Summary
1. The National Payment System continues to grow robustly.
The more than 1,800 million retail transactions in the first half of 2019 show a growth of 12% year-on-year. The 16% increase in the use of electronic means of payment stands out, led by debit cards and online credit transfers.
Global traded amounts fell in real terms, in line with the macroeconomic context, but in the face of the persistent increase in usage, the average amount per transaction fell more than three times as much as the global amount. This indicates a greater number of
companies and families that choose electronic payment instruments for more and smaller transactions.
2. Online credit transfers and prepaid cards continue to accelerate their growth.
In the first half of 2019, there was a 49% increase in the number of online accreditation transfers compared to the same half of the previous year, with almost 145 million transactions. 15% of these operations correspond to payments and purchases in stores.
Within cards, which represent 80% of the use of electronic payment instruments, the prepaid segment stands out, which grew 74%, although its contribution of more than 20 million transactions is still marginal.
3. Immediate debit is gaining momentum.
With operations for more than $10,000 million in June 2019, Immediate Debit or DEBIN began to play a central role as the payment instrument that drives the operation of a more competitive market for fixed-term deposits.
4. Digital wallets: they are growing as payment initiators and as their own payment scheme.
Digital wallets initiated 77 million card payments during the first half of the year, while completing almost 20 million transactions between their own payment accounts. This represents a growth of 146% and 279% respectively for each
function in relation to the first half of last year.
5. Latest innovations: Electronic check (ECHEQ) and Immediate Recurring Debit.
During this semester, the BCRA, in consultation with the market, took the necessary operational definitions for the creation of the ECHEQ, available to the public since July 1, as well as for the redesign for the recurring immediate debit (DEBIN).
