Official: Spain allows payment with Bizum at all physical stores starting from...
Bizum payments land in physical stores in Spain. This new way of paying arrives with the promise to simplify users' lives and change the rules of the game in traditional commerce.
Since May 18, 2026, customers of CaixaBank, Banco Sabadell, and Bankinter can already use Bizum to pay in any physical establishment. But it doesn’t end there: the rest of the banking entities will progressively join in the coming months, opening the door to a new era in payments.
How Bizum works in physical stores
Payments without card or cash
With Bizum at the store, there’s no need to take out your wallet or touch the card reader. The user only needs to have their bank’s app or the specific Bizum Pay version, which acts as a digital card integrated into the mobile phone.
To complete the purchase, the device is brought close to the card reader and the transaction is done via NFC technology. The payment is direct and immediate, transferring money from one account to another through the associated phone number.
Advantages compared to traditional systems
Unlike credit or debit cards, the system avoids the need for intermediaries like Visa or Mastercard, which currently dominate the payment market. This means fewer hidden charges and more agility.
For merchants, the collection is instant, improving their liquidity. Nevertheless, it should be known that this service is not free for them; banks apply a commission per transaction, aiming to compete with the fees of traditional systems.
Who can pay with Bizum in stores and how it will spread
Pioneer banks and gradual incorporation
So far, only CaixaBank, Banco Sabadell, and Bankinter allow physical payment with Bizum. This pilot phase serves to adjust details before the rest of the banking entities join.
In the coming months, we will see most Spanish banks offering this option, which will make Bizum an omnipresent system for making purchases both online and in person.
Impact on users’ daily lives
For consumers, this means they will be able to pay with their mobile phones in stores, markets, and neighborhood shops without needing to carry cash or cards.
The procedure is as simple as bringing the phone close to the card reader, as is already done with contactless cards, but with a system that reduces international dependence and frees transactions from high commissions.
Revolution in payments: what changes for the economy and commerce
Fewer intermediaries, more speed
The direct account-to-account transfer removes the role of large payment processors, making the operation almost instantaneous and with lower costs for merchants and clients.
This could translate into improved competitiveness for establishments and a more comfortable and agile shopping experience for the consumer.
Commissions and challenges for merchants
Despite the advantages, the commission per payment does not disappear. Merchants will have to evaluate whether this system is more economical than traditional ones, but banks assure it will be a more competitive option.
The big challenge will be convincing all users and establishments to take the digital leap and leave behind cash or conventional cards.
Bizum is no longer just a system to send money between friends; now it is the new way to pay in Spain. A revolution that will start to change the way we shop from this May 18, 2026, and promises to make daily life easier for millions of Spaniards.
