Peru, Chile, and Argentina are in a significant phase of modernizing their real-time payment systems, a development projected to stimulate economic growth and expand financial inclusion throughout the region, according to a report commissioned by ACI Worldwide and conducted by Cebr (Centre for Economics and Business Research), a leading economic think tank.
The study, titled “Real-Time Payments: Economic Impact and Financial Inclusion,” forecasts that by 2028, real-time payments will contribute billions of dollars to formal gross domestic product (GDP) across these three markets and integrate millions of individuals into the formal financial system who were previously excluded.
In Argentina, real-time payments are projected to facilitate an additional $19.3 billion in GDP by 2028, with the ongoing expansion of these payment rails expected to enable 1.1 million people to enter the formal financial system. Peru is forecast to see an additional $376 million in GDP and bring 1.4 million people into the banking system through real-time payments. Chile anticipates an additional $740 million in formal GDP and expanded financial access for over 83,000 individuals due to these payment advancements.
These projected benefits build on the precedents established in Brazil and Colombia, where real-time payments have become integral economic infrastructure. Brazil’s Pix ecosystem is forecast to facilitate an additional $49.9 billion in formal GDP by 2028. Colombia, through the implementation of Bre-B, is projected to add $282 million in GDP by 2028, with a significant impact on inclusion, bringing 5.1 million people into the banking system, marking the largest expansion of financial inclusion in Latin America. The rapid deployment and adoption of Bre-B highlight how interoperable, real-time payment infrastructure can accelerate access to financial services.
Mauricio Fernández, real-time payments lead for Latin America at ACI Worldwide, commented on the varying stages of adoption across markets. He noted that Peru’s central bank is focused on real-time payments and interoperability to transform its ecosystem and boost financial inclusion. In Chile, the objective is to broaden adoption beyond person-to-person payments to include merchant and everyday transactions. Argentina’s innovation and competition, driven by regulatory reforms and the growth of fintechs, are expanding access to financial services and supporting economic growth.
ACI Worldwide will sponsor the Chile Fintech Forum on May 6-7, 2026, a key event for advancing real-time payments in the region. Paola Sanchez of ACI will participate in a panel discussion titled “Multi-Acquiring in Chile: The End of Monopoly and the New Payments Ecosystem” on May 7 at 11:45 a.m.
The study, conducted in 2024 by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) on behalf of ACI Worldwide, involved an independent economic analysis across 40 countries. It utilized bottom-up and macroeconomic modeling to estimate efficiency gains for consumers and businesses from faster payment settlement, reduced transaction costs, and fewer failed payments. These savings were then translated into broader economic impacts using country-specific data on productivity, employment, and gross domestic product. Financial inclusion outcomes were derived from an empirical analysis of historical data (2011-2021), identifying the relationship between increased real-time payment usage and growth in formal bank account ownership. All monetary values are presented in constant U.
S. dollars.
ACI Worldwide, an innovator in global payments technology, delivers software solutions that power intelligent payments orchestration in real time. The company assists banks, billers, and merchants in driving growth while modernizing their payment infrastructures simply and securely. With nearly 50 years of payments expertise, ACI Worldwide combines a global footprint with a local presence.
