WAAFI + Salaam Somali Bank Mastercard prepaid review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
The WAAFI and Salaam Somali Bank Mastercard suits people in Somalia who need a multi-currency prepaid card for everyday local spending. Currency conversion of 0.4% is the real cost, above the 0% and 0% charged by the alternatives here, and no licence is listed for WAAFI SAS.
Key facts
- Best for
- A multi-currency prepaid Mastercard for people spending and sending money in Somalia.
- Currency conversion fee
- 0.4%↗
- Card type
- Prepaid↗
- Card network
- Mastercard↗
- Legal entity
- WAAFI SAS↗
- Headquarters
- Djibouti↗
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Help-centre↗
- Features
- Multi-currency, Virtual card
- Official website
- waafi.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 2 sources
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- Google Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- A prepaid card on the mastercard network with no monthly fee listed, aimed at everyday local spending.
- Built around multi currency and virtual card use, so one card can hold and spend more than a single currency.
- A currency conversion fee of 0.4%, under the site median of 1%.
- Help is offered on email, chat and help centre, including a self-serve help centre.
Cons
- Currency conversion costs 0.4% on a card built for multi currency and virtual card use, where 0% and 0% charge nothing.
- Help runs on email, chat and help centre, so no phone line is listed for urgent card problems.
- No regulator or licence is listed for WAAFI SAS, so nothing states who supervises the account or what protects the balance.
Ready to try WAAFI + Salaam Somali Bank Mastercard prepaid?
Scored 9.3 / 10 by HodlCue.
Who it suits
- People in Somalia who want a prepaid Mastercard for local day to day spending
- Users who send or receive money in more than one currency and can live with 0.4% on conversion
- Card holders who are happy to get help through email, chat and help centre
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who spends mainly in a foreign currency and wants conversion at the 0% or 0% level.
- People who want phone support, as help runs on email, chat and help centre.
- Savers who want a listed licence or a named regulator, since none appears for WAAFI SAS.
Who runs it
The card is issued by WAAFI SAS, whose headquarters country is DJ. No regulator or licence is listed for the provider, so the terms do not name a supervisor for the account or a scheme that covers the balance. Help is offered on email, chat and help centre, so a blocked card or a query about a payment would be handled in writing or in chat rather than by phone.
How WAAFI + Salaam Somali Bank Mastercard prepaid compares
9.3 vs 9.4
9.3 vs 9.0
9.3 vs 8.2
9.3 vs 9.5
9.3 vs 9.6
9.3 vs 9.0
9.3 vs 9.1Bitpanda's currency conversion fee of 0% leaves WAAFI's 0.4% looking heavy.
9.3 vs 8.9
9.3 vs 8.1
9.3 vs 8.2
9.3 vs 9.5
9.3 vs 9.4
9.3 vs 9.2
9.3 vs 9.1
9.3 vs 9.0
9.3 vs 8.9- 9.3 vs 8.8
9.3 vs 8.8
9.3 vs 8.6
9.3 vs 8.5
9.3 vs 8.3
Where WAAFI + Salaam Somali Bank Mastercard prepaid is available
- Available
- Somalia
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does the WAAFI and Salaam Somali Bank Mastercard cost?+
It is a prepaid card rather than a bank account, and no monthly fee is listed, so the costs that stand out come later. Spending a currency other than the balance currency is the main cost, and no free cash withdrawal allowance is stated for the card.
Which network does the card run on?+
It runs on the mastercard network, so it should work wherever Mastercard is accepted, with a virtual card option alongside the physical card. The prepaid structure means the balance is loaded before spending rather than drawn on credit.
What is the currency conversion fee?+
A currency conversion fee of 0.4% applies, higher than the 0% and 0% listed for the alternatives here. It sits below the site median of 1%. Wise's 0.1% is lower too, so conversion is where this card costs most.
How do I reach support?+
Support runs on email, chat and help centre. No phone number is stated in the card terms, so a blocked payment would be handled in chat or by email. The help centre is worth checking first, since email, chat and help centre covers written answers as well as live chat.
Is the card regulated?+
No regulator or licence is listed for the WAAFI SAS behind the card, so the terms do not say who supervises it. The card is prepaid, so the balance is the amount loaded rather than a credit line.
Who runs the account?+
The provider is WAAFI SAS and its headquarters country is DJ. The card terms cover how the prepaid card behaves, while the account itself is operated from that entity, so the terms a cardholder reads point back to the same provider.
Who is the card built for?+
The card is built for multi currency and virtual card use, so it can hold and spend more than a single currency on the same card. It suits people who receive or send money across several currencies and spend locally, rather than anyone who mainly shops in a single country.
Sources
- waafi.com/card-terms checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type, Features, Currency conversion fee, Card network, Support channels
“The WAAFI Card is a prepaid, multi-currency Card issued by Salaam Somali Bank and operated through the WAAFI Card programme.”
- waafi.com/terms checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity
“WAAFI is operated by WAAFI SAS, IMMEUBLE CONTINENTALE, PLACE 27 JUIN, P.O. Box 3073, Republic of Djibouti.”
Compiled from 2 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Monthly fee, Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.
WAAFI + Salaam Somali Bank Mastercard prepaid
A multi-currency prepaid Mastercard for people spending and sending money in Somalia.