Santander and Getnet, a payment technology company of PagoNxt, part of the Santander Group, announce the launch of Pix via Proximity through Google Pay. The new functionality allows customers to make payments even more quickly and securely from their Google Wallet, simply by bringing their mobile devices close to enabled payment terminals.
Since its launch in 2020, Pix has established itself as the preferred payment method for Brazilians. According to the Central Bank, in the first six months of 2024, the number of Pix transactions exceeded 29 billion, representing a 61% growth compared to the same period the previous year. This progress shows the strength of the system, which has already surpassed traditional methods such as credit and debit cards, which totaled 24.2 billion transactions in the same comparison period. Increasingly, Pix is becoming the most widely used payment method in Brazil.
With Pix via Proximity, Santander’s individual customers will be able to perform transactions automatically just by bringing their phone close to the payment terminal, using Google Wallet, without needing to open the bank’s app or scan QR Codes. On the other hand, Getnet’s business customers will be able to offer this new payment solution on their terminals, adding more convenience, practicality, and security to the consumer experience. Near Field Communication (NFC) technology ensures advanced security through encryption and biometric authentication, protecting users’ data.
Moreover, the speed of transactions will ensure faster service and a smoother shopping experience, aligning with the growing demand for innovative and simplified solutions. The rollout for Santander customers will be carried out in groups, with completion expected by mid-March.
According to Izabella Belisário, Director of Payments and Retail Services at Santander, ‘the new functionality reinforces Santander’s commitment to offering payment solutions that combine innovation, convenience, and security, always with a focus on improving the customer experience.’
For Mayra Borges, Vice President of Business at Getnet, this innovation represents an important step in the evolution of digital payments in Brazil. ‘This technology applied to Pix not only simplifies the customer’s daily life but also brings standardization and significant improvement to our consumer experience. This means that every user with access to an NFC-enabled Android device will be able to pay with Pix via Proximity on Getnet terminals with the same payment experience they already have with cards,’ says the executive.
‘The arrival of Pix via Proximity for Santander and Getnet customers is a milestone, and we are happy to offer even more convenience and technology to the transaction routines of millions of Brazilian customers who use Google Wallet and other Google Pay surfaces,’ says Natacha Litvinov, Head of Payment Partnerships at Google Pay in Latin America.
