# Yape

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/yape
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [Yape — official](https://www.yape.com.pe/)

## Overview

**Yape** is **Peru's dominant mobile wallet**, developed by **Banco de Crédito del Perú (BCP)** in 2016 <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Peru report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/PE)</sup>. **20+ million users (2025)**, up from 17M in February 2025 — over **half of Peru's adult population**.

**Peru cashless macro (Dec 2023)** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: **Yape + Plin combined = 50%+ of total retail cashless transactions** — surpassing card payments (23%) as Peru's primary cashless payment method.

**April 2023 — Yape-Plin interoperability via Visa** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: Phase-one seamless transactions between Yape + Plin via mobile numbers + QR codes, facilitated by Visa. Distinctive Peruvian rail integration.

**Yape distinctive features**: Instant + commission-free P2P transfers, bill payments, QR/phone-number-based purchases — usable by unbanked Peruvians without traditional bank account.

## History

**2016 — Yape launches by BCP** <sup>[2][2]</sup>: Peruvian bank-led digital wallet.

**2020-2023 — Mass Peruvian adoption** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: Multi-million user growth.

**April 2023 — Yape-Plin interoperability via Visa**.

**February 2025 — 17 million users; 2025 — 20+ million users** <sup>[1][1]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **Banco de Crédito del Perú (BCP)** — Peru's #1 bank; **Credicorp** subsidiary.

**Parent**: **Credicorp Ltd.** (NYSE: BAP) — Peru's largest financial-services group.

**Regulator**: **SBS (Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP del Perú)**.

## Technical integration

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Channels** | Yape mobile app (iOS + Android) + merchant QR network |
| **Identifiers** | Phone + QR |
| **Account model** | Bank-anchored mobile wallet; usable without traditional bank account |
| **PE rail** | Yape national rail + Yape-Plin Visa interoperability (since Apr 2023) |
| **Fees** | Commission-free P2P |
| **License** | Bank (BCP-operated; Credicorp subsidiary) |

## Users & growth

**2025 baseline** <sup>[1][1]</sup>:
- **Users**: 20+ million (over half of Peru's adult population)
- **February 2025**: 17M
- **PE cashless market share**: Yape+Plin = 50%+ of retail cashless tx (Dec 2023)

## Use cases

P2P transfers via phone number; merchant QR payments at SMEs + retail chains; bill payments + utility; Yape-Plin cross-wallet interoperability (Apr 2023+); unbanked Peruvian wallet (no traditional bank account required).

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: **BCP (Banco de Crédito del Perú)** — Credicorp subsidiary.

**Parent**: **Credicorp Ltd.** (NYSE: BAP).

**Interoperability partner**: **Visa** (Yape-Plin Apr 2023 interop).

**Major Peruvian competitors**:
- **[Plin](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/plin)** (BBVA + Interbank + Scotiabank + 4 other entities; 14M+ users)
- Cards (Visa + Mastercard; 23% PE cashless tx 2023)
- Apple Pay + Google Pay (growing)

**Regulator**: **SBS**.

## Fun facts

- **Peru's dominant mobile wallet** — 20M+ users (over half of PE adults).
- **2016 launch by BCP** — Peru's largest bank-led digital wallet.
- **Yape+Plin = 50%+ of total PE retail cashless tx** (Dec 2023).
- **April 2023 Yape-Plin Visa interoperability** — distinctive cross-wallet rail.
- **Commission-free P2P** — distinctive Peruvian inclusion-focused model.
- **Credicorp parent (NYSE: BAP)** = Peru's largest financial-services group.

## Comparison

| Feature | Yape | [Plin](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/plin) (PE rival) | [Pix](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/pix) (BR analogous national) | [Nequi](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/nequi) (CO analogous bank-spinoff) | [Bizum](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/bizum) (ES analogous bank-consortium) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **BCP (Credicorp subsidiary; Peru's #1 bank)** | BBVA + Interbank + Scotiabank + 4 others | Banco Central do Brasil + NPCI-equivalent | Nequi (Bancolombia business line) | Sociedad de Procedimientos de Pago |
| Type | **PE single-bank-led dominant wallet** | PE multi-bank-embedded wallet | BR national instant payment | CO bank-spinoff digital wallet → neobank | Spanish bank-consortium A2A |
| Country | Peru | Peru | Brazil | Colombia | Spain |
| Users | **20M+ (>50% PE adults)** | 14M+ | 150M+ | 23.5M | National (>50% adults) |
| Distinctive | **BCP-led; commission-free P2P; Apr 2023 Yape-Plin Visa interop** | Multi-bank embedded (7 entities) | National instant rail (PE comparable to PIX/Yape combined) | Bancolombia A La Mano 5.4M+ integration | EuroPA EMPSA cross-border |

## Status

**Active, Peru's dominant mobile wallet** <sup>[1][1]</sup>:
- **BCP-developed Yape** since 2016.
- **20M+ users (2025)** — over half of PE adults.
- **Yape+Plin = 50%+ PE retail cashless tx**.
- **Apr 2023 Yape-Plin Visa interoperability**.
- **SBS-regulated** via BCP banking license.

## Sources

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yape_(payment) "Yape — Wikipedia"
[2]: https://bold-awards.com/project/banco-de-credito-yape/ "Yape BCP — BOLD Awards"
[3]: https://www.transfi.com/blog/perus-payment-rails-how-they-work---yape-plin-digital-wallet-growth "Peru's payment rails Yape Plin — Transfi"
[4]: https://www.bcrp.gob.pe/docs/Publicaciones/Documentos-de-Trabajo/2025/documento-de-trabajo-006-2025.pdf "BCRP working paper digital wallets 2025"
[pe-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/PE

- [1] [Yape — Wikipedia][1]
- [2] [Yape BCP — BOLD Awards][2]
- [3] [Peru's payment rails — Transfi][3]
- [4] [BCRP working paper digital wallets 2025][4]
- <sup>[Peru report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/PE)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/PE-peru.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [yape.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/yape). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.