Global registry · Latin America · Central America

Costa Rica Payment systems

2 systems listed.

This country doesn’t have a written market analysis yet: e-commerce shares, regulator, and key players are still to be documented. The systems below, however, are verified.

IBAN · Costa Rica

22 characters24 bank codes38 BIC codes
Total length
22 characters
Bank code position
5–8
BBAN structure
4!n14!n
Structurally valid example
CRcountry code05check digits0152bank02001026284066account

CR05 0152 0200 1026 2840 66

Check an IBAN · Look up a card

Learn about this market. The guides and courses that cover it.

Payments in the Caribbean and Central AmericaGuide · its region · 29 minPayments in Argentina, Chile, and UruguayGuide · its region · 18 minPayments in Mexico and the AndesGuide · its region · 33 minPayments in Peru, Bolivia, and EcuadorGuide · its region · 24 minPayment success rates and what drives themGuide · global comparison · 18 minCross-border acquiring around the worldGuide · global comparison · 24 minAccepting payments in Argentina and ChileCourse · its region · 60 minAccepting payments in Colombia and PeruCourse · its region · 60 minPayments in Latin America: Pix, cash, and cuotasCourse · its region · 60 minOpening a new market: the payments playbookCourse · global comparison · 60 minCollecting payments for the public sectorCourse · global comparison · 60 minCollecting fares on public transitCourse · global comparison · 60 min

Instant payments

SINPE MóvilThe most heavily used instant rail in the region relative to population, at about 140 transactions per person per year. It uses phone-number addressing, is free below a limit, and is run directly by the central bank. It shows that a small market can reach higher usage density than Brazil.Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) · since 2015747 million transactions in 2025, up 15% from 649 million in 2024, worth about ₡12.5 trillion to ₡12.8 trillion; more than 2 million transfers a day; 4,474,758 active subscriptions in October 2025 (+6.9% year over year); average amount about ₡16,500 (BCCR, cited by the