MB WAY is Portugal’s everyday money-transfer and mobile payments app, built by SIBS, the company behind the country’s Multibanco network. With MB WAY, you can send money from one phone number to another by connecting your phone number to your Portuguese bank account.
Once you become a resident in Portugal, life will become much easier once you sign up for MB WAY. And the great news? It’s free! Let’s take a look at the history of the service, how it functions, how to sign up, where you can use it, the perks you can unlock, and where MB WAY is heading next.
History
MB WAY was created and is operated by SIBS (Sociedade Interbancária de Serviços), the Portuguese interbank processor that also runs the Multibanco ATM and POS network. SIBS began experimenting with mobile access to Multibanco services as early as the 1990s under “TeleMultibanco,” later “MB Phone,” and launched MB WAY as a branded mobile wallet in 2015.
By growing out of the trusted Multibanco rails that Portuguese banks already used, MB WAY arrived with broad bank support from day one. SIBS today describes MB WAY as its most modern and complete payment app. Once you use MB WAY (and see how easy it is), you may agree that it is truly one of Portugal’s best modern inventions.
A quick timeline:
1985–2000s: Multibanco builds a capable national ATM and POS network, offering bill pay, top-ups, ticketing, and more.
1996–2014: Mobile access appears as TeleMultibanco and later MB Phone, the precursor to today’s MB WAY app.
2015: SIBS launches MB WAY with core features like in-store QR and NFC payments, online checkout via phone number, instant peer-to-peer transfers, MB NET virtual cards, cardless ATM cash-out, and using an ATM with your phone.
2019 onwards: New features arrive such as cardless “Utilizar MULTIBANCO” for ATM access via QR, the “Ser Solidário” donation menu, MB WAY wearables, and even iPhone NFC support!
How MB WAY Works
MB WAY links your mobile number to a bank card from a participating Portuguese bank. Once paired, you can authenticate with a six-digit MB WAY PIN or biometrics and use the app to perform a variety of actions. You can send and request money instantly to your phone numbers without needing to type IBANs. Transfers clear in seconds on the same rails Portuguese banks use for instant payments. Note: the only time we have had any issues with this is when we try to send an MB WAY payment in the middle of the night. It might not always work because the Portuguese bank rails may also be closed for maintenance!
You can pay in stores by scanning a QR code on the payment terminal, tapping with NFC on Android or iPhone, or telling the cashier your phone number and confirming the payment on your device. You can also pay online by selecting MB WAY at checkout, entering your mobile number, and confirming the push notification in the app, with no card numbers required.
The app allows you to generate MB NET virtual cards for safer online shopping, either single-use, merchant-locked, or recurring. You can withdraw cash and use ATMs without your card by creating a one-time code in the app or scanning a QR code to unlock full ATM functionality. It is also possible to split bills among up to 14 people, with MB WAY calculating and requesting each share, and to donate to charities via the “Ser Solidário” menu. For those who prefer not to carry their phone, MB WAY can be paired with a wearable known as MB WAY pulse, which allows payment even when the phone is off or has no battery!
Where Can You Use MB WAY
In Portugal, MB WAY works virtually everywhere. Because it uses the same SIBS and Multibanco infrastructure that underpins POS terminals nationwide, you will find MB WAY acceptance across supermarkets, cafés, taxis, delivery apps, and e-commerce checkouts! It also accounts for a large share of Portuguese e-commerce transactions thanks to the quick mobile number confirmation flow.
How to Sign up for MB WAY
Enrolment is designed to be secure and quick. The most common and widely supported path begins at a Multibanco ATM. Insert your bank card, choose “MB WAY,” enter your mobile number, and create a six-digit MB WAY PIN. Some banks also allow you to start the process in their own app, but ATM enrolment works across most banks.
Next, install the MB WAY app for iOS or Android. Open the app, enter the same mobile number and MB WAY PIN you set at the ATM, and complete activation with the SMS code and a quick email verification. From here, you can add additional bank cards, turn on Face or Touch ID, set security limits, and, if desired, order and pair an MB WAY pulse wearable.
Special Features
MB WAY includes a number of extra features that go beyond basic transfers. The bill-splitting function lets you select contacts, enter the total, and have MB WAY request each person’s share, with funds arriving instantly once confirmed. The cardless ATM access feature allows you to unlock full ATM functionality by scanning a QR code from the app, which is useful if you have forgotten your wallet. MB NET virtual cards let you shop online more securely by creating a card number for one-time or specific use. Wearables like MB WAY pulse allow you to pay even without your phone, and the donation hub, “Ser Solidário,” enables quick charitable contributions directly from the app.
MB WAY also runs regular promotions and partner discounts, which is visible in the app’s Promos section. These include percentage-off deals, vouchers, free deliveries, and sometimes cashback linked to themed campaigns such as holidays or summer events. Offers vary seasonally, and it is worth checking before you make larger purchases. MB WAY also sends offers via text, so keep an eye on these and you might snag a great deal.
Expansion to Other Countries
MB WAY itself remains a Portuguese service operated by SIBS, but through EuroPA, it is gaining the ability to communicate with other national wallets. After successful pilots in late 2024, instant transfers between MB WAY in Portugal, Bizum in Spain and Andorra, and Bancomat Pay in Italy began rolling out in 2025. The next wave is expected to include Vipps MobilePay in the Nordics and BLIK in Poland. This would allow you to send money from Portugal to those users by mobile number just as easily as to someone within Portugal!
Practical Tips for New Users
The most universal way to sign up is to enroll at an ATM before activating the app. Once set up, enable biometric login and consider setting transaction limits, especially if you use MB WAY pulse. Look for MB WAY as a payment option both online and in shops. If you do not see it on a website, you can still pay by generating an MB NET virtual card. If you are traveling to Spain or Italy, try a small transfer to a friend who uses Bizum or Bancomat Pay to make sure your EuroPA setup is ready.
Final Thoughts
MB WAY is Portugal’s everyday wallet developed from the country’s uniquely capable Multibanco system. It was designed and run by SIBS and is now expanding across Europe! It is simple to join, works almost everywhere in Portugal, includes thoughtful extras like MB NET and cardless ATM access, and often rewards users with rotating discounts and cashback. If you are a resident of Portugal and have still not signed up for MB WAY, what are you waiting for?
Fast Facts: MB WAY at a Glance
- MB WAY was launched in 2015 by SIBS, the same company that operates the Multibanco ATM and payment network in Portugal.
- It links your mobile number to your bank card so you can send and receive money instantly, pay in stores or online, split bills, withdraw cash without a card, donate to charity, and shop more securely with virtual cards.
- You can sign up at a Multibanco ATM by linking your card to your mobile number and creating a PIN. Then, you can finish activation in the MB WAY app.
- The service works almost everywhere in Portugal and is increasingly connected to similar wallets abroad through the European Payments Alliance.
- Regular in-app promotions offer discounts, vouchers, or cashback for paying with MB WAY.
