A new reality is emerging for everyday payments in Spain: Bizum, already a familiar tool for millions of users, is officially entering the offline retail market. Starting in May 2026, the service, integrated into banking apps, will allow purchases in brick-and-mortar stores using mobile phones. This move is meant to make Bizum not just a tool for transferring money between friends and family, but a full-fledged alternative to bank cards and cash.
According to Talent24h, Bizum already has 29.5 million active users, and the number of transactions has exceeded 4 billion. Today, 37% of the country’s population uses this service for regular payments. Now, the company is taking the next step to secure its place in the daily lives of Spaniards and change their usual payment habits.
Technology and convenience
The main innovation is payment via NFC: to complete a purchase, simply tap your smartphone to the terminal. Entering a PIN for each transaction won’t be necessary, which noticeably speeds up the checkout process. According to users, the experience will be similar to that offered by Apple Pay or Google Pay, but everything will take place within Bizum’s familiar interface.
Special attention has been paid to autonomy: the new function will allow payments even without an internet connection. This could be a crucial advantage in places with unstable connectivity or when there is a need to quickly complete a purchase. Such an approach makes Bizum especially appealing to those who value speed and simplicity.
Impact on stores and customers
For retail outlets, the introduction of Bizum promises not only an expanded range of accepted payment methods but also instant crediting of funds to the bank account. This can significantly improve business liquidity and simplify financial planning. However, there is another side to the innovation: each transaction will be subject to a fee, with terms and amounts set by partner banks.
Bizum’s move toward offline payments reflects a broader trend toward the digitalization of financial services in Spain. More and more people are turning away from cash in favor of mobile solutions, and stores are having to adapt to new customer expectations. In this context, the experience of introducing instant returns for packaging in neighboring Portugal, as described in the article on the reasons for the delay of such changes in Spain, shows how important speed and convenience have become for modern consumers.
Prospects and significance
Bizum is aiming to move beyond the familiar scenario of “person-to-person transfers” to become a full-fledged competitor to bank cards and cash. For stores, this means rethinking their payment acceptance strategies, and for customers — even greater freedom of choice and convenience. As digital services increasingly replace traditional forms of payment, the launch of Bizum’s new feature could become one of the key events in Spain’s fintech market.
