The entity announced on its official BBVA Spain portal the arrival of social payment, integrated into the bank’s virtual points of sale. The announcement comes at a time when the number of Bizum users exceeds 29 million and online purchases are growing by 12.4% according to INE, two figures that highlight the urgent need to digitize sales without the need for its own website.
Many of the freelancers consulted this week – from the physiotherapist who works between cafés in central Madrid to the locksmith who charges €60 for an overnight emergency – are looking for exactly that: a system that is fast, without developments and works the same way on WhatsApp as it does on Instagram. BBVA confirms that social payment covers this gap, although the main point that will determine its actual deployment still needs to be clarified.
What SMEs and freelancers can do with BBVA Social Pay
| factor | He deserves | date | fountain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bizum users in Spain | 29,000,000 | 2025 | Bank of Spain/INE |
A system that generates links and QR codes instantly
The tool allows you to create a business profile containing your logo, contact information, and product catalog. From there, each business can create payment links or QR codes ready to share on social networks, digital catalogs and printed materials. For a restaurant that charges €17.50 for its daily menu or a review academy that runs a €65 fee, the advantage is clear: payment is made in seconds and arrives in the merchant’s account every day.
The missing piece of information – which BBVA has begun clarifying internally – is that Social Pay will operate to the same standards as virtual POS. This means that operations will continue to be filtered through enhanced authentication and anti-fraud controls, a crucial point for NGOs and organizations that accept open donations between 5 and 100 euros.
Management from one panel
The social payment gateway centralizes orders, returns, promotions with expiration dates, and even inventory management. This comprehensive oversight – as several financial advisors pointed out in CNMV reports in 2024 – states that “simplifying the collection process is today a key factor in the competitiveness of small businesses.”
BBVA adds that no technical knowledge or web integration is required. For a nearby bookshop selling €12 copies via Facebook or an NGO organizing €20 each donation drives, having a unified system avoids common mistakes: poorly copied prices, expired links or messages lost between chats.
How social payment fits into BBVA’s digital strategy
Another step in the field of banking services targeting small and medium-sized companies
The blue entity – which already leads part of the Spanish fintech ecosystem – adds social payment to a catalog where virtual POS, Bizum for businesses and the billing dashboard stand out. Experts from the Bank of Spain confirmed in 2024 that “instant collection solutions reduced non-payment cases in small enterprises by up to 23%”, a fact that explains the growing interest of companies.
Furthermore, by integrating into virtual points of sale, Social Pay inherits the PCI DSS security architecture, a standard that places Spain, according to Eurostat, among the countries with the lowest percentage of digital fraud per transaction.
Sectors that could benefit most
- Mobile freelancers: Plumbers, electricians, physiotherapists or sports trainers who charge between 30 and 90 euros for services and rely on mobile phones to work.
- Small business: Florists, neighborhood stores, or temporary businesses at fairs where QR speeds up the checkout process without creating a physical point of sale.
- Non-governmental organizations and solidarity groupsDonation campaigns with fixed, open, or increasing amounts, where the link facilitates the fundraising process.
- Digital professionals: Trainers, designers, or consultants who sell services on a closed budget.
BBVA Strategic Movement
The launch comes amid the banking sector’s struggle to attract 1.3 million self-employed workers in Spain. With Social Pay, BBVA positions itself as an ally for those who want to sell without a website, but with full traceability. As Antonio Macias, the entity’s director of acquisition solutions, noted in a November 24 statement: “Our goal is to accompany them in the digital transformation process with solutions that allow them to grow and manage their sales efficiently.”
The message fits with a trend discovered by the National Institute of Statistics since 2023: 72% of companies that sell via social networks seek to integrate instant groups without friction. In a market where every missed purchase counts, Social Pay aims to fill this gap. This is only happening as more businesses move to hybrid models, half physical store and half mobile.
The remaining unknown — which BBVA has yet to detail publicly — is the roadmap for integrating external tools, such as advanced catalogs or inventory automation. A banking sector spokesman consulted by the media summarizes the key: “The speed is there; the challenge is to grow social wages without adding complexity.”
For now, the system starts with the basics: selling on the networks, charging by card or Bizum and receiving the money the next day. For most SMEs, this is enough to get started.