You can now pay with Bizum in bars, shops and supermarkets
Shoppers can now start paying with Bizum in supermarkets, cafés and high street shops, marking a major shift in how people pay for everyday purchases in the Canary Islands.
The move, which officially comes into effect yesterday (Monday), allows millions of customers to use their mobile phones instead of debit or credit cards at physical checkouts across Spain.
Spain’s banking sector has begun rolling out the system nationwide, bringing Bizum out of online banking and person-to-person transfers and into everyday retail spending.
What is Bizum?
Bizum is a Spanish mobile payment system that allows users to send and receive money instantly using their bank account and mobile phone number. Originally launched for quick transfers between friends and family, it has rapidly become one of Spain’s most popular digital payment methods, with more than 30 million users nationwide.
Bizum is linked directly to customers’ banking apps, meaning payments can be made securely without entering card details. The service is now expanding into shops, cafés and supermarkets, allowing customers to pay in person using their smartphone through QR codes or instant bank transfers.
The change is being seen as a direct challenge to traditional card providers such as Visa and Mastercard, with banks pushing smartphones as the new alternative to physical bank cards.
Reduced or zero transaction charges
Unlike card payments, Bizum transactions work through instant bank-to-bank transfers, meaning money moves directly from the customer’s account to the retailer’s account in just seconds, without relying on the usual international payment networks.
For businesses, especially smaller shops and independent retailers, the system could significantly reduce payment processing costs and card terminal fees, something many local businesses in the Canary Islands are expected to welcome.
Recent figures show the platform is already operating at massive scale, with more than 105 million e-commerce transactions annually and over 3.4 million transfers processed daily across Spain. More than 111,000 brands and businesses are already connected to the system, including major online retailers such as Amazon.
For consumers, the appeal is expected to be simplicity and speed. Users will not need to enter long card numbers or security codes, and payments will usually be confirmed using fingerprint or facial recognition through their banking app.
The system also offers additional security benefits, as sensitive banking details are not shared directly with the retailer, while payments appear instantly in the customer’s bank account activity.
However, the speed of the rollout will depend on how quickly banks update payment terminals and distribute the new QR technology to businesses across Spain and the Canary Islands. Analysts believe the biggest challenge may not be the technology itself, but changing long-established habits around using physical bank cards.
Even so, with fast transactions and no extra cost for customers, many expect Bizum payments to become a common sight at checkouts across the islands in the months ahead.
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