Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
Bizum Pay expands to major Spanish retailers
Spanish retailers are adding Bizum Pay as a way to pay in physical stores.
The service is available at chains including Inditex brands, Ikea, Carrefour, Eroski, Alcampo, Burger King and Lidl, and Mercadona is starting a full rollout this month.
More than 1.7 million establishments in Spain accept it, while El Corte Inglés plans to add it across its stores soon.
Bizum Pay is a Spanish banking alternative to Visa and Mastercard, which have so far dominated many in-store card payments.
Customers pay nothing to use it, but shops are charged; some banks say fees may be lower than card fees, which can weigh more heavily on small businesses.
Because Bizum Pay transfers money directly, shops can receive sales payments immediately, unlike the usual delay with card payments.
For now it works only in Spanish stores, while the planned rollout at El Corte Inglés is the next step mentioned.
Bizum Pay is now accepted at major Spanish retailers including Inditex brands, Ikea, Carrefour, Eroski, Alcampo, Burger King and Lidl.
The service can be used at more than 1.7 million establishments across Spain.
Mercadona’s nationwide rollout begins this month, after a pilot in Soria.
El Corte Inglés plans to introduce Bizum Pay across all its shopping centres soon.
The bank-backed payment method is free for consumers, while merchants pay fees.
Bizum aims to gain a share of in-store payment business dominated by Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
- Who
- Spanish banks and Bizum are expanding Bizum Pay. Major retailers, including Mercadona, Inditex brands, Ikea and Carrefour, accept it.
- What
- Bizum Pay is being rolled out as an alternative to card payments in physical shops.
- When
- The rollout is under way; Mercadona’s full deployment starts in October 2026. El Corte Inglés plans to add it soon.
- Where
- More than 1.7 million establishments across Spain.
- Why
- Bizum aims to gain a share of in-store payments dominated by Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mercadona ran a Bizum Pay pilot in Soria.
Mercadona’s full rollout begins.
El Corte Inglés plans to incorporate Bizum Pay across all its shopping centres.
- Available establishments
- More than 1.7 million across Spain
- Mercadona pilot
- Soria
- Mercadona rollout
- Begins in October 2026
- Consumer fee
- Free
- Bizum users in Spain
- 32.5 million