide libraries for popular platforms (e.g., WordPress, Magento) and have a well-documented REST API for custom applications. The gateway can operate in two modes: hosted checkout (redirecting customers to a WiPay payment page) or direct API integration for seamless in-app payments. Notably, security and fraud management are handled by WiPay’s backend (they even partnered with fraud prevention firm Fraudio to enhance this). This means developers don’t have to build those features from scratch. Testing is facilitated via sandbox accounts. Additionally, WiPay supports alternative payment methods like bank transfers and a voucher system in some markets – a reflection of their aim to include even the unbanked. For instance, a Jamaican without a credit card could top-up a WiPay account or use a “WiPay voucher” purchased with cash, and an MSME can still receive that payment digitally. Such flexibility is a boon for implementation, as it broadens the customer base.

Key Features & Fees:

Regional Reach: One account lets a business accept payments in multiple Caribbean countries (local currency settlements available). WiPay supports JMD and USD transactions for Jamaican merchants, useful for tourism-facing sales.
Payment Options: Accepts all major credit/debit cards online. Also offers point-of-sale devices and QR code “scan to pay” for in-person transactions. Merchants can send payment links or invoices via email/WhatsApp – customers pay through WiPay’s secure page, no login required.
Developer Tools: Plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, etc., and a robust API. Implementation is quick – WiPay claims websites can go live within minutes after API key setup. They also handle 3-D Secure authentication and tokenization for repeat billing.
Fees: WiPay’s fees are competitive: typically around 3.5% – 4% per transaction (blended rate) plus a small fixed fee in some cases, with no monthly charges for basic service. (Exact rates can vary by country and transaction volume.) There are no setup fees for the gateway; merchants simply top-up an initial balance for fees or pay as deducted.
Settlement & Support: Funds are generally settled within 1–2 business days to the merchant’s local bank account or to a WiPay-issued prepaid card. WiPay provides local customer support in Jamaica and a dashboard for tracking sales in real time. Advanced features include recurring payments and multi-currency pricing, beneficial for MSMEs aiming at international customers.

3. Adpay (by Adtelligent)

Overview: Adpay is a specialized payment gateway solution built by Jamaican tech consultancy Adtelligent to make online payments easy for MSMEs, particularly those using DIY website platforms. It is essentially a payment plugin for Wix websites that connects directly to First Atlantic Commerce (FAC) – the same robust gateway used by major banks – but in a far more accessible package. Adpay was born out of Adtelligent’s experience developing e-commerce sites for local businesses: they saw many entrepreneurs using Wix (a popular website builder) and needing a way to accept credit cards into their local Jamaican bank accounts. In response, Adtelligent created Adpay as a bridge between Wix stores and FAC’s payment processing. Adpay allows a merchant to process VISA and Mastercard payments online with settlement directly to their bank, all while managing the storefront on Wix. Essentially, it brings “big gateway” capabilities (multi-currency, bank-grade security) to small websites with minimal fuss.

Jamaican Usage: The Adpay plugin enables a number of Jamaican small businesses to start e-commerce without migrating to expensive platforms. For example, boutique retailers and professional services that built simple Wix sites can now bolt on Adpay to handle payments securely. Case in point: A local entrepreneur can set up a Wix online store and, with Adpay, accept card payments in JMD or USD – something that previously required custom coding or resorting to PayPal (with its high fees and USD-only limitation). Adtelligent’s Head of Web Development, Christopher Derrell, has actively promoted such solutions to Jamaican MSMEs as part of integrating websites into sales strategies. Because Adpay leverages FAC, businesses get the benefit of settlement in local banks and compliance with Jamaican regulations (Bank of Jamaica oversight, etc.) while still enjoying the ease of a plug-and-play plugin. As a result, even companies with no in-house developers – from small hotels to craft sellers – have managed to launch online payments. Adpay is part of a broader trend: in Jamaica, firms like Adtelligent are packaging enterprise payment tech for MSMEs, thereby accelerating digital uptake.

Dev/Integration: From a developer’s standpoint, Adpay is very straightforward: it is a pre-built Wix App/Plugin that only requires configuration of FAC API credentials and their hosted payment pages. No custom coding or complex integration is needed on the Wix side – one installs the Adpay plugin and follows the setup, as guided in the video. Under the hood, however, the merchant must have a FAC merchant account (with an acquiring bank) to use Adpay. Adtelligent assists with this process, guiding the MSME through setting up a FAC account via an integrated bank if they don’t have one. Once the merchant account is approved and the plugin is configured with the keys, transactions flow securely from the Wix storefront to FAC. Importantly, Adpay does not store any card data; all sensitive details go straight to FAC’s PCI-compliant servers through their PowerTranz solution. This means developers (or rather, implementers) don’t need to worry about PCI compliance on the Wix site. In effect, Adpay turns FAC’s powerful API into a one-click solution for Wix, and Adtelligent provides support for any issues. The plugin is updated regularly (terms were last updated April 2025, indicating active maintenance).

