KHQR vs Old System — Why It Matters

Before KHQR, merchants in Cambodia had to display 3–5 different QR codes (one per bank) to accept cashless payments. A restaurant might have separate QR codes for ABA, ACLEDA, Wing, TrueMoney, and Bakong. KHQR eliminates this — one standardised QR code, generated once, accepted by every bank and wallet in Cambodia. This is the single biggest advance in Cambodia’s payments infrastructure in the last decade.

How to set up ABA Pay for merchants — step by step:

1. Download ABA Mobile app (iOS or Android) and open your ABA business/personal account
2. In ABA Mobile → tap the “More” or “Services” menu → select “Merchant QR”
3. Enter your business name (this appears on the customer’s payment screen)
4. Generate your KHQR code — ABA Mobile creates both a static QR (fixed amount) and dynamic QR (enter amount per transaction)
5. Download your merchant QR image and print it (or display on your phone screen)
6. Test with a $0.50 payment from another ABA account to confirm it works

1. Open Wing Bank mobile app → register a Wing merchant account (business account, free)
2. Tap “QR Payment” → “My QR Code” → generate your merchant KHQR
3. Wing assigns you a merchant ID — keep this for dispute resolution
4. Download and print the QR code for display at your business
5. Wing also provides a physical QR code stand to merchants in their network — contact Wing business team at +855 23 999 989

MDR: ~1.5%. Settlement: Instant to Wing account. Best for: Businesses that serve Wing mobile money users — markets, small shops, rural businesses.

1. Download Bakong NBC app → create a Bakong wallet (Khmer ID or passport required)
2. In Bakong app → tap “Merchant” → “Generate QR Code”
3. The resulting KHQR code accepts payments from every bank in Cambodia
4. Cross-border: Thai tourists with PromptPay can also scan your Bakong KHQR to pay in KHR (settled at NBC rate)

MDR: 0% for small merchants (NBC promotion, subject to change). Cross-border: PromptPay (Thailand), DuitNow (Malaysia), PayNow (Singapore). Full guide: Bakong Complete Guide →

💡 MoneyKH Merchant Recommendation

Generate your KHQR once through ABA Pay or Bakong — both accept payments from every Cambodian bank app and wallet. You do not need to sign up to all providers separately. One KHQR code from ABA Pay will accept Wing, ACLEDA, TrueMoney, and Bakong users automatically. The only reason to add TrueMoney separately is if you want to accept Chinese AliPay+ tourists.

Paying at a merchant QR code in 4 steps (any Cambodian bank app)

1. Open your bank’s mobile app (ABA Mobile, ACLEDA ToanChet, Wing app, Canadia app, etc.)
2. Tap “Pay” or the QR code scan icon (typically on the home screen)
3. Point your camera at the merchant’s KHQR code — the merchant name appears automatically
4. Enter the amount (or it pre-fills for dynamic QR), confirm with your PIN or biometric — done. Merchant receives payment instantly.

⚠ Consumer QR Safety Tips

Always verify the merchant name on your payment screen before confirming — it should match the business you are paying. A scammer can place a fake QR code over a legitimate one. If the amount is pre-filled, verify it matches the price shown. Save your transaction reference — screenshot your payment confirmation for any dispute. Dispute process: Report to your bank and NBC if you believe you paid the wrong merchant. How to dispute →

Q: What is KHQR and which apps accept it?

KHQR is Cambodia’s national QR code payment standard, mandated by the National Bank of Cambodia. A single KHQR merchant code accepts payments from ABA Pay, ACLEDA ToanChet, Wing Bank, TrueMoney, Bakong, Canadia Bank, Hattha Bank, Pi Pay, and all other NBC-licensed bank apps. Merchants only need to generate ONE KHQR code to accept all these payment sources.

Q: How much does it cost merchants to accept QR payments in Cambodia?

The Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for QR payments in Cambodia is approximately 1–1.5% per transaction, depending on the provider. ABA Pay charges ~1.25%. Wing Bank charges ~1.5%. Bakong NBC charges 0% as a promotional rate (verify current status). This compares very favourably to Visa/Mastercard credit card MDR of 2.5–3%. Consumer-to-consumer QR transfers are always free.

Q: Can tourists from Thailand or China pay using QR at Cambodia merchants?

Yes — with conditions. Thai tourists using PromptPay can scan any Cambodian Bakong KHQR code (the world’s first CBDC cross-border corridor). Chinese tourists using Alipay can pay at TrueMoney Cambodia merchants via the AliPay+ partnership. Merchants in tourist areas (Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh hotel district) should consider a TrueMoney merchant account specifically to capture Chinese tourist spending.

Q: Can I use international cards (Visa, Mastercard) to pay via QR in Cambodia?

Not directly via KHQR — international Visa/Mastercard cards work at POS card terminals, not QR readers. The exception: ABA Bank cardholders with a Visa card linked to their ABA account can use ABA Pay (which in turn uses KHQR). If you are a tourist with only a foreign Visa/Mastercard, you will need to use card terminals (POS machines) or withdraw cash — QR is primarily for users with a Cambodian bank account.