Bre-B instant payment system registers a better start than Brazil's PIX did at the time
Portafolio Journalist 04/06/2026 18:25 Updated: 04/06/2026 18:25
TL;DR
- Bre-B, Colombia's instant payment system, has registered 34.6 million clients and over 103.3 million keys by April 5, 2026.
- The system has processed 638.6 million transactions totaling $100.3 trillion Colombian pesos.
- Bre-B's initial performance is deemed superior to Brazil's Pix system's early stages, according to Pronus Payments CEO Camilo Zea.
- Users typically register three keys and link two payment methods, indicating flexible system usage.
- Alphanumeric keys are the most common, followed by mobile numbers, identity documents, emails, and commerce codes.
- System growth accelerated significantly in the second half of 2025, with a notable jump in keys registered in September.
- Natural persons predominantly use Bre-B (96.3%), with potential for growth in the corporate segment.
- Peak transaction activity occurs around midday and 6 PM, with most transactions originating from savings and low-value deposit accounts.
- 196 entities are enabled for instant payments via Bre-B, complementing other existing low-value systems.
- The Bank of the Republic received the Central Banking Awards 2026 for 'Payment Development and Market Infrastructure – Retail Segment' for Bre-B's successful implementation.