Key Features & Fees:

Platform Focus: Designed for Wix e-commerce sites, but Adtelligent also offers packages of development for those who need an eCommerce enabled website. If you’re on another CMS - such as WordPress, or have no website at all, Adtelligent can set you up with your own eCommerce enabled storefront in as short as 4 weeks.
Powered by FAC: Adpay leverages First Atlantic Commerce’s gateway, meaning it supports multi-currency (over 20 currencies including JMD & USD) processing, 3-D Secure, tokenization for repeat billing, and other FAC features. Transactions settle in the merchant’s bank account typically within 2 business days (as per the bank’s merchant agreement).
Ease of Use: No coding required on the merchant’s part. Setup involves installing the plugin and entering your FAC merchant credentials. The checkout button and flow are added to your Wix site automatically. Customers are redirected to a secure payment page or an embedded iframe to enter card details.
Fees: Adpay itself may carry a small subscription fee & nominal transaction fee to Adtelligent (often bundled in their web development package). The primary fees are the transaction fees from the acquiring bank/FAC, which usually range around 3-4% per transaction (often negotiable based on volume). Wix users will continue to pay their Wix plan fees as normal.
Support & Compliance: Adtelligent provides local support for Adpay users (installation, troubleshooting). Since the actual payments are processed by FAC, merchants benefit from FAC’s fraud detection tools and PCI DSS compliance. Adpay ensures no customer card data touches the Wix servers or Adtelligent’s servers, mitigating many security risks. Overall, this solution is ideal for MSMEs that want the reliability of a bank payment gateway with the convenience of a DIY website builder.

4. TiloPay

Overview: TiloPay is a fintech payment platform from Costa Rica that has extended its services across Central America and the Caribbean, effectively becoming a behind-the-scenes engine for online payments in the region. Think of TiloPay as an integration powerhouse: it connects popular e-commerce platforms (like Wix, Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce) to trusted payment processors (like FAC and local banks). In 2021, First Atlantic Commerce partnered with TiloPay to enable Wix users to accept cards with settlement in Caribbean banks. For Jamaican MSMEs, TiloPay offers an on-ramp to online sales with minimal friction. No need to build a custom gateway – a merchant can use TiloPay’s modules to create payment links, embed checkout buttons, or even launch a quick online store. TiloPay is notably widespread, boasting a presence in 27 countries and integration with 14 financial institutions in the region. It has grown rapidly (recognized by Forbes Central America for its digital payment growth, now serving over 10,000 affiliated merchants across the Caribbean and LatAm).

Jamaican Usage: In Jamaica, TiloPay works mostly behind the curtain, but its impact is evident. Shopify merchants in Jamaica have adopted TiloPay via apps to overcome Shopify’s lack of native Caribbean payment options. With TiloPay’s Shopify integration, Jamaican sellers can offer local card payments at checkout, vastly improving customer experience. TiloPay’s support for Jamaican Dollars (JMD) and other currencies is crucial – it means customers can pay in JMD and merchants get settlement in JMD, avoiding conversion hassles. Local businesses using TiloPay range from small boutiques to tour companies that needed a quick way to accept online bookings. By providing features like “Buy Now, Pay Later” installment plans (interest-free installments that appeal in Jamaica’s credit-averse market), TiloPay distinguishes itself as more than just a basic gateway. Jamaican fintech circles have noted that TiloPay’s multi-affiliate feature could even enable in-cart financing options – a cutting-edge capability among these gateways. Overall, TiloPay is often recommended by web developers setting up e-commerce for MSMEs because it short-circuits the traditionally tedious process of integrating directly with banks.

Dev/Integration: Developers will find TiloPay to be robust and flexible. It provides SDKs and APIs, but many will use its pre-built plugins. For instance, to integrate payments on a Wix site, which supports advanced features like tokenization and 3-D Secure out of the box. For Shopify, TiloPay offers a custom payment gateway app that can be installed to process through FAC. Similarly, plugins exist for WooCommerce and BigCommerce, and TiloPay’s own API can be used for custom sites or mobile apps. The documentation is comprehensive, covering how to create payment links, handle webhooks for payment notifications, etc. One consideration: outside of a few countries, TiloPay operates as a connector rather than a full PayFac.

In Jamaica’s case, this means a merchant still needs to have (or obtain) a merchant facility with one of TiloPay’s partner banks (e.g., an NCB or other bank FAC account). TiloPay simplifies that process by telling you which banks and guiding the “handshake,” but it’s not an aggregator itself in Jamaica. From a dev perspective, once the merchant account is sorted, integration is smooth: you use TiloPay’s credentials and all transactions route to the bank via FAC. TiloPay also provides developer dashboard tools for testing and monitoring transactions. The fraud and security measures are strong, leveraging Kount for fraud prevention and fully PCI-compliant workflows.

