You can now make instant payments to Italy, Portugal and Andorra with Bizum: the interconnection of southern Europe is a reality
In a key step towards European autonomy regarding payments, Bizum, Bancomat and SIBS (through their MB Way solution) they have begun to implement the Interconnection of your mobile payment services Within the framework of the European Payments Alliance (Europe). This movement marks a significant milestone in the evolution of instant mobile payments in Europe, by allowing Transfers between users of Spain, Italy, Portugal and Andorra simply using the mobile phone number.
Mobile transfers without borders
The great novelty is that the users of these solutions can make Instant cross -border payments With the same speed, safety and user experience they already enjoy in their countries of origin. The process will continue to be as simple as selecting an agenda contact, introducing the amount and confirming the shipment. The money will reach instantly and with all the guarantees.
The interconnection will be gradually activated among the adhered banks. In the case of Spain, Banco Santander, Abanca and OpenBank have already started the deployment, while CaixaBank, BBVA and Banco Sabadell will do so in the coming weeks. The rest of banks offered by Bizum will do it throughout the second quarter of 2025.
More than 50 million connected users
The European Network will connect more than 50 million users and 186 financial entities in the four countries. Bizum, Bancomat (Italy) and MB Way (Portugal) lead their respective mobile payment markets and, together, added More than 2,000 million transactions in 2024. Only Bizum represents more than half of that volume and a quota of 90% of instant payments in Spain.
This alliance not only improves the operation between private users, but also represents a strategic advance towards the construction of a paneurpea payments infrastructure, based on standard standards and on solutions that already have market confidence.
A more connected future (and European)
Interoperability between these platforms does not imply a change in habits for users. As Angel Nigorra, general director of Bizum, points out: “The interconnection between the leading solutions already existing in Europe is the most convenient route for people who are already users, who will not have to vary their payment habits to perform operations with individuals from other countries.”
In parallel, Bizum expects the alliance It extends soon to new European countries, including some outside the euro zone, as well as new cases of use beyond the P2P, which would open the door to payments in shops or transfers between companies. This strategy positions Europe as a key tool to strengthen an infrastructure of European, innovative and reliable payments, which allows to compete with global solutions without losing control over data or customer experience.
The truth is that just a few days ago, during the celebration of our Next Conversion, Lorena Poza, head of Communication, Marketing and Sustainability of Bizum, this novelty advanced us, and aimed at its usefulness in the internationalization of online businesses: «The idea is also to take it to ecommerce and that this helps stores to take their businesses to these other countries, and sell directly in those markets with the Bizum button, without having to install more buttons ».
Of course, this novelty could have a great impact on future internationalization processes in Ecommerce. With this interoperability, consumers in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Andorra will be able to make payments in ecommerce cross -border as easily as if they buy in their country. This can reduce friction in checkout and, therefore, increase conversion rates, especially in stores operating in several European markets. For Spanish ecommerce who want to sell in Italy or Portugal, this alliance is an open door to internationalize their business, offering local means of payment without complex integrations or agreements with multiple suppliers.
Image: Chat GPT
