Nuevas medidas del BCRA avanzan hacia la competencia de monedas
El Banco Central de la República Argentina (BCRA) aprobó hoy un conjunto de normativas destinadas a fomentar la competencia de monedas con el objeto de permitir que las personas y los comercios puedan utilizar la moneda que deseen en sus transacciones cotidianas. Estas iniciativas buscan igualar la eficiencia de los diferentes medios de pago tanto en pesos como en dólares, dinamizando el uso de instrumentos de pago en dólares para las operaciones comerciales en el mercado local.
Con el propósito de que los comercios que quieran aceptar pagos en dólares con tarjetas de débito puedan hacerlo, el BCRA dispuso que los adquirentes y subadquirentes (las empresas que intermedian entre el comercio y los clientes para procesar pagos) desarrollen y pongan a disposición las herramientas necesarias para que ello ocurra antes del 28 de febrero.
Adicionalmente, el Directorio decidió incorporar al sistema de QR interoperable los pagos con tarjeta de débito en pesos y dólares, ampliando las opciones que ya incluían la interoperabilidad para pagos con transferencia, tarjeta de crédito y tarjetas prepagas. Esta medida amplía las posibilidades y mejora la experiencia de los clientes y de los comercios que podrán realizar y recibir pagos con cualquier instrumento que tengan enrolado en su billetera, simplemente escaneando cualquier código QR.
El BCRA también creó una nueva variante de DEBIN (Débito Inmediato) recurrente, llamado DEBIN Programado, que permite a los titulares de cuentas pagar las compras de bienes o servicios en cuotas fijas en pesos o en dólares con una única autorización. Este instrumento incluye medidas de seguridad adicionales para prevenir fraudes y evitar su uso en juegos de azar.
Las entidades involucradas tendrán tiempo hasta el 28 de febrero para la implementación del DEBIN programado. La incorporación del QR interoperable para pagos con tarjeta de débito, tanto en dólares como en pesos, deberá estar en funcionamiento antes del 1° de abril.
Jueves 16 de enero de 2025
Highlights content goes here...
Purpose
The purpose of this update is to introduce new measures by the Banco Central de la República Argentina (BCRA) aimed at promoting competition among currencies, allowing individuals and businesses to use their preferred currency for daily transactions. The objective is to level the playing field in terms of efficiency between different payment methods, including those in pesos and dollars, and to encourage the use of dollar-denominated instruments for commercial operations within the local market.
These initiatives seek to enable merchants who wish to accept payments in dollars via debit cards to do so by requiring acquirers and sub-acquirers (entities that intermediate between merchants and customers for payment processing) to develop and make available necessary tools before February 28. Additionally, the BCRA has decided to incorporate debit card payments in pesos and dollars into the interoperable QR system, expanding options that already included transfer, credit card, and prepaid card transactions. This move aims to broaden possibilities and improve experiences for clients and merchants by allowing them to make and receive payments with any instrument enrolled on their digital wallet via a simple QR code scan.
Furthermore, the BCRA has introduced a new variant of DEBIN (Immediate Debit) called “DEBIN Programado” that allows account holders to pay purchases in fixed installments in pesos or dollars through a single authorization. This feature includes additional security measures to prevent fraud and misuse in gambling activities. Entities involved will have until February 28 to implement the DEBIN programado, with the incorporation of QR interoperable for debit card payments in both dollars and pesos expected to be operational by April 1.
Effects on Industry
The effects on the industry from these updates are multifaceted:
-
Promotion of Currency Competition: The BCRA’s measures are designed to promote competition among currencies, potentially leading to improved efficiency and services offered by different payment systems.
-
Enhanced Merchant Services: Merchants will have expanded options for receiving payments in dollars through debit cards, which could enhance their overall service capabilities.
-
Improved Payment Efficiency: The incorporation of QR interoperable payments for debit card transactions in both dollars and pesos is expected to improve efficiency, allowing for quicker and more convenient payment processing experiences.
-
Increased Security Measures: The introduction of DEBIN Programado includes additional security measures aimed at preventing fraud and ensuring secure use of this new feature.
These changes are likely to have a significant impact on the financial services sector in Argentina, particularly on entities involved in payment processing, merchant services, and the broader economy through enhanced efficiency and competition.
Relevant Stakeholders
The stakeholders most affected by these updates include:
-
Businesses: Merchants and businesses that currently accept or wish to accept payments in dollars will be impacted directly. They will need to adapt their systems and processes to comply with new requirements, particularly regarding the use of debit cards for dollar-denominated transactions.
-
Consumers: Individuals using debit cards for payment in pesos and dollars will also see changes as a result of these updates. The expansion of QR interoperable payments could offer them more convenience and flexibility.
-
Payment Processors and Acquirers/Sub-Acquirers: Entities responsible for processing payments, including those that intermediate between merchants and customers (acquirers/sub-acquirers), must develop the necessary tools to enable dollar-denominated debit card transactions before February 28. This includes implementing measures to prevent fraud when using DEBIN Programado.
These stakeholders will need to understand and comply with the new requirements, which could involve investments in technology, process changes, or both, to ensure seamless execution of these updates.
Next Steps
To comply with or respond effectively to this update:
-
Businesses: Review current payment processing systems and consider necessary adjustments to accommodate dollar-denominated debit card transactions. Implement security measures for DEBIN Programado as required.
-
Consumers: Be aware of the new options available through QR interoperable payments, which could provide more flexibility in making and receiving payments.
-
Payment Processors/Acquirers/Sub-Acquirers: Develop necessary tools to enable debit card transactions in dollars before February 28. Implement security measures for DEBIN Programado as required.
-
BCRA: Monitor the implementation of these updates among relevant stakeholders, providing guidance and support where necessary to ensure a smooth transition.
Any Other Relevant Information
Additional information that may be helpful to stakeholders includes:
-
Implementation Timelines: Entities will have until February 28 to develop tools for dollar-denominated debit card transactions and implement DEBIN Programado. QR interoperable payments should be operational by April 1.
-
Security Measures: Additional security measures are included in the new features, such as those implemented for DEBIN Programado, aimed at preventing fraud.
This update is part of a broader effort to enhance payment systems efficiency and competition in Argentina, with potential long-term benefits extending beyond the immediate changes.