Key Features & Fees:

Multi-Platform Integration: One integration, many channels – TiloPay supports web checkouts, mobile app payments, invoicing, and even recurring billing. You can generate payment links or QR codes in minutes for social media sales, or embed a TiloPay checkout on your site that supports all major cards.
Global Payments: Accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express and more. Supports 90+ currencies – useful if you wish to charge overseas customers in their currency. (In Jamaica, you’d typically use JMD or USD.) Funds settle to local banks in local currency.
Installments & Advanced Features: Offers installment payments (multi-affiliate financing) where available, as well as features like saved cards for one-click checkout, and integration to third-party services (it can tie into logistics and accounting platforms as noted in the MIIC partnership). These features can help MSMEs scale with more professional e-commerce capabilities.
Fees: TiloPay’s cost structure depends on the service used. The platform itself often doesn’t charge setup fees; instead, merchants pay the transaction fees to the acquiring bank/FAC and a monthly platform fee in some cases. For example, under the Jamaican government partnership, merchants got a 3-month free trial and then pay US$15/month for the suite of services. Transaction fees via FAC are usually around 3% + fixed $J fee (typical bank rates). Essentially, TiloPay isn’t adding a large markup – it makes money as a service provider/license.
Onboarding & Compliance: Getting started requires filling out KYC documents for the bank/FAC (since you’ll be a merchant of record there). TiloPay has streamlined this across multiple countries. In Jamaica, thanks to the partnership through JBDC/NCB, the process is newbie-friendly. All transactions are secured with 3-D Secure authentication and fraud screening. TiloPay is a fully certified payment facilitator in its core countries and adheres to international security standards, ensuring that MSMEs on its platform can build customer trust.

5. LASCO Biz E-Link

Overview: LASCO Biz E-Link is a relatively new entrant tailored specifically for Jamaican small businesses, launched by LASCO Financial Services (LFSL). It emerged from a 2020 fintech sandbox project where LFSL acted as a “super-merchant” aggregator for micro-businesses. The Biz E-Link platform is essentially a cashless business toolkit: it enables MSMEs to accept digital payments via multiple channels – QR codes, payment links, and website payment buttons – without needing their own point-of-sale hardware or individual merchant account. LASCO leverages its banking relationships to process the payments on behalf of the MSME and then funnels the money to the business. The target users are the many entrepreneurs who are unbanked or underbanked and historically rely on cash. Biz E-Link not only provides payment acceptance but also includes features like mini online storefronts and basic transaction record-keeping to help these businesses formalize their operations. LASCO’s vision with Biz E-Link is to simplify e-commerce for “street corner” businesses and hustlers, bringing them into the digital economy with minimal friction.

Jamaican Usage: After a pilot with a handful of merchants in 2020, Biz E-Link was refined and publicly rolled out around 2023. By early 2024, LASCO was actively marketing it on social media, highlighting how small businesses can process credit card payments with just a few taps using the service. One use case: at local trade fairs, LASCO has demoed Biz E-Link by letting micro vendors generate a QR code on their phone that customers can scan to pay via card. Also, online micro-enterprises (like Instagram boutiques) have started using LASCO Biz E-Link by sending customers a payment link or adding a “Pay with LASCO” button on their one-page website. For instance, the fashion retailer MYNXES advertised that it collects online payments with LASCO Biz E-Link as a “simple, secure and convenient way to pay online”. Because LASCO is a known Jamaican brand (in finance and consumer goods), merchants and customers alike have shown a level of trust in the Biz E-Link solution. It’s also noteworthy that LASCO Financial partnered with tech companies like Amber Group to enhance e-link services – hinting at a growing ecosystem around the platform. While usage stats aren’t public, LASCO’s financial reports indicate a strategic push into digital payments to offset slowing remittance and loan revenues, suggesting Biz E-Link is central to their growth plans.

Dev/Integration: For developers or IT leads, LASCO Biz E-Link is more of a service platform than a developer API. The focus is on simplicity: a business signs up with LASCO (providing KYC documents similar to opening an account) and once onboarded, they get access to a web portal or mobile app to generate payment requests. If integrating into a website, LASCO likely provides a snippet or button code that redirects to a secure payment page (similar to how PayPal buttons work). In fact, LASCO’s Facebook posts mention adding a “payment button on your website” via Biz E-Link. As an aggregator, LASCO handles the heavy lifting – merchants do not need to deal with gateway APIs or bank integrations themselves. This is great for non-technical users but somewhat opaque for developers; essentially, you trust LASCO’s system to process and update you. That said, the QR code and link generation can be integrated into workflows (e.g., a merchant could use LASCO’s dashboard to generate an invoice link and share it programmatically if LASCO offers an API for that – currently, they encourage using their portal). Security is taken care of by LASCO’s banking-grade systems, and the solution was tested under the central bank’s oversight in the sandbox. From an implementation standpoint, it’s very quick to get started: no coding, just registration and using LASCO’s interface.

Key Features & Fees:

