Bizum's move into in-store payments is getting closer. The platform, known until now for... instant money transfers between individuals, is preparing to launch Bizum Pay, a digital wallet that will allow you to pay directly in physical and online stores with your mobile phone, without needing to carry the physical card.
Behind this move there is a clear strategy: to turn Bizum into a full payment method, capable of competing head-to-head with major international wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay, but relying on European banking infrastructure and the phone number as the central identifier.
What is Bizum Pay and what changes compared to the current Bizum?
Bizum Pay will, in practice, a digital wallet integrated with the Bizum systemIt will no longer be just a tool for sending money between friends and will become a solution for paying at card terminals and in online stores, directly from your mobile phone.
The idea is that the user can Pay at any participating store by simply tapping your mobile phone against the POS terminal.As it already does with other contactless systems, instead of relying solely on a card, the app will allow users to choose for each purchase whether the amount is charged to the account associated with Bizum (like an instant transfer) or to one of the cards saved in the wallet.
This approach reinforces Bizum's model, which is based on account-to-account paymentsand reduces the role of large card networks in daily operations. Users will still identify themselves with their mobile number, but with many more usage options than the Bizum we know now.
In addition, Bizum Pay will be available as standalone application and also integrated into online banking apps of the participating entities, so that each bank can decide whether to offer the service from its own app or refer the user to the specific Bizum Pay app.
How to pay with Bizum Pay in physical stores and online
One of the major new features will be the possibility of pay in physical store simply by bringing your mobile phone close to the payment terminal, using NFC technology and without needing to enter a PIN in most operations, just like with other mobile wallets.
In practice, the process will be very similar to that already used by Apple Pay or Google Pay: the customer unlocks the phone, selects the payment method in Bizum Pay, and Bring the device close to the compatible POS terminal.The transaction is validated in seconds and the charge is made either to the bank account associated with your Bizum or to a card stored in the wallet.
For online purchases, Bizum Pay will simplify the process as much as possible: Simply enter your mobile number linked to the service to authorize payment, without needing to type card numbers, expiration dates or security codes, which helps in cases of I can't pay with my mobileThis aims to reduce friction in e-commerce and speed up the completion of purchases.
The service design is intended to offer total flexibility in every operationFor each purchase, the user can choose whether to pay with Bizum (direct account charge via immediate transfer) or use any of the cards they have added, even if they belong to other banks participating in the system.
All of this will be Compatible with the main mobile operating systems, iOS and AndroidThis means that virtually any smartphone user in Spain will be able to use Bizum Pay, regardless of phone brand or model.
Offline payments: the answer to blackouts and network outages
One of the most striking aspects of the new service is its ability to function in emergency situations, when there is no internet connection or power outages occur that affect the telecommunications network.
After episodes like the big blackout which left the Iberian Peninsula cut off, the financial industry and European institutions have focused on ensuring that payments can continue to function even when the network infrastructure failsBizum, in collaboration with Redsys and Cecabank, is working on a solution that will allow offline operation in extraordinary cases.
Bizum Pay will incorporate a system that will make it possible Validate transactions without a real-time connectionIn a controlled and secure manner, the mobile phone will act as an electronic wallet capable of managing temporary payments when there is no network access, subsequently regularizing transactions once connectivity is restored.
This capacity aligns with the priorities set by the Bank of Spain and the European Central Bank, which have long emphasized the need to Strengthening European sovereignty in payments and reduce dependence on external infrastructure in critical situations.
Beyond the major power outages, this offline mode aims to provide peace of mind in any technical issues that affects communications, allowing businesses and citizens to continue operating in their daily lives without being blocked by a temporary network outage.
Advantages for users: a single wallet for account and cards
For the average user, Bizum Pay aims to consolidate everything into a single application. all usual forms of payment, taking advantage of the base of more than 30 million people who already use Bizum in Spain.
This new wallet will allow you to store the debit and credit cards of the participating entities And at the same time, continue using traditional Bizum by charging directly to your bank account. This way, each customer will have their preferred payment method on their mobile phone at any given time, without having to switch between apps.
The user experience will aim to be as simple as possible: identification by telephone numberQuick payment method selection and immediate transaction confirmation. All with the same levels of security and enhanced authentication already used in online banking and current payments.
Another relevant point is the adaptation to the four co-official languages ​​of SpainThis reinforces its commitment to providing a broad and accessible service throughout the country. The goal is for anyone already familiar with Bizum to be able to switch to Bizum Pay without major complications.
In terms of privacy and control, the fact that Bizum is powered by Spanish and European banks themselves is key for those who They prefer solutions linked to the local financial system. versus alternatives dominated by large technology companies.
Benefits for businesses: less friction and no need to change the POS terminal
Businesses are poised to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Bizum Pay's arrival. To begin with, they will be able to accept this new payment method without needing to replace your terminalsA simple software update to your POS terminals will be enough to enable mobile payments via NFC.
