CTT: Payshop prepaid school card reaches 800,000 students in Portugal
In a press release published on September 2, 2026, Grupo CTT provided an update on the deployment of the Cartão Escolar Pré-Pago developed by its payments subsidiary Payshop, ahead of the back-to-school season in Portugal.
A system present in 135 entities and 3,000 schools
The Cartão Escolar Pré-Pago, developed by Payshop, the payments unit of Grupo CTT, in partnership with Edubox and Inovar Mais, is present in 135 entities (129 municipalities and 6 parent associations and groups), covering more than three thousand schools and approximately 800,000 students, representing nearly 65% of public school students.
Until July 2026, 2.4 million reloads were completed, corresponding to an amount exceeding 54 million euros. According to Payshop, these figures reflect the growing adoption of digital solutions designed to simplify the management of school services for municipalities, schools, students and families.
A centralized system for school payments
The solution was designed to assist municipalities in managing responsibilities transferred to the education sector. It enables centralized management of payments such as school meals and other expenses incurred within the school framework (canteens, bars, stationery shops, photocopying services and vending machines).
Membership requires no connection to a banking institution and entails no costs for students and their families. Reloads can be made through the Payshop network, Multibanco or MB Way, while account management is carried out via the SIGA platform, integrated into the education management platforms used by municipalities and school groups.