Multi-Channel Payments: QR Codes: Display a QR code for customers to scan and pay (ideal for brick-and-mortar or delivery payments). Payment Links: Create links for specific amounts or open-ended payments, shareable via WhatsApp, email, etc.. Payment Button: If you have a website (even a simple one), you can embed a “Pay with LASCO Biz E-Link” button to route customers to payment. All these feed into the same merchant dashboard.
No Website Needed: If a business doesn’t have a website, they can still use the platform via the mobile app or web portal. LASCO has hinted at offering a simple “e-store” feature as well – possibly allowing merchants to showcase items and accept payments through a LASCO-hosted page. This all-in-one approach helps very small businesses leapfrog into e-commerce.
Fees: LASCO has not published its full fee schedule publicly, but being a financial entity they likely charge a percentage per transaction (approx. 3-5%). There are reportedly no setup or monthly fees for Biz E-Link, making it attractive to micro enterprises. Instead, LASCO earns by taking a transaction commission. For merchants already using LASCO services (like LASCO PayCard or remittance), there might be incentives.
Settlement: As an aggregator, LASCO receives the funds and then pays out to the merchant’s account. Merchants can choose to get paid to a LASCO Money account (which provides quick access via their prepaid card) or to a traditional bank account. Payouts are likely done within 1-2 business days, similar to how other aggregators operate, though LASCO has not explicitly stated the schedule.
Extras: Biz E-Link helps MSMEs keep basic records: the platform logs all transactions in a dashboard, which is useful for tracking sales and even creating simple financial statements (one of LASCO’s stated goals was to help micro-businesses formalize their record-keeping for loan eligibility). Also, because LASCO is regulated, merchants using Biz E-Link are operating in a compliant manner – an important point for trust and for the merchants’ own business legitimacy.

6. SpurrOpen

Overview: SpurrOpen is a Jamaican-developed platform that blends online payments, e-commerce, and event ticketing/donations into one ecosystem. It’s not just a payment gateway, but rather a web platform where MSMEs, charities, or content creators can create pages to collect payments. Think of it as a hybrid of GoFundMe, Eventbrite, and an online store builder, all with local payment integration. SpurrOpen was created by Spurr Empire Ltd with the mission to help Jamaicans “engage your audience and have them support online”. For MSMEs, SpurrOpen offers an easy way to start selling or accepting money online without building a full website or doing any coding. Users can set up an online store page, an event registration page, or a donation page on SpurrOpen’s platform and use the built-in payment processing to handle transactions. Under the hood, SpurrOpen processes credit/debit card payments (it works with Visa, Mastercard, etc.) and notably has integrated NCB’s Lynk mobile wallet as a payment option – making it one of the first platforms to facilitate Jamaica’s digital currency (JAM-DEX) indirectly for online purchases.

Jamaican Usage: SpurrOpen has gained traction among community-based organizations, schools, churches, and solo entrepreneurs – groups that traditionally found it difficult to collect money online. For example, numerous Jamaican churches (such as Retirement New Testament Church of God and Duncans New Testament Church) use SpurrOpen to accept tithes and offerings via an “Online Giving” page . Schools like Glenmuir Preparatory have used it to collect school fees or fundraising contributions, sparing parents the trip to the bursar. Even event promoters have utilized SpurrOpen for selling tickets to conferences and workshops, especially during the pandemic when virtual events boomed. The Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce (MIIC) recognized SpurrOpen’s value and featured it in MSME outreach events (SpurrOpen participated in the MSME Business Roadshow in 2023, showing its solutions to small businesses). One compelling story is how SpurrOpen has enabled youth clubs and small charities to raise funds online from diaspora donors, by creating a campaign page and receiving credit card donations seamlessly. While not as famous as some big gateways, SpurrOpen’s client list runs into dozens of local entities and it serves as a proudly Jamaican alternative that keeps more fees on-island.

Dev/Integration: SpurrOpen abstracts away most of the technical complexity. For a tech lead, using SpurrOpen means configuring the business profile and creating the product/event listings on SpurrOpen’s website. If an MSME already has a website, they might simply link to their SpurrOpen page or embed a SpurrOpen widget (for example, a “Buy Now” button that opens a SpurrOpen checkout). The platform provides ready-made payment pages, so no custom integration with a banking API is needed. SpurrOpen’s backend manages card processing – likely through partnerships (possibly utilizing FAC or another processor via SkyBlue or similar, given the features) – but this is invisible to the user. One interesting integration is with Zoom and Vimeo: SpurrOpen offers features to automate Zoom webinar registrations with paid tickets and to monetize Vimeo-hosted videos. This indicates they have some API connectivity for those services, making life easier for someone selling digital content. Security-wise, SpurrOpen handles all sensitive data; if you embed anything, it would be through a secure iframe or redirect.

They also introduced Lynk payments: a developer doesn’t directly integrate Lynk’s API themselves; instead, SpurrOpen has done it and simply offers “Pay with Lynk” as an option at checkout. This shows SpurrOpen’s strength in stacking multiple payment methods into a single interface. For payouts, the admin (merchant) uses a dashboard to request withdrawals of their balance. SpurrOpen supports payouts by bank transfer, cheque, or even PayPal to the merchant, typically fulfilled within three business days – an example of its pragmatic approach (they even use PayPal to get funds to someone who might not have a bank, if needed).

