How will Bre-B impact tech companies in Colombia? Advantages, opportunities, and gaps to consider

Bre-B, the Low Immediate Value Payment System (SPBVI), promoted by the Bank of the Republic, will begin operating in the second half of 2025. This new tool will allow real-time transfers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, marking a milestone in the modernization of the Colombian financial system.

Designed with a vision of inclusion and efficiency, Bre-B aims to expand access to digital payments for startups, fintechs, and entrepreneurs in general. The issuer emphasized that this system represents a concrete solution to one of the main challenges these companies face: the need for a fast, secure, and universal payment method.

With the technical support of DRUO, a platform specializing in digital payment infrastructure, the impact of Bre-B on the technological business environment was analyzed. According to the document shared by this company with the Banco de la República, the implementation of the system will expand interoperability among financial players and overcome some barriers that have limited the advancement of previous models in the region.

Simón Pinilla, co-founder of DRUO, stated that "this platform, as created, will allow for expanded financial inclusion, strengthen interoperability between financial actors, and avoid some of the limitations of older developments like CoDi in Mexico, which, despite being pioneers in the region, have not achieved the expected adoption."

The model will be integrated directly into financial institutions' digital channels. No additional app download will be required: a key linked to personal information such as a cell phone number, ID card, email address, or merchant code will be enough to make payments or transfers, without having to enter account numbers or minimum amounts.

“No account numbers will be required, nor will minimum amounts be established. Furthermore, this won't be a new application, but rather a feature that will be integrated into existing digital channels, such as financial institutions' apps or web platforms, making life easier for entrepreneurs,” Pinilla explained.

One of the main opportunities identified is the ability to enable instant payments and collections, something especially useful for freelancers, informal merchants, and e-commerce platforms. “Among the main benefits and opportunities that Bre-B will offer to Fintechs and startups, the following stand out: these companies will have instant payment and collection solutions, vital for freelancers and small merchants, as well as integrations with e-commerce platforms that will allow them to receive payments in real time, and tools for the informal economy such as QR codes or mobile payments,” Pinilla stated.

Furthermore, the system will enable transactions between people or between people and businesses regardless of the financial institution. "This interoperability between banks, cooperatives, and financial institutions is one of the system's greatest strengths," he added.

The model, according to DRUO, will position Colombia on par with countries like Mexico and Brazil in terms of real-time payment infrastructure. However, they also acknowledge that Bre-B will not solve all structural difficulties. “It will have operating limits, maximum transaction values, and will depend on the progressive integration of entities. In this context, Bre-B will become a powerful complement to existing solutions, and for Fintechs like DRUO, which will be able to offer faster transactions to those companies and individuals who meet the system's criteria. It is a foundation on which we can build simpler, more interoperable, and faster payment experiences,” he said.

The analysis also revealed loopholes that could hinder technology companies from fully utilizing the system. One of these is the maximum transaction limit, set at approximately $10,951,000, which could hamper larger transactions.

Another critical aspect is that Bre-B's adoption will depend on the willingness of financial institutions to join the network. Although the system is technically ready, its operation will require agreements between public and private actors, which could extend implementation times.

Furthermore, since it is not an independent platform, companies will have to authenticate its use within existing financial channels, which could represent an additional obstacle for startups that do not yet have bank-linked deposit products.

Finally, the analysis suggests that the system's success will also depend on a financial education component that still needs to be strengthened. Pedagogy will be essential for startups, fintechs, and small businesses to understand how to use Bre-B effectively and safely.

The Bank of the Republic predicts that Bre-B could add more than five million new users in the next three years.

*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information published by the Bank of the Republic, and reviewed by the journalist and an editor.