MB WAY: What it is, how to set it up and how safe it is
MB WAY - Paying in Portugal
It rarely takes two weeks in Lisbon before someone asks: "Tem MB WAY?" The plumber asks it, your colleague at lunch asks it, and at the flea market people just hold out a phone.
The short answer: MB WAY is Portugal's mobile payment app, letting you send, receive and pay money through your phone number in seconds. You need a Portuguese bank card, a smartphone and a six digit PIN. It is free and technically sound, and the biggest risk is not hackers but scammers.
What is MB WAY?
MB WAY is run by SIBS, the Portuguese payment provider behind the Multibanco network. It links your bank card to your mobile number, which becomes your everyday account details. With it you can:
• send money using only a phone number, in seconds and across different banks
• request money, settling many arguments over a restaurant bill
• pay in shops and online, in some cases via QR code
• generate virtual MB NET cards for online purchases
• withdraw cash at a Multibanco machine without your card
In short: PayPal, card payment and cash withdrawal in one app, nationwide.
Welche Voraussetzungen brauchen Sie für MB WAY?
A card from a participating bank in Portugal. Almost all major institutions take part: Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Millennium BCP, Santander, Novo Banco, BPI, ActivoBank, Crédito Agrícola. Foreign cards cannot be used.
2. A smartphone with internet access and the MB WAY app, or your bank's app if MB WAY is built in.
3. A mobile number. It may be foreign, as long as the card behind it is Portuguese, so your home number still works for now.
4. A six digit MB WAY PIN that you set yourself.
How do you set up MB WAY?
Download the app, enter your phone number, add your card details, set your PIN. Activation runs through a code by SMS and a second by email, or you can register at a Multibanco machine. Up to ten cards, one number each.
Find more information here: https://www.mbway.pt
What does MB WAY cost, and what are the limits?
The app is free and most everyday transfers cost nothing. Only above certain thresholds may banks charge a fee. Any charge is flagged before you confirm.
Limits vary by bank and account type. As a guide, MB WAY states up to 2,000 euros per outgoing transfer and a maximum of 5,000 euros or 50 operations received monthly. Your limits are visible in the app and usually adjustable there. A deliberately low payment limit adds protection.
How safe is MB WAY?
Every payment is confirmed by PIN or biometrics, the app is tied to your device and number, and merchants never see your card details.
The weak point sits in the conversation, not the technology. Transfers are instant and irreversible.
Rule of thumb: check the recipient name before confirming, never share codes, never let anyone rush you. If something goes wrong, call your bank immediately and report it to the PSP.
Frequently asked questions about MB WAY
Does MB WAY work with a foreign bank card?
No, you need a card from a bank operating in Portugal.
Do I need a Portuguese mobile number?
No, as long as the linked card is Portuguese.
What if I send money to the wrong number?
The payment is instant and cannot be cancelled. Contact your bank at once.
Does MB WAY work abroad?
Transfers to foreign numbers work if the recipient is registered. In store payments are built around the Portuguese Multibanco network.
Conclusion
MB WAY makes settling into Portugal noticeably easier. Getting there runs through NIF, tax address and a bank account. We guide you through those steps, from the account opening to your first payment by phone. Get in touch and we will sort out what comes first.
Last updated: July 2026