Key Features & Fees:

All-in-One Platform: Stores: Merchants can list products or services on a SpurrOpen store page and get a shareable link for customers to shop. Events: Users can sell event tickets or registrations, complete with e-tickets and attendee tracking. Donations: Perfect for NGOs or churches – create a cause page with preset donation amounts. SpurrOpen handles all these formats under one login.
Multiple Payment Options for Customers: Shoppers can pay via credit/debit cards (local and international cards supported) or Lynk mobile wallet (which indirectly allows them to use bank transfers or JAM-DEX). This is unique as it covers both traditional banking and the newer digital wallet segment. All transactions are in JMD or USD as configured by the merchant.
Fees: SpurrOpen operates on a commission model. It’s free to set up a page; they then take a percentage of each transaction as a service fee (this covers payment processing costs plus platform maintenance). While exact percentages aren’t published on the site, similar platforms charge around 5% for tickets/donations – likely SpurrOpen is in that range, possibly with volume-based tiers. For large ticketed events, they might also allow passing fees to the buyer. There are no monthly fees or setup fees.
Settlement & Finance: When a customer pays, SpurrOpen holds the funds in the merchant’s SpurrOpen account balance. The merchant can request payout at any time (subject to any minimum threshold). Payouts in Jamaica can go directly to a bank account via electronic transfer, usually processed in a few days. SpurrOpen’s system provides a Revenue Summary and transaction breakdown so businesses can reconcile their earnings. They clearly show the commission taken out and the net amounts, which helps for bookkeeping.
Support & Community: Because SpurrOpen is local, their support team understands Jamaican business needs. They often engage with their client community for feedback. The platform is continually adding features (recently virtual booths for conferences, etc.), making it a living product. For an MSME or group that doesn’t have tech expertise, SpurrOpen is a very low-barrier entry to e-commerce – essentially, if you can manage a Facebook page, you can manage SpurrOpen. It’s a gateway in the broadest sense: not just to payments, but to doing business online in Jamaica.

7. Lynk (NCB’s Digital Wallet)

Overview: Lynk is Jamaica’s first full-scale digital wallet, launched by the National Commercial Bank’s fintech arm in late 2021. While Lynk is primarily a person-to-person mobile wallet app (allowing users to send and receive money instantly, including Jamaica’s Central Bank Digital Currency JAM-DEX), it has rapidly expanded into the MSME space with Lynk Business solutions. For context, Lynk has been a runaway success in user adoption – by early 2023 it had over 200,000 wallet holders, and in 2024 it facilitated 1.3 million transactions worth J$14.5 billion. For businesses, Lynk provides a new kind of payment gateway: instead of card payments, it enables customers to pay directly from their bank or wallet balances via the Lynk app, with the merchant receiving the funds in their Lynk business wallet. Lynk’s value proposition to MSMEs is lower costs (it sidesteps card interchange fees) and instant settlement. Under the Lynk for Business program, even a street vendor or a taxi driver can accept cashless payments by simply showing a QR code or sending a payment request to a customer. For online businesses, Lynk offers an e-commerce checkout button (“Pay with Lynk”) that can be integrated into websites. This effectively creates an alternate payment gateway in Jamaica that runs parallel to card networks.

Jamaican Usage: Lynk’s merchant acceptance network has grown quickly – by mid-2023, over 5,000 merchants nationwide were accepting Lynk payments (according to partnership announcements with MoneyGram). These range from micro-merchants like corner shops and market vendors to larger retailers and billers. For example, many small food outlets and delivery services now display “Lynk accepted here” signs. MSMEs love that when a customer pays with Lynk, the money is credited to the business instantly (no waiting days for settlement). A practical case: a local boutique that sells on Instagram can send a Lynk payment link to a customer; the customer pays in seconds through their Lynk app, and the boutique sees the money immediately and ships the product. Lynk has also been integrated as a payment option in some e-commerce sites via third-party plugins (e.g., Sitepact Jamaica offers a Lynk WooCommerce integration for WordPress stores). Additionally, Lynk is enabling JAM-DEX (CBDC) circulation – any Lynk payment could be drawing from a user’s JAM-DEX balance or regular balance, but for the merchant it doesn’t matter; they receive JMD. We’ve also seen Lynk innovate with a Tap-to-Phone ePOS feature (allowing phones to accept card taps) targeting micro businesses – showing Lynk’s broader strategy to unify digital payments for MSMEs. Overall, Lynk’s rise indicates a cultural shift: many Jamaicans who were hesitant about credit cards are more willing to use a mobile wallet tied to their bank, which in turn opens opportunities for small businesses to go cashless.

Dev/Integration: For a web developer, integrating Lynk is akin to adding a new payment method similar to adding, say, a PayPal or Stripe – except it’s local. Lynk provides APIs and SDKs for merchants. The simplest way is through Lynk’s provided “Pay with Lynk” button/widget which can be embedded. When clicked, it triggers a flow where a QR code is presented or a deep link opens the Lynk app for the customer to authorize payment. Lynk then uses callbacks/webhooks to notify the merchant site of payment success. The Sitepact Lynk WooCommerce plugin is a good example of how integration can be turnkey. This plugin handles generating the payment request and verifying the transaction, so a developer implementing it doesn’t have to write low-level code – they just install and configure. If doing a custom integration, one would use Lynk’s API to: create a payment request (with amount, order info, etc.), get a reference or QR code, present it to the user, and then listen for confirmation. Lynk’s API would also allow checking balance, transaction history, and initiating refunds, though as a wallet system refunds might mean a reverse credit to the payer’s wallet. Security is robust: the user must authenticate in their Lynk app (with PIN or biometrics) to approve payment, and all transactions are encrypted.

