BRE-B Payments: How to transfer money to and within Colombia

Colombia is rapidly embracing digital payments, driven by government initiatives and the success of instant payment systems across Latin America. Brazil's Pix proved that instant payments could replace cards and cash, processing 42 billion transactions in just three years. Now Colombia is following suit with BRE-B (Banco de la República Electrónico - Bilateral), the country's instant payment system launched by the Banco de la República.

BRE-B enables instant peso transfers using QR codes, phone numbers, emails, or ID numbers, eliminating the delays and costs of traditional bank transfers. For businesses operating across borders, this means faster supplier payments, lower fees, and access to Colombia's growing digital economy.

In this guide, we'll explain how BRE-B works, why Colombian businesses prefer it over cards, and how Due makes sending money to Colombia faster and cheaper than traditional methods.

What is BRE-B?

BRE-B (Banco de la República Electrónico - Bilateral) is Colombia's instant payment system operated by the Banco de la República, the country's central bank. Launched as part of Colombia's broader digital payments modernization, BRE-B allows users to send and receive Colombian pesos (COP) in real-time using multiple methods: QR codes, phone numbers, email addresses, or government ID numbers.

The system works through participating Colombian banks and payment providers. Users can initiate payments by scanning a QR code, entering a recipient's phone number or email, or using their Colombian ID (cédula) as an alias. Once authenticated, the payment is processed and settled instantly. Funds move directly from the payer's bank account to the recipient's account within seconds, with both parties receiving immediate confirmation.

BRE-B operates 24/7, including weekends and holidays, and connects all major Colombian banks. Unlike card payments that require merchant accounts and take days to settle, BRE-B provides instant finality at a fraction of the cost.

Why is BRE-B popular in Colombia?

BRE-B addresses key pain points in Colombian commerce and cross-border payments:

• Instant settlement: Transfers complete in seconds, eliminating the 2-5 day wait of traditional bank transfers and the 1-3 day settlement delay of card payments.
• Lower costs than cards: Merchant fees for card payments in Latin America typically range from 2-3%. BRE-B charges significantly less, making it attractive for businesses operating on thin margins.
• No merchant account needed: Traditional card acceptance requires businesses to establish merchant accounts with acquiring banks, a process that can take weeks and involves credit checks. BRE-B only requires a standard bank account.
• QR code convenience: Customers simply scan a code rather than typing card numbers or account details. Static QR codes work for any amount; dynamic codes embed the payment amount for faster checkout.
• Financial inclusion: Many Colombians lack credit cards but have bank accounts or access to basic banking services. BRE-B works with any Colombian bank account, supporting Colombia's digital payment adoption.
• Government support: The Banco de la República continues expanding BRE-B infrastructure and encouraging adoption as part of Colombia's digital economy strategy.

How does BRE-B work?

BRE-B uses a QR code system similar to Brazil's Pix, but operates specifically within Colombia's banking infrastructure. The system supports multiple payment methods:

• QR codes: Static codes for any amount or dynamic codes with embedded amounts
• Phone numbers: Send money using the recipient's registered mobile number
• Email addresses: Transfer funds using email as an identifier
• ID numbers: Use Colombian government ID (cédula) as an alias

For merchants accepting payments:

1. Merchant generates a BRE-B QR code through their bank's business app or payment terminal
2. Customer scans the QR code using their banking app
3. Customer confirms the payment amount and authenticates (PIN, biometric, or password)
4. Payment is processed instantly through the BRE-B network
5. Both parties receive confirmation, and funds are immediately available in the merchant's account

For person-to-person transfers:

1. Sender opens their banking app and selects BRE-B transfer
2. They either scan the recipient's QR code or manually enter bank account details
3. Enter the amount in COP and authenticate
4. Transfer completes instantly, and both parties receive confirmation

The system operates through Colombia's banking network infrastructure, with the Banco de la República facilitating instant clearing and settlement between participating institutions.

