Colombia’s Bre‑B Hits More than 500 Million Transactions as ACI Worldwide and Banco de la República Take the Stage at Fintech Americas 2026

Key Terms

real-time payments financial

Real-time payments are electronic transfers that move money between bank accounts almost instantly and are available around the clock, unlike traditional overnight or batch transfers. For investors, this matters because faster payments improve a company’s cash flow, reduce the time money sits unpaid, and can change revenue and cost dynamics for banks, payment processors and businesses—think of it like receiving a text message instead of waiting for a letter.

financial inclusion financial

Access for individuals and small businesses to affordable, reliable financial services—such as bank accounts, payment tools, credit, insurance and basic savings—so people who were previously excluded can participate in the formal economy. It matters to investors because broader access widens the pool of customers, creates new revenue streams, improves data on borrower behavior, and can lower risk by moving activity out of informal channels—like unlocking new rooms in a house that increase its overall value.

interoperable technical

Interoperable describes products, systems, or software that can share and use data with each other seamlessly, like different phone brands that can call, text and send photos without extra adapters. For investors, interoperability matters because it lowers integration costs, speeds adoption, enables partnerships and ecosystems, and reduces the risk that a company’s offering becomes isolated—factors that can affect revenue growth, margins, and competitive value.

clearing and settlement financial

The process that happens after a trade where the buyer’s and seller’s details are checked, matched and the actual transfer of money and securities is completed so ownership changes hands. It matters to investors because it guarantees that trades become final and reduces the risk of mistakes, lost payments or double-selling; think of it like an independent escrow service that makes sure both the keys and the cash change hands on time.

interoperability technical

Interoperability is the ability of different systems, devices, or software to work together smoothly and share information easily. It matters to investors because it enables more efficient operations, better data sharing, and faster decision-making across various platforms or technologies. When systems are interoperable, they can connect and communicate as if they were part of a single, unified system, reducing complexity and increasing overall effectiveness.

cross-border financial

Activities, transactions, or relationships that involve two or more countries — for example sales, investments, legal contracts, or shipments that cross national borders. For investors it matters because different countries have different rules, taxes, currencies and risks, so cross-border deals can offer bigger markets and diversification but also extra costs, legal complexity and political or currency risk — like driving into a neighboring state with different traffic laws.

remittances financial

Remittances are money sent by individuals to family members or others in their home country, often to support living expenses or important needs. They are a significant source of income for many households and can influence economic stability in the receiving regions. For investors, remittances can signal economic health and influence currency values and financial stability in countries heavily reliant on these transfers.

payments infrastructure financial

Payments infrastructure is the underlying network of software, services and rules that moves money between buyers, sellers, banks and apps — like the plumbing and traffic signals that make digital paychecks, card purchases and app transfers work. Investors care because its speed, reliability and cost determine how easily a company can take payments, expand into new markets and scale revenue; strong infrastructure can cut fees, reduce outages and enable new products.

ACI Worldwide wins Central Banking’s 2026 Award for ‘Financial Market Infrastructure Services Retail’, recognizing the standout success of the Bre-B implementation

OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Colombia’s real-time payments transformation is accelerating at remarkable speed. In just five months, Bre‑B has processed more than 500 million transactions and registered over 100 million payment keys, firmly establishing the scheme as one of the most rapidly scaled real-time payment systems in Latin America.

For this achievement, ACI has been named the winner of this year’s Central Banking Financial Market Infrastructure Services – Retail Award. The awards judges highlighted the collaborative nature of the scheme, the implementation in record time, and ACI’s flexibility in addressing design challenges to deliver the Bre-B implementation on schedule, ensuring a highly successful launch.

These milestone results will be in the spotlight at Fintech Americas Miami 2026, where Mauricio Fernández, real-time payments lead, Latin America, ACI Worldwide, and Ana Carolina Ramírez Pineda, deputy director of retail payments, Banco de la República, will share insights into Bre-B’s rapid rise and outline what comes next for the national scheme.

Powered by ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW) and operated by Banco de la República, Bre‑B is redefining how Colombians send money, pay merchants, and engage with digital financial services. Its early performance reflects both the scale and inclusivity of Colombia’s new real-time payments infrastructure, representing one of the strongest national real-time deployments anywhere in the world.

A New Foundation for Colombia’s Real‑Time Economy

Launched to modernize the country’s payment infrastructure and expand financial inclusion, Bre-B enables instantaneous, interoperable transfers across all participating financial institutions. Built on ACI’s Digital Central Infrastructure, the scheme is already reshaping how consumers, merchants, government entities, and utilities conduct transactions. It also represents a regional first: a nationally coordinated real‑time payments scheme jointly developed by the central bank, regulators, commercial banks, and technology partners, setting a new standard for collaborative digital payments innovation in Latin America.

ACI Worldwide: Powering Colombia’s National Real-Time Scheme

As Banco de la República’s technology partner, ACI Worldwide provides the addressing directory, 24/7 clearing and settlement engine, and interoperability services that underpin Bre-B’s reliability and scale.

“Bre-B’s first five months demonstrate what coordinated leadership and modern infrastructure can achieve at national scale,” said Mauricio Fernández, real-time payments lead, Latin America, ACI Worldwide. “Colombia is now one of the region’s most advanced real-time payments markets. We are proud to support Banco de la República in building a system that strengthens financial inclusion and sets a new benchmark for Latin America.”

“Bre-B has fundamentally transformed how Colombians transact, creating faster, more transparent, and more inclusive financial services,” said Ana Carolina Ramírez Pineda, deputy director of retail payments, Banco de la República. “The first five months highlight the power of interoperability and strong public-private collaboration. As we move into the next phase, continued partnership with ACI Worldwide will be essential in expanding innovation and exploring real‑time cross‑border opportunities.”

Looking Ahead: Real‑Time Cross‑Border Opportunities

With domestic real-time payments firmly established, attention now turns to the cross‑border dimension, particularly the high‑volume corridor between the United States and Latin America.

At Fintech Americas, ACI Worldwide will outline how domestic real-time schemes like Bre-B can interoperate with global real-time networks, positioning regional banks to compete in the fast‑growing remittances and international payments space.

Fintech Americas Miami 2026: ACI Worldwide and Banco de la República on Stage

Bre‑B will take center stage at Fintech Americas as ACI Worldwide and Banco de la República share their journey, insights, and lessons learned.

Featured Session: Real-Time Payments and 24/7 Economies, The New Competitive Advantage in Latin America, Wednesday, March 25, 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM EDT

Speakers:

• Mauricio Fernández, Real-Time Payments Lead, Latin America, ACI Worldwide
• Ana Carolina Ramírez Pineda, Deputy Director of Retail Payments, Banco de la República

Together, they will unpack Bre-B’s governance model, operational rollout, adoption trajectory, and its wider economic impact.

About ACI Worldwide:

ACI Worldwide, an original innovator in global payments technology, delivers transformative software solutions that power intelligent payments orchestration in real time so banks, billers and merchants can drive growth, while continuously modernizing their payment infrastructures, simply and securely. With nearly 50 years of trusted payments expertise, we combine our global footprint with a local presence to offer enhanced payment experiences to stay ahead of constantly changing payment challenges and opportunities.

About Banco de la República

Banco de la República is the Central Bank of Colombia. As the country’s monetary authority, it is responsible for maintaining monetary stability, ensuring sound financial infrastructure, and leading Colombia’s advancements in digital payments and financial innovation.

© Copyright ACI Worldwide, Inc. 2026

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260319965529/en/

Media Contacts



Katrin Boettger | Communications and Corporate Affairs Director | katrin.boettger@aciworldwide.com



Pierce Rohrmann | Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs | pierce.rohrmann@aciworldwide.com

Source: ACI Worldwide