From a business admin perspective, Lynk offers a LynkBiz portal where transaction records can be viewed, and payouts can be managed (though funds are already in Lynk, a business can withdraw from Lynk to any bank account or even ATM in real-time thanks to NCB’s infrastructure). This ease of moving money means integration with accounting can be simple CSV exports or API calls. Notably, Lynk’s developer support is local and they’ve been actively helping Jamaican devs adopt the API, so guidance is available.

Key Features & Fees:

Instant Payments: When customers pay a business via Lynk, the payment is real-time. This is a big advantage over card gateways where funds appear a day or two later. It improves cash flow for MSMEs. Lynk works 24/7, so even on weekends or holidays, payments clear immediately.
Lower Transaction Fees: Lynk has no fee for person-to-person transfers, and for merchants the fees are minimal compared to card processing (there is no percentage fee that Visa/MasterCard would charge). As of 2025, Lynk has been operating with very low merchant fees to encourage adoption – some transactions might even be free during promotional periods, or a small fixed fee could be introduced later. In any case, MSMEs can save significantly on the ~3% fees they’d pay on a card transaction.
Ease of Customer Use: Over 200k Jamaicans are on Lynk, so it’s becoming commonplace. Customers can pay by scanning a merchant’s static QR code (which Lynk can provide as printables for a shop) or via phone number lookup or by clicking a payment link on a website. No need to enter card details – it’s just a tap in the app. This reduces friction at checkout for mobile-savvy customers.
Settlement & Withdrawal: Merchants accumulate Lynk balances which can be withdrawn to a bank account at any time (banks process within normal hours) or even cashed out via NCB ATMs instantly (Lynk ties into NCB’s ABM network). For example, a market vendor could get a Lynk payment in the morning and withdraw physical cash by afternoon if needed. This flexibility is unmatched by traditional gateways.
Extra Features: Lynk isn’t just payments; it’s a platform. Through LynkBiz, merchants can pay out to others (like paying suppliers or employees who use Lynk, effectively doing instant disbursements). They also have a bill payments integration – a Lynk merchant can easily become a bill pay agent or pay their own bills from wallet funds. As Lynk evolves, we expect features like loyalty or marketing tie-ins for businesses. Also, Lynk inherently supports JAM-DEX, meaning if Jamaica’s digital currency usage grows, Lynk-accepting businesses automatically can take JAM-DEX without any new setup. In summary, Lynk is a forward-looking gateway that aligns with Jamaica’s push for a digital economy, and it’s very attractive to MSMEs looking to cut costs and improve speed.

8. First Atlantic Commerce (FAC)

Overview: First Atlantic Commerce (FAC) is a veteran in online payments for the Caribbean and Central America. Based in Bermuda and operating since 1998, FAC is the underlying gateway technology for many banks in the region. In Jamaica, FAC is well-known among larger e-commerce merchants and is the backbone for several solutions in this list (EzeePayments, WiPay, Adpay, TiloPay all leverage FAC’s processing capabilities). FAC provides a full-featured payment gateway service directly to merchants and banks, supporting multi-currency credit card processing, multiple payment methods, and advanced fraud tools. It’s integrated with acquiring banks in Jamaica (e.g., NCB, Scotiabank, Sagicor Bank) and across 29 countries in LATAM/Caribbean. FAC is essentially the enterprise-grade option – it handles high volumes securely (processing over 60 million transactions annually and serving 9,000+ customers worldwide). For an MSME with the appropriate scale or looking for longevity, signing up directly with FAC via a local bank merchant account is a route to consider, especially if you want to avoid middleman fees and have control over your gateway integration.

Jamaican Usage: Many of Jamaica’s prominent e-commerce websites use FAC under the hood, even if customers aren’t aware of it. For instance, the JBDC’s Things Jamaican online store uses FAC (alongside PayPal) to power payments for hundreds of local products. Government e-services and utility companies often rely on FAC for online bill payments. Essentially, if you check out on a Jamaican website and see a form for credit card info (that isn’t a PayPal or external redirect), there’s a good chance FAC is processing it in the background. Merchants who have higher volumes or unique needs (e.g., a hotel charging in multiple currencies, or a business requiring 14 different payment methods FAC supports including some alternative payments ) might choose FAC directly. Additionally, FAC’s longevity and reliability mean it’s tested – companies trust it for secure handling of transactions. It’s also continually updating: for example, FAC was the first in the region to offer a PCI-validated P2PE solution and partnered on 3-D Secure 2.0 rollouts. While MSMEs often start with aggregators, some “graduate” to a FAC + Bank merchant account when their volumes grow to a point that direct rates are more economical.

Dev/Integration: Integrating with FAC is more involved than using an aggregator. Typically, an MSME would apply for an e-commerce merchant account with a FAC-partner bank. Once approved, FAC provides API credentials and access. Developers then implement FAC’s API or hosted payment page. FAC offers a variety of integration methods: a Hosted Payment Page (HPP) where customers are redirected to a secure FAC page to enter card details (simpler, as PCI burden is minimal on the merchant side), or a Direct API integration where the site collects card details (using client-side encryption) and sends to FAC’s API for authorization (this allows more seamless user experience but requires stricter PCI compliance). FAC also supports tokenization, recurring billing, and batch processing out of the box for developers.