Limitations of BRE-B payments

While BRE-B has modernized Colombian payments, the system has some limitations:

• Domestic-only: BRE-B works exclusively within Colombia. International businesses need a third-party service like Due to convert foreign currencies to COP and access the network.
• Bank account requirement: Unlike some payment apps that work with just a phone number, BRE-B requires both parties to have Colombian bank accounts. This limits cross-border use cases where one party is outside Colombia.
• Limited adoption compared to Pix: Brazil's Pix has achieved near-universal adoption with hundreds of millions of users. BRE-B is still growing and doesn't yet have the same ubiquity, though participation is expanding.
• Transaction limits: Banks may impose daily or per-transaction limits on BRE-B transfers, which vary by institution and account type. Businesses should verify limits with their bank.
• Irreversible transactions: Like most instant payment systems, BRE-B transfers cannot be cancelled once confirmed. Recipients must voluntarily return funds, or disputes must be filed through banks.

How to send money from the US to Colombia using BRE-B

Due makes it straightforward to send money from the United States to Colombia using BRE-B. This works for sending remittances to family, businesses making vendor payments, and freelancers receiving international payments:

1. Create your Due account. Sign up with your email, complete KYC verification (typically 5-10 minutes), and your multi-currency wallet is created automatically.
2. Deposit funds in USD. Add money to your wallet via ACH (1-2 business days, lowest fees), FedWire (same-day, higher fees), or USDC (instant if you already hold stablecoins).
3. Add your recipient in Colombia. Enter their Colombian bank account details or BRE-B payment information. Due automatically routes the payment through the most efficient method.
4. Enter the amount and review the rate. Specify how much you want to send in USD. Due displays the real-time exchange rate and exactly how many COP your recipient will receive, with no hidden markups.
5. Confirm the transfer. Once approved, Due converts USD to COP and routes the payment through BRE-B. The transfer typically completes within minutes to a few hours, depending on banking hours.

Most BRE-B transfers arrive within minutes. There's no paperwork, no intermediary banks deducting fees, just a fast transfer you can initiate from your phone or computer.

What are the costs and speeds?

The difference between using Due with BRE-B versus traditional payment methods is significant:

In practical terms: sending $1,000 to a Colombian supplier via Due costs less than $10 (< 1% spread) and arrives instantly. The same payment via SWIFT wire costs $40-70 and takes 3-5 days. Card payments charge the merchant 2-3% ($20-30) plus FX markups and don't settle for 1-3 days.

For businesses making regular payments to Colombia (whether for suppliers, contractors, or operations) these savings compound quickly. Choosing the right global payments platform can significantly impact your bottom line.

Benefits of using BRE-B for cross-border payments

Using Due to access BRE-B offers several advantages over traditional cross-border payment methods:

Is it safe and compliant?

Safety and regulatory compliance are built into Due's platform. All transfers comply with regulations from both the Banco de la República in Colombia and US financial authorities including FinCEN. Due performs strict AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC (Know Your Customer) checks on all users, ensuring funds move through legitimate channels.

On the technical side, Due uses bank-level encryption to protect your data and funds. All transactions are monitored in real-time for fraud. BRE-B itself has built-in security measures including transaction authentication and secure clearing through Colombia's central bank infrastructure.

The Colombian government has strengthened digital payment security through its financial supervision frameworks, and BRE-B operates under these regulatory standards to protect both consumers and businesses.

Due simplifies cross-border payments 

Due eliminates the complexity of international payments. Whether you're sending money to Colombia via BRE-B, Brazil via Pix, or any of 80+ other countries, we handle the technical infrastructure, regulatory compliance, and currency conversion so you can move money as easily as making a domestic transfer.

What Due offers:

• Access to local payment rails worldwide: Connect to BRE-B in Colombia, Pix in Brazil, InstaPay in the Philippines, and dozens of other instant payment systems. Your recipients get funds through the methods they actually use, not outdated wire transfers.
• True mid-market rates: Pay competitive, mid-market rates, not the 2-4% markups charged by banks and traditional providers. Transparent pricing with no hidden fees or correspondent bank deductions.
• API-first infrastructure: Integrate once and access payment rails across 80+ countries. Scale your business without managing multiple banking relationships or compliance frameworks.
• Built-in compliance: We handle AML/KYC verification, local regulatory requirements, and cross-border reporting. You stay compliant by default, regardless of which countries you're paying.
• Speed that matches modern business: Instant to same-day settlement in most corridors. Stop waiting 3-5 days for SWIFT wires when your business moves in hours, not days.
• Multi-currency accounts: Hold, convert, and send in 30+ currencies from a single platform. Eliminate the need for multiple bank accounts across different countries.

See how Due can help your business move money faster and cheaper across 80+ countries. Book a demo to learn more, or sign up to get started today.