The Bizum payment system arrives in stores gradually starting this Monday, May 18, according to the issuing bank. This method, already popular among individuals for quick transfers, is now expanding to physical store checkouts. The goal is to streamline in-person purchases by offering a digital alternative without the need for cash or cards. Users will be able to pay by scanning a QR code or using a store identifier, all from their banking app.
How the technical integration works in POS terminals 💳
The technical implementation requires that store card readers or POS terminals be updated with compatible software. At the end of the purchase, the terminal generates a unique QR code or a reference number that the customer scans or enters into their banking app. The transaction is authorized using the phone's fingerprint or PIN, and the payment is processed in seconds through the Bizum network, which acts as a gateway between the buyer's bank and the store's account. No direct banking data is shared with the seller.
Goodbye, loose change; hello, balance screenshot 📱
Because, of course, there weren't enough ways to pay. Now, in addition to searching for coins at the bottom of your purse or dealing with the card reader that won't read the chip, you can pull out your phone, open the app, wait for the QR to load, and pray the battery doesn't die just as you enter the amount. And the best part: when you ask the shopkeeper if they accept Bizum, they'll look at you as if you're speaking Aramaic for the first few weeks. Digital progress, folks, is gradual.