Entities such as Globalcaja and the rural banks that are part of the Caja Rural Group emphasize that their business clients they will not have to invest in new card payment terminals And yet, they will be able to offer consumers a more streamlined and modern shopping experience. Payment will be just as simple as with a contactless card, but with the added option of linking it to an account via Bizum.
Furthermore, the expectation in the sector is that Bizum Pay will allow to apply more competitive fees than those of Visa and MastercardThis is thanks to the reduction of intermediaries in the payment process. This point is especially relevant for small businesses, where every tenth of a percent of the commission can make a difference.
Another advantage is the immediate liquidity in salesThis feature, already associated with Bizum's instant transfers between individuals, will now be extended to the business environment. The money will arrive instantly in the business's account, improving its cash flow management.
In parallel, Bizum maintains and expands its presence in the online channel, where it already operates in tens of thousands of electronic stores, to which will be added those that integrate Bizum Pay as a direct payment option from the mobile.
Pioneering banks and certifications: the role of Globalcaja and Grupo Caja Rural
The rollout of Bizum Pay in Spain already has several key players. The Caja Rural Group, with Globalcaja and entities like Caja Rural de Asturias at the forefront, has become the first financial group to obtain official certification to offer Bizum Pay in the two major mobile operating systems: iOS and Android.
This certification means that the 30 rural savings banks that make up the group They are ready to launch the service. Once it's fully operational, customers will be able to pay in physical stores and online with Bizum Pay, choosing whether to use Bizum or a card for each transaction, with the same levels of security as current payment methods.
In regions like Asturias, the implementation will have a particularly symbolic component. Caja Rural de Asturias is positioning itself as one of the entities pioneers in deploying Bizum Pay on the ground, positioning the Principality as a real laboratory for the banking of the future in the field of mobile payments.
For these entities, the commitment to Bizum Pay fits into a strategy of "Real and useful" digitization, aimed at facilitating the daily lives of individuals and businesses without losing the close contact typical of regional banking.
At the same time, other major Spanish banks have begun testing in-store payments using Bizum through more complex solutions, such as payment links sent from the POS terminal. Bizum Pay will be available for simplify and unify these experiences under a much more direct app and usage model.
Direct competitor to Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay
With Bizum Pay, Spanish and European banks are fully entering competition with the big tech walletsUntil now, paying with your mobile phone in a physical store almost always meant relying on Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay, which in turn operate on the Visa and Mastercard card networks.
Bizum Pay pursues a different approach: rely on the bank account and telephone number as central elements of the payment, reducing dependence on international card networks. The user can continue using their cards if they wish, but will have the alternative of paying directly from their account with Bizum.
From the European Union's point of view, this strategy fits with the ambition of Strengthen strategic autonomy in the area of ​​payments and limit exposure to decisions or incidents that affect payment infrastructures in third countries.
Bizum's user base in Spain, exceeding 30 million people, gives it a significant advantage over other wallets that, in many cases, depend on adoption tied to a specific mobile ecosystem or operating system. Here, the main requirement will be have a bank account with a participating institution and a compatible smartphone.
If Bizum manages to transfer to physical and online commerce the level of trust and use it already has in peer-to-peer payments, the mobile payments market in Spain could experience a significant balance shift from 2026.
Project timeline and European dimension
Various industry sources agree that the launch of Bizum Pay is planned for mid 2026Some features related to in-store payments might start appearing earlier in a pilot format, but the general rollout is expected within that timeframe.
In parallel, European banks are working on creating a pan-European network of instant payments that connects local solutions such as Bizum (Spain and Andorra), Bancomat Pay (Italy), MB WAY/SIBS (Portugal) or Vipps Mobile Pay (Nordic countries), under initiatives such as EuroPA and the European Payments Initiative (EPI).
The idea is that, in the medium term, a user in Spain will be able to Send money instantly to someone else in Germany, Italy, or Portugal. using their mobile phone, and that the same network will later extend to e-commerce payments and, in a later phase, to in-store payments.
Bizum has already taken steps in that direction, with initial interoperability with the Italian and Portuguese solutions and tens of thousands of cross-border transactions carried out between these countries. The ambition is that, by the end of this decade, any EU citizen will be able to pay with their mobile phone at any business in the Union through a sovereign digital payments infrastructure.
This European context helps to understand why Bizum Pay is not just a local project: it is part of a broader strategy of European banking so as not to be left behind in the field of mobile payments compared to the big tech companies and global card networks.
With this entire network of initiatives, certifications, and partnerships, Bizum Pay is emerging as a a key In the next stage of digital payments in Spain and Europe: a system that unifies accounts and cards on the mobile phone, reduces dependence on intermediaries, works even when the network fails and relies on the existing banking structure to take mobile payments a step beyond what we have known until now.
