# Why Latin America Chose Biometric Authentication for Payment Cards
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-08-25
Category: FINANCE
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/finance
Meta Title: Latin America's Fintech Evolution: Biometric Payments
Meta Description: Discover how Latin America is transforming its banking sector with biometric payment cards and contactless transactions, leading the way in fintech innovation.
URL: https://financedigest.com/why-latin-america-chose-biometric-authentication-for-payment-cardshtml

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_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](https://www.fingerprints.com/2021/07/27/vive-la-france-cashless-card-opportunities/?utm_source=iseepr&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=latam) and [Switzerland](https://www.biometricupdate.com/201911/first-commercial-biometric-credit-card-in-switzerland-issued-through-fpc-gemalto-visa-partnership), 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](https://latamlist.com/latin-america-fintech-funding-update-q2-2020/) 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](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-banks-can-compete-in-payments.html "5 ways banks can compete in payments").

**Evolving a legacy**

Latin America has historically seen relatively high unbanked or underbanked populations. For example, the estimated unbanked individuals in [Mexico](https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/covid-spurs-greater-fintech-use-in-mexico-but-financial-inclusion-lags-58871441) and [Brazil](https://www.pagbrasil.com/news/brazil-34-million-unbanked/#:~:text=The%20Covid%2D19%20pandemic%20has%20accelerated%20digitalization%20around%20the%20world.) are 42 and 34 millionrespectively, 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](https://qcostarica.com/more-than-78-of-the-adult-population-in-costa-rica-has-a-bank-account/) dropped eight percent between 2019 and 2020. Argentina’s fell by eight percent, Colombia 18% and [Brazil](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1229094/latin-america-change-unbanked-population/) an astonishing 73%.

Many put this down to the [fintech revolution](https://www.financedigest.com/the-fintech-revolution-trends-to-watch-in-2016.html "The Fintech Revolution: Trends to Watch in 2016"). It is establishing a smarter [payment ecosystem and the region’s banking sector is offering the latest innovations and experiences to customers](https://www.financedigest.com/2019-year-customers-take-control-payments.html "2019: The year customers take control of payments") to establish new levels of trust.

Take Mexico, where openings of digital wallets and patronage of neo banks [have grown by 30%](https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/covid-spurs-greater-fintech-use-in-mexico-but-financial-inclusion-lags-58871441), while electronic transactions such as bill payments and money transfers have [soared by 80%](https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/covid-spurs-greater-fintech-use-in-mexico-but-financial-inclusion-lags-58871441). In [July 2021](https://labsnews.com/en/articles/business/brazil-has-200-million-digital-accounts-and-a-challenge-how-to-make-them-actually-used/), 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](https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/analysis/breaking-tradition-mobile-and-online-banking-are-improving-financial-inclusion), 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](https://www.financedigest.com/combatting-economic-uncertainty-in-2023-with-the-payments-sector-2.html "Combatting economic uncertainty in 2023 with the payments sector") technologies proliferate, the cash-first economy is eroding. In Brazil, the use of payment cards grew [8.2% in 2020](https://labsnews.com/en/news/business/card-payments-in-brazil-hit-brl-2-trillion-in-2020-up-8-2/), topping two trillion transactions.

Much like [the rest of the world](https://www.fingerprints.com/uploads/2021/01/fingerprints_infographics_consumer_in-store_payment_global.pdf?utm_source=iseepr&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=latam), 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](https://labsnews.com/en/news/business/card-payments-in-brazil-hit-brl-2-trillion-in-2020-up-8-2/) in contactless payment value between 2019-20 as a consequence.

According to [Mastercard](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mastercard-study-shows-consumers-in-lac-make-the-move-to-contactless-payments-850309353.html), 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](https://www.financedigest.com/the-pull-of-the-past-1-in-5-keep-items-they-think-will-be-valuable-in-the-future.html "The pull of the past! 1 in 5 keep items they think will be valuable in the future").

Despite the strong growth in contactless, [consumers are concerned](https://www.fingerprints.com/uploads/2021/01/fingerprints_infographics_consumer_in-store_payment_global.pdf?utm_source=iseepr&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=latam) 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](https://www.bis.org/publ/qtrpdf/r_qt2012f.htm) 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](https://www.financedigest.com/3-key-ways-you-can-transition-from-finance-to-fintech.html "3 key ways you can transition from finance to 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](https://www.fingerprints.com/2020/04/06/in-consumer-biometrics-we-trust-authentication-for-the-data-privacy-age/?utm_source=iseepr&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=latam), 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](https://www.financedigest.com/comserve-to-support-allied-irish-bank-nationwide.html "COMSERVE TO SUPPORT ALLIED IRISH BANK NATIONWIDE") and payments**

The launch of biometric payment cards in Mexico with BBVA [reflects](https://www.financedigest.com/5-predictions-for-payments-landscape-in-2022-and-our-reflections-on-2021.html "5 Predictions for Payments Landscape in 2022 and our reflections on 2021") the region’s ambitions to continue its progress towards smarter payments and embrace cashless opportunities.

Biometric cards present [significant opportunities](https://www.fingerprints.com/2021/02/24/can-banks-acquire-customers-with-biometric-payment-cards/?utm_source=iseepr&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=latam) 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](https://www.financedigest.com/christmas-debt-hangovers-how-banks-can-help-customers.html "CHRISTMAS DEBT HANGOVERS: HOW BANKS CAN HELP CUSTOMERS").

To learn more about the global potential for biometric payment cards, visit our [web page](https://www.fingerprints.com/solutions/payments/?utm_source=iseepr&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=latam) or check out our [regional infographics](https://www.fingerprints.com/downloads-resources/?utm_source=iseepr&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=latam).


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