Why Latin America Chose Biometric Authentication for Payment Cards

By Gilles P. Roux, Head of Payments Business Americas at Fingerprints

In June 2021, BBVA Mexico became the first bank in Latin America to announce the rollout of biometric payment cards. Following launches in card-loving France and Switzerland, the world has been favorably surprised to see Mexico as next to launch. 

But think again. Latin America has made itself known in the fintech world. In recent years, it became one of the world’s most active regions for the industry, with over half a billion US dollars raised for fintech start-ups in the first half of 2020.

 Now, the whole region has strong ambitions to continue this momentum in payments and fintech innovation, moving from a cash-first ecosystem towards a new chapter for banking and payments. 

Evolving a legacy

Latin America has historically seen relatively high unbanked or underbanked populations. For example, the estimated unbanked individuals in Mexico and Brazil are 42 and 34 million respectively, that is a staggering 32% and 16% of the overall population 

However, the past few years have seen significant and rapid change. The proportion of unbanked citizens in Costa Rica dropped eight percent between 2019 and 2020. Argentina’s fell by eight percent, Colombia 18% and Brazil an astonishing 73%.     

Many put this down to the fintech revolution. It is establishing a smarter payment ecosystem and the region’s banking sector is offering the latest innovations and experiences to customers to establish new levels of trust.   

Take Mexico, where openings of digital wallets and patronage of neo banks have grown by 30%, while electronic transactions such as bill payments and money transfers have soared by 80%. In July 2021, the number of digital bank accounts in Brazil topped 200 million, and according to the Bank of America, May saw 21 million Brazilian banking apps and digital wallets downloaded. In Colombia, according to BBVA Research, the number of mobile banking users is expected to increase by 721%, to 15.6m, in the decade to 2025, up from 1.9m in 2015. 

And Latin America shows no sign of slowing down.   

Catching up with contactless

As the region’s banking sector serves previously unbanked citizens and payments technologies proliferate, the cash-first economy is eroding. In Brazil, the use of payment cards grew 8.2% in 2020, topping two trillion transactions. 

Much like the rest of the world, Latin America consumers are migrating away from cash and PIN pads towards contactless, attracted by the frictionless and hygienic payment experience. Brazil saw a remarkable 469.6% growth in contactless payment value between 2019-20 as a consequence. 

According to Mastercard, 80% of card issuers across Latin America now offer contactless cards, and 84% of the region’s consumers believe they are a cleaner way to pay. Also, 79% of consumers felt contactless payment cards were more secure than cash, and similar numbers plan to keep using them for the foreseeable future. 

Despite the strong growth in contactless, consumers are concerned about the risk of fraud if their cards are lost or stolen, and many are still confused about varying payment limits at the POS. 

Touch, tap, trust – building confidence with biometrics

Over the past few years, Latin America’s central banks have developed policies to support increased financial inclusion. One priority: ensuring consumers experience the benefits of payment innovation. 

Given the high proportion of previously unbanked consumers, establishing trust and confidence will be key factors in maintaining momentum behind the evolving fintech and payment sector in the region. Biometrics has a role to play. In many countries of Latin America, consumers have already been using biometrics for decades to authenticate themselves; for social security, ID, driving license, accessing workspace and registering work time. Educating consumers on the role biometrics has to play for secure and convenient payments experience, highlighting that their data stays in their control, will bring reassurance and confidence. And when more consumers experience the same convenience of contactless paired with advanced security level, demand and adoption will follow. 

Supporting new era in banking and payments

The launch of biometric payment cards in Mexico with BBVA reflects the region’s ambitions to continue its progress towards smarter payments and embrace cashless opportunities. 

Biometric cards present significant opportunities for consumers, banks and merchants, enabling the next generation of convenient, secure and hygienic in-store purchases. As the region aspires to maintain momentum, biometric payment cards can be a powerful asset in the decision maker’s toolbox, and it would be no surprise that BBVA Mexico is the first in a long list of Latin American banks offering this stunning innovation to their customers. 

To learn more about the global potential for biometric payment cards, visit our web page or check out our regional infographics.