Banco del Bienestar to Enable Transfers, Digital Payments in 2026

Banco del Bienestar will enable transfers through SPEI and introduce digital payment options via DiMo and CoDi in 1Q26, expanding the services available to millions of beneficiaries of federal social programs. The announcement, made during the presentation of the National Financial Inclusion Plan 2025–2030, outlines the bank’s transition toward a broader digital payments ecosystem.

Víctor Lamoyi, Director, Banco del Bienestar, says that the change responds to the needs of nearly 40 million recipients of social programs and about 10 million additional customers who voluntarily use the bank for savings. “We will also have the possibility of making transfers and having DiMo and CoDi in the application. It will be from the first quarter of next year for all users,” says Lamoyi, according to Expansión, adding that the availability of these services marks a step toward greater financial inclusion and digital adoption among the bank’s customer base.

The announcement is particularly relevant given the institution’s growth in digital usage. Lamoyi says that the Banco del Bienestar mobile application registers around 2 million daily queries and has been downloaded more than 25 million times. This means half of the bank’s customers actively use the app. Between the Mujeres del Bienestar pension and the Rita Cetina scholarship, the bank expects to add roughly 10 million new account holders in the near term. The projected increase places pressure on the institution to deliver services that reduce reliance on cash and support real-time digital transactions.

The shift toward transfers and digital payments aligns with broader public-sector efforts to encourage the use of banking products for everyday transactions. Authorities aim for beneficiaries to use their cards in stores and commercial establishments, reducing cash withdrawals that often lead to liquidity challenges in remote areas. Offering DiMo, CoDi, and SPEI functionalities is expected to support that objective by giving users more ways to manage funds without visiting a branch or ATM.

The emphasis on digital operations is also shaping expectations within the broader financial system. Industry experts note that modernization efforts in Mexico’s banking sector are influenced by the increasing demand for instant payments and interoperable platforms. Lina López, Regional Sales Director, Euronet, a global payments company with decades of experience in cash access and digital transactions, explains that many institutions in Latin America must balance the transition to digital services with the need to maintain trust among users who continue to rely heavily on cash. She adds that successful inclusion strategies require both technology and education, as many potential users have limited experience with financial institutions and still prefer to save money outside the banking system.

Banco del Bienestar will not issue loans, says Lamoyi, adding that lending activities will be handled through Financiera del Bienestar. The bank’s primary role will remain the distribution and management of government transfers.

The introduction of SPEI, DiMo, and CoDi services highlights an ongoing effort to standardize digital payments across institutions. Industry data indicates that interoperability between platforms is a longstanding challenge in Mexico, where traditional systems often limit connectivity across providers. Maintaining compliance, updating systems and responding quickly to incidents will be essential to reinforce trust among beneficiaries, many of whom are new to digital finance.

Banco del Bienestar’s digital expansion also reflects the broader national discussion on financial inclusion, which focuses on reducing geographic and socioeconomic barriers to accessing financial services. The bank operates a large physical network in regions where private institutions have limited presence, and its role in distributing social program resources gives it a unique position in connecting communities to the financial system. Adding transfer and digital payment options is expected to support that mission by giving users more control over their funds and enabling transactions that do not require physical infrastructure.