The documentation is comprehensive, though technical – developers will be dealing with concepts like merchant IDs, transaction codes, etc. One strong point is FAC’s support for various plugins: they or their partners have built modules for platforms like Magento, WooCommerce, and Shopify (via third-party like CartDNA), which can reduce coding efforts. For instance, a developer could use a Shopify app to accept FAC payments on a Shopify store, thereby enabling a Jamaican Shopify site to transact in JMD. Security is top-notch: FAC requires implementation of 3-D Secure (Verified by Visa, MasterCard SecureCode) for most Caribbean markets to reduce fraud. This means developers must handle the 3DS redirect dance, but FAC provides guidance. Testing with FAC’s sandbox is straightforward, but going live will involve coordination with the bank and FAC to ensure everything is in order. While initially setup might take a few weeks (from bank application to final integration), the result is a stable, scalable payment gateway that a business fully controls.

Key Features & Fees:

Comprehensive Payment Methods: FAC supports not just credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover), but also things like virtual cards, gift cards, and depending on bank, even direct debit. It has 14 payment methods supported in LAC region , which might include UnionPay or local schemes, making it versatile if your business targets international customers.
Multi-Currency & Multi-Lingual: A Jamaican merchant can process in JMD, USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, etc., and either settle in JMD or USD as arranged with their bank. FAC handles currency conversion or can be set to charge a fixed currency. The gateway interfaces can present in multiple languages – useful if you get customers from across the Caribbean or beyond.
Fees: Using FAC via a bank means you’ll typically pay the bank’s merchant discount rate (MDR) which could be around 3% (varies by bank and volume, could be lower for large volumes) plus perhaps a small per-transaction fee. Banks often also charge a setup fee (e.g., JA$ or US$ equivalent of a couple hundred dollars) and a monthly gateway fee (maybe US$20-$40) for FAC. While that sounds higher upfront than aggregators, the per-transaction fee can end up lower for established businesses. There’s no fee from FAC directly to the merchant in most cases – it’s all through the bank’s pricing.
Settlement: Since transactions go through your merchant account, funds typically settle on next business day (in JMD for local cards, a couple days for international) directly to your bank account. This is faster than some aggregators and you’re not reliant on a third party’s payout schedule. You also get the benefit of net settlement (fees can be deducted from each settlement or invoiced monthly, depending on bank).
Advanced Capabilities: FAC offers recurring payment tokens, meaning if an MSME runs a subscription service, they can charge repeat customers without re-entering card details (customer authorizes once, FAC provides a token). It also supports fraud management tools like AVS, CVV checks, velocity checks and has partnerships (e.g., Kount integration) for those who need extra protection. For businesses that expand, FAC can scale with them – you can add new currencies, new markets easily, and even connect multiple merchant IDs (if you have different brands) to one gateway interface. In short, FAC is the heavyweight solution: possibly more capacity than a micro-business needs on day one, but it’s the backbone that powers serious e-commerce across the Caribbean.

9. Fygaro

Overview: Fygaro is an all-in-one e-commerce platform and payment gateway that gained prominence through a partnership with the Jamaican government to help MSMEs go digital during COVID-19. Headquartered in Panama, Fygaro provides tools to create a website or online store, generate payment links, send invoices, and accept online payments – essentially a mini-Shopify tailored for emerging markets. The Jamaican Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce (MIIC) identified Fygaro as a key solution for MSMEs and, in late 2020, secured a partnership to offer Fygaro to local businesses with special terms. Under this initiative, Jamaican MSMEs could sign up to Fygaro and get a free trial period, no setup fee, and an affordable flat monthly cost thereafter. Fygaro’s appeal lies in its simplicity and localization: a business with no prior web presence can launch a functional online store (complete with inventory management and even logistics integration) in minutes, and accept payments via credit card or PayPal through Fygaro’s built-in gateway. It abstracts the complexity of obtaining a merchant account or setting up a separate website. Essentially, Fygaro is part site-builder, part payment gateway, part business management tool.

Jamaican Usage: Thanks to the government-backed push, hundreds of Jamaican MSMEs have been introduced to Fygaro. For many, it was their first foray into e-commerce. For example, craft vendors and boutique manufacturers who lost tourist business during the pandemic created Fygaro online shops to reach customers directly. Fygaro’s user stories include things like a rural agro-processor setting up a simple catalog site and taking orders from local and overseas buyers using a credit card – all done without writing a line of code or hiring a web developer. The JBDC reported that in the early phase, over 1,000 MSMEs created web pages through a related initiative (Kolau) and then Fygaro was brought in to add actual payment and store functionality. One merchant, as an example, could be a confectionery business that used Fygaro to build an online store with a shopping cart, then shared the link on their social media, converting followers into paying customers. The convenience of payment links has also been a hit – merchants can generate a link for a specific product or amount and send it directly to a customer (great for WhatsApp sales). While stats of active Jamaican merchants on Fygaro aren’t public, the initiative aimed to digitize 25,000 MSMEs by 2022 with platforms like Fygaro. Even if a fraction of that was achieved, that’s a significant number of businesses at least trying the service. Moreover, by offering a 3-month free trial and a low US$15/month after, the barrier to entry was low, encouraging uptake. Fygaro has effectively become a stepping stone for Jamaican MSMEs to test the e-commerce waters before possibly graduating to more complex setups.

