Bolivia: Electronic payment methods | Medios electrónicos de pago

By Vision 360:

More and more Bolivians are using electronic payment methods, with QR codes being the favorite, growing by more than 4,700%, according to the BCB.

The application of a formula that combines technology with the development and adoption of innovations for electronic payment instruments and channels allows the national financial system and its users to more easily embrace the transformation demanded by the digital era.

Pago por QR. Foto: ABI

Paying with QR. Photo: ABI

In less than three years, the use of QR codes for payments and transfers grew by 4,700%, reported the Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB) this Friday. Increasingly, more people are using this system and other electronic instruments.

“In 2021, financial system users conducted six million transactions through this code. By October 2024, the figure skyrocketed to 290 million, marking a historic growth of 4,733%,” stated an institutional bulletin from the issuing entity.

The use of electronic payment instruments is gaining ground in the country. By October of this year, the system enabling quick and secure money transfers without cash achieved highly positive results.

The implementation of a formula combining technology with the development and adoption of innovations for electronic payment instruments and channels allows the national financial system and its users to more easily adapt to the transformation demanded by the digital era.

Thus, the 94 million Electronic Fund Transfer Orders (OETF) processed in 2021 grew to 407 million by October 2024, representing a 333% increase in less than three years.

The significance of these numbers lies in the accessibility of these operations, as they are used in everyday transactions such as transfers and payments at stores, utility bill payments (drinking water, electricity, residential gas, telephone services, among others), and online shopping, among the most relevant.

The widespread use of these technological advancements in the national financial system represents a qualitative improvement that placed the country at the forefront of innovations like interoperability, many years ahead of when this mechanism was applied in the region.

A Regulated System

In this process, the issuing entity ensures the use of common, compatible, and universal standards for the entire financial system, facilitating transactions, establishing free electronic transfers up to Bs 50,000, enabling electronic channels in non-banking financial entities, ensuring interoperability (allowing users to process transfers between mobile wallet accounts across different financial entities and payments with QR codes and mobile wallets at payment points), and unrestricted availability around the clock.

These measures have facilitated seamless payments and collections and, most importantly, generated trust among users, making them essential tools in their daily lives. 

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