Colombia Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2029

GlobalData’s ‘Colombia Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2029' report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Colombian cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including cash, card, credit transfer, direct debits, and cheques during the review-period (2021–25e).

The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2025e–29f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes.

The report brings together GlobalData’s research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers detailed regulatory policies and recent changes in regulatory structure.

GlobalData’s ‘Colombia Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2029' report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the Colombian cards and payments industry, including –
• Current and forecast values for each market in the Colombian cards and payments industry, including debit, and credit cards.
• Detailed insights into payment instruments including credit transfer, cash, card, direct debits and cheques. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.
• Ecommerce market analysis.
• Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing the Colombian cards and payments industry.
• Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, and credit cards.
• Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards.
• The competitive landscape of the Colombian cards and payments industry.

Scope

Card market size in terms of number of cards, value and volume of transactions in Colombian along with detailed card segmentation of debit, credit and charge cards available in the country.

Market sizing and analysis of major payment instruments including credit transfer, cash, card, direct debits and cheques.

Payment market trends and growth for both historical and forecast period

Competitor analysis with detailed insights into leading card issuers and schemes.

Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards.

A detailed snapshot of country's key alternative payment brands.

Key Highlights

To promote the use of electronic payments, as well as improve financial inclusion and cashless infrastructure, in May 2023, Colombia’s Parliament approved a national development plan for 2022–26. One of the focus areas of the plan is to significantly enhance financial inclusion by increasing access to banking and financial services for the unbanked population. Similarly, in February 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies and the National Planning Department launched the National Digital Strategy (NDS) for 2023–26. A core objective of the NDS is to cultivate digital skills and talent, enhance competitiveness, bridge the digital divide, and bolster digital security. It also aims to help businesses digitize, expand ecommerce, and foster digital entrepreneurship.

The Bank of the Republic launched the instant payment system Bre-B on September 23, 2025. Starting from October 6, 2025, the system will facilitate 24/7 instant payments with a settlement time of 20 seconds. Transactions are initiated using unique ‘Keys’ assigned to each user or business, such as national identification numbers, phone numbers or business codes. These Keys identify both the sender and receiver. Initially, Bre-B will support person-to-person (P2P) and person-to-business transfers. Future phases will expand to include ecommerce, recurring payments, and other payment services. Individual transaction amounts will be subject to a maximum limit of COP10.9 million ($2,648). P2P services will be offered free of cost for the first three years after launch, following which a small fee will be charged to both the sender and receiver.

The emergence of digital-only banks will further drive electronic payments in Colombia. In October 2024, the global neobank Revolut submitted a license application to the Colombian financial regulator, the Financial Superintendence of Colombia (Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia; SFC). The SFC approved the license in October 2025. Existing neobanks are also expanding their offerings. For example, in January 2024, the neobank Nu launched its Cuenta Nu savings account in Colombia. This account offers a 13% interest rate and no maintenance fees. In June 2025, Nu Colombia launched the interest-free installment purchases with its credit card; enabling users to make their purchases in interest-free installments at various retailers that use the Mercado Pago platform as a payment gateway.

Reasons to Buy

Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the Colombian cards and payments industry and each market within it.

Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in the Colombian cards and payments industry.

Assess the competitive dynamics in the Colombian cards and payments industry.

Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Colombia.

Gain insights into key regulations governing the Colombian cards and payments industry.