Dev/Integration: For those using Fygaro’s platform, there’s not much traditional “integration” – it’s more about configuration. Fygaro provides a hosted storefront and checkout. However, Fygaro also allows integration into existing websites if desired, via “pay now” buttons or widgets. If an MSME already has a site or wants to only use Fygaro for the payment part, they can create payment buttons or invoice links in the Fygaro dashboard and embed or share them. This flexibility means a developer could, for instance, embed a Fygaro checkout on a custom site via an iframe or redirect. Fygaro’s payment processing itself is likely facilitated by partnerships (it has worked with PayPal and card acquirers in various countries). In practice, Jamaican merchants using Fygaro at the time of the partnership would process card payments which were settled by an arrangement through National Commercial Bank or another channel that Fygaro set up – this was transparent to the user. A developer hooking into Fygaro’s backend can use their API to fetch orders, update inventory, etc., which is useful for more advanced users who might want to integrate Fygaro with other systems (like a separate accounting software). But the core idea is that you don’t need a developer to go live – everything from product upload to payment acceptance is handled in the Fygaro web interface. In terms of security, Fygaro’s checkout is PCI-compliant and if PayPal is used, it leverages PayPal’s security. The platform also supports 3-D Secure for card payments in supported markets, adding fraud protection. Summing up, Fygaro offers both a turnkey solution for novices and enough API/embedding options for those who want to mix it with their existing sites.

Key Features & Fees:

Website & Store Builder: Fygaro provides customizable templates for an online store or simple website. It includes features like product catalog management, inventory tracking, and even integration with courier services for shipping (in some regions). Essentially, it’s a lightweight Shopify. This means an MSME doesn’t need separate hosting or web design – it’s all in one.
Payment Gateway Options: Out of the box, Fygaro enables payments via credit/debit cards and PayPal. The dual offering is smart: many Caribbean businesses had PayPal accounts; Fygaro allows them to keep using PayPal for those who prefer it while also offering direct card payments for customers who don’t like PayPal. The card processing part is handled via Fygaro’s acquirer relationships. Funds from card sales can be settled to the merchant’s local bank (the MIIC partnership presumably took care of linking NCB as the acquiring channel for JMD).
Pricing Model: The standard deal (post-trial) for Jamaica was US$15 per month for the “integrated suite”. This includes the site, gateway, and tools. On top of that, transaction fees apply: for PayPal transactions, PayPal’s fees (e.g., ~3.4% + US$0.30) would apply; for card transactions via Fygaro’s gateway, the fee might be around 3.5% (similar to a typical MDR) – these exact fees would have been communicated during onboarding. Crucially, there was no setup fee and no per-listing or bandwidth fees – this flat approach is great for MSMEs to predict costs.
Features for Business Growth: Fygaro includes online invoicing – you can issue invoices that clients pay online (helpful for service businesses). It also handles order management (so you can see pending, paid, shipped orders in the dashboard) and basic online accounting (sales reports, tax calculation). They also integrated local couriers so merchants can directly arrange delivery once an order comes in, and introduced some marketing tools like discount codes. In essence, beyond just a gateway, it helps MSMEs manage the operational side of online sales too.
Support & Scale: Being an international platform, Fygaro offers customer support and a knowledge base. However, in Jamaica’s case, JBDC and NCB also provided a layer of support to MSMEs adopting it, which was a bonus. As businesses grow, they can continue on Fygaro (it can handle thousands of products and high transaction volumes – recall they serve 10k+ merchants in the region, so they have capacity) or at some point they might move to self-hosted solutions. But many may find that Fygaro’s continually evolving features (they roll out updates that all users benefit from) mean they don’t need to switch. It’s an accessible yet powerful stepping stone in the e-commerce journey for Jamaican MSMEs.

Conclusion: Choosing the right payment gateway in Jamaica’s 2025 landscape comes down to understanding your business’s needs and growth plans. If you’re an MSME just starting out or needing something ultra-simple, solutions like SpurrOpen or LASCO Biz E-Link offer immediacy and local hand-holding. If you value cutting-edge convenience and low fees, Lynk presents a new paradigm in mobile wallet payments. Those seeking a quick turnkey web store would lean towards Fygaro or possibly TiloPay via a partner like Adtelligent. Meanwhile, more established operations ready to invest in robust infrastructure might go straight to FAC or a bank gateway like Sagicor’s, or utilize aggregators like EzeePayments or WiPay to get up and running fast. The good news is that Jamaican MSMEs now have a rich menu of gateway options – far more than a few years ago – and many of these options are locally grown or specifically tailored to the Caribbean context. As a senior web developer advising clients, I often suggest a mix-and-match approach: you might start with one gateway for local cards and another for alternative payments (for example, EzeePayments for cards plus Lynk for wallet payments, which some businesses are now doing). The ultimate goal is to make it easy, secure, and affordable for customers to pay you. Each of the gateways above has a proven track record in Jamaica or the Caribbean, so it’s about finding the best fit for your integration capabilities and business model. With the right choice, even the smallest Jamaican business can sell to the world or serve the local market efficiently – and that’s a big win for our MSME sector.