Payment gateway in Colombia: how to accept PSE, Nequi and Bre-B on your website
How Colombian buyers pay online, how a payment gateway handles PSE, Nequi and Bre-B from payment to webhook, the risks to watch and a checklist for choosing a provider.
Published 03 November 2026 4 min read
Also available in: Español
Online payments in Colombia have changed quickly. Many buyers do not use credit cards online: they pay with PSE straight from their bank account, with wallets such as Nequi and Daviplata, or in cash at points such as Efecty. Since 2025 the country also has Bre-B, the central bank's instant payment system.
This guide explains how Colombians pay online, how a payment gateway handles PSE, Nequi and Bre-B, which risks to watch and how to choose a provider.
Common ways to pay online
| Method | How it works | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| PSE | The customer picks their bank, logs in to online banking and approves the debit | Bank customers (most buyers) |
| Nequi | Bancolombia's digital wallet; paid in the app by push approval or QR | Young, mobile-first users |
| Daviplata | Davivienda's digital wallet | Wallet users, also outside big cities |
| Bre-B | Instant transfer between any bank or wallet using a "key" (phone, email, ID) or a QR | Everyone with a bank or wallet |
| Cash | The customer gets a code and pays at a shop (Efecty and others) | People without accounts |
| Cards | Local or international credit and debit cards | Card holders |
PSE (Pagos Seguros en Línea) is run by ACH Colombia and connects almost every bank. For many Colombians it is the "normal" way to pay online. Bre-B, launched by Banco de la República in 2025, works 24/7 across banks and wallets, and money arrives in seconds — similar to PIX in Brazil.
The problem with manual transfers
Many shops still share an account or Nequi number and check payments by hand. That means hard reconciliation, fake screenshots and slow delivery at night and on weekends. A gateway fixes all three.
How a payment gateway handles it
| Step | What happens | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Create a payment | Your website asks the gateway for a charge for the order amount | Your server, via API |
| 2. Show the method | The gateway returns a PSE link, a wallet request or a QR with a unique reference | Gateway → your checkout |
| 3. Customer pays | Approves in their bank or app | Customer |
| 4. Confirmation | The bank or wallet confirms to the gateway | Bank/wallet → gateway |
| 5. Webhook | A signed webhook tells your server the order is paid | Gateway → your server |
| 6. Fulfilment | Your system delivers or credits a balance | Your server |
| 7. Settlement | Funds become available to withdraw | Gateway → your account |
Risks and how to handle them
- Fake screenshots: never deliver on a screenshot, only on the webhook.
- Pending PSE payments: do not create a second order; wait for the final status.
- Expired payments: create a new charge instead of reusing an old link or QR.
- Missed webhooks: choose a gateway with webhook retries and a status API, and process webhooks idempotently.
Rules to know
Online gambling needs a Coljuegos licence. Colombia also charges VAT on many digital services sold from abroad. Expect KYC checks before going live. General information, not legal or tax advice.
Checklist for choosing a gateway in Colombia
- PSE with all major banks.
- Nequi and Daviplata for wallet users.
- Bre-B keys and QR for instant payments.
- Cash if your buyers need it.
- Signed webhooks with retries and a status API.
- A sandbox for paid, pending, failed and expired payments.
- Clear fees and settlement to a local account, a foreign account or stablecoins.
- One API for several countries.
How PAYWISE handles Colombia
PAYWISE is an API-first payment platform. Indonesia (QRIS) and crypto payments are live today, and Colombia (PSE, Nequi, Bre-B) opens on request: merchants who ask first are prepared first. You keep the same API, webhooks and dashboard as in every other market.
See the Colombia page and send a request in two minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What is PSE? The online bank-payment button that connects almost every Colombian bank.
How is Bre-B different from a normal transfer? It is instant 24/7 and works across banks and wallets with a key or QR, without an account number.
Can a customer reverse a PSE or Nequi payment? Not like a card chargeback. Refunds are made by the merchant.
Can a foreign company get paid in Colombia? Yes, through a provider that collects locally and settles to you.
Sources: Banco de la República, ACH Colombia — PSE, Nequi, Coljuegos. This article is general information, not legal or financial advice.
