# Bolivia, Plurinational State of — payment codes and schemes

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BO
> extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

## Summary

- **$imple** first LatAm interbank QR (2019)
- **4,733% growth** 6M to 290M (2021-2024)
- **11 banks** participating
- **Banco Unión** state bank QR
- **B$5,000** commission-free limit

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Banco Central de Bolivia (BCB)
- **Website:** https://www.bcb.gob.bo/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, payment oversight

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | Banco Unión | State | UNImóvil Plus |
| 2 | Banco Mercantil | Private | BMC App |
| 3 | BancoSol | Microfinance | BancoSol Móvil |
| 4 | Banco Nacional | Private | BNB App |
| 5 | Banco FIE | Microfinance | FIE Mobile |

### Market Structure
- **ASOBAN:** Private banks association
- **$imple:** Interbank platform
- **State banks:** Large presence
- **Microfinance:** Strong sector

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| $imple | ASOBAN | Interbank QR | Active |
| LIP | BCB | Large value | Active |
| ACH | Banks | Clearing | Active |
| VPay | Private | Real-time QR | Active |

### $imple Platform
- First Latin American interbank QR
- Launched 2019 by ASOBAN
- 11 banks participating
- QR code encrypted security
- No bank info sharing needed

### Growth Statistics
- 6M transactions (2021)
- 290M transactions (Oct 2024)
- 4,733% growth in 3 years
- Rapid adoption curve

---

## QR code standards

### $imple QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Operator** | ASOBAN |
| **Launch** | 2019 |
| **Banks** | 11 participating |
| **Limit** | B$5,000 per txn |

### $imple Features
- Encrypted QR codes
- Fraud prevention
- No bank account exposure
- Commission-free under B$5,000
- Mobile app based

### Banco Unión QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **App** | UNImóvil Plus |
| **Feature** | SEGIP payments |
| **Pioneer** | First debit online (2016) |
| **Integration** | $imple compatible |

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| $imple | ASOBAN | Yes | Interbank |
| UNImóvil Plus | Banco Unión | Yes | Full banking |
| VPay | Private | Yes | Real-time |
| Soli | Fintech | Yes | Wallet |

### Mobile Wallet Options
- WalletOn Bolivia
- Viva App
- Soli
- Growing sector

### Identity Payment
- SEGIP document renewal
- QR code immediate payment
- Queue avoidance
- Government integration

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [$imple](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BO/imple) | Interbank QR | ASOBAN | 290M txns | [`imple`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/imple) |
| [VPay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BO/vpay) | Real-time QR | Private | Growing | — |
| [Bank QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BO/bank-qr) | Individual | Banks | Active | — |

## Sources

- [Bolivia Emprende - Banco Unión QR](https://boliviaemprende.com/noticias/banco-union-pone-en-servicio-el-codigo-qr)
- [Contxto - Interoperable QR](https://contxto.com/en/bolivia/bolivia-initiates-interoperable-payment-solution-with-qr-codes/)
- [Transfi - Bolivia Payments](https://www.transfi.com/blog/bolivias-payment-rails-how-they-work---ach-mobile-money-digital-banking-growth)
- [LocalPayment - QR Bolivia](https://docs.v3.localpayment.com/request-a-payment/payins/bank-transfer/apms/qr-bolivia)

## Full country report

[BO-bolivia.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/BO)