Banco de la República launched Bre-B, Colombia's first interoperable instant payment system, in full operation on October 6, 2025, following a controlled launch from September 23 to October 5.
Pre-Launch Adoption
Key registration opened on July 14, 2025, allowing users to link phone numbers, email addresses, or national ID numbers to their bank accounts and digital wallets. By September 29, over 31 million people and merchants had registered - approximately 76% of Colombia's adult population - with an average of 2.5 keys per person across 39+ participating institutions.
System Design
Bre-B operates 24/7 with real-time settlement. Banco de la República waives all infrastructure charges for at least three years to encourage adoption. Interoperability is mandated - all licensed banks, fintechs, and digital wallets must participate. QR code payments between individuals are planned for H1 2026.
Regional Significance
Colombia joins Brazil (PIX), Mexico (SPEI), and Argentina (Transferencias 3.0) as Latin American countries with central bank-operated instant payment infrastructure. The 76% pre-registration rate exceeds PIX's first-month enrollment and suggests Bre-B could follow a similarly rapid adoption trajectory.
What This Means
For payments professionals operating in Latin America, Bre-B creates a new instant settlement rail for the region's third-largest economy. Cross-border interoperability with PIX and other regional systems could follow, given BCB's active work on PIX Internacional.
Source: Banco de la República