Colombia's Bre-B Redefines Real-Time Payments: Rapid Scale and Immediate Cross-Border Integrations

Colombia's real-time payments infrastructure has entered a hyper-scaling phase in 2026, establishing a new blueprint for public-private collaboration in Latin America. Powered by ACI Worldwide and operated by the central bank, Banco de la República, the national instant payment system Bre-B has achieved unprecedented domestic adoption and immediate cross-border connectivity.

1. Unprecedented Adoption and Scale

Officially launched on October 6, 2025, Bre-B has instantly modernized Colombia's cash-heavy economy.

• User Base: At launch, 30 million people, representing 76% of Colombia's adult population, registered for the service.
• Transaction Milestone: By March 2026 (just five months post-launch), Bre-B processed over 500 million transactions and registered over 100 million payment keys, making it one of the fastest-scaling real-time systems in Latin American history.

"Bre-B’s first five months demonstrate what coordinated leadership and modern infrastructure can achieve at national scale. Colombia is now one of the region’s most advanced real-time payments markets." — Mauricio Fernández, Real-Time Payments Lead, Latin America, ACI Worldwide Source: ACI Worldwide

2. Immediate Cross-Border and Fintech Integrations

Unlike older real-time rails that took years to open to global networks, Bre-B has been integrated into international corridors almost immediately.

• Thunes Direct Global Network: On October 23, 2025 (only two weeks after Bre-B's launch), global payment platform Thunes launched real-time cross-border payments to and from Colombia through Bre-B. This allows members of Thunes' network to move money into Colombia instantly and affordably, a major boon for the US-Colombia remittance corridor.
• Deel Payroll Integration: Global HR and payroll provider Deel has integrated Bre-B to enable instant salary withdrawals for contractors and employees in Colombia, eliminating multi-day settlement delays.

"Together with Bre-B, we’re helping to power Colombia’s participation in the real-time global economy and set a new benchmark for interoperable payments in the region." — Chloé Mayenobe, President and COO at Thunes Source: Thunes

Strategic Implications for US Fintechs

For US fintechs evaluating South American expansion, Bre-B's rapid rise represents a massive shift:

• Low-Value Interoperability: Bre-B enables instant, 24/7, zero-fee transfers between bank accounts, digital wallets, and fintechs. It bypasses traditional credit card rails entirely.
• Remittances and Payroll: Fintechs can leverage aggregators like Thunes to access Colombia's real-time rail from day one, enabling instant payouts to 76% of the adult population using only a "Bre-B key" (such as a phone number or ID).