“In Spain, almost 25% of transfers made through the national clearing system in 2020 were instant,” positioning the country at the forefront of instant payment adoption in Europe. “The challenge is to extend these instant payments to everyday purchases.”
This was stated by our advisor Pilar Clavería at the meeting on ‘The Impact of Digitalization on Payment Methods,’ organized by Expansión newspaper and American Express, where she highlighted the rapid expansion of Bizum, the Spanish banking project that has become users’ preferred mobile payment solution.
In her speech, the expert emphasized that the banking sector has redoubled efforts to facilitate the deployment of tools and payment methods since the beginning of the pandemic, which has accelerated the adoption of digital payment methods by consumers and merchants.
“The banking sector has ensured that payment services were available and operational at all times,” Clavería asserted, convinced that customers must have the option to choose the payment method that best suits them on each occasion, with all necessary security guarantees.
In this regard, she pointed out that banks had already been applying strong authentication in electronic payments prior to the regulation, which is why many customers have not noticed changes when making their payments. Other adaptations have been more complex.
In this rapid evolution of the payment system across Europe, regulation faces various challenges for the benefit of the consumer: ensuring that all entities performing the same activity are subject to the same regulations, avoiding over-regulation that stifles innovation, and guaranteeing a fair playing field, she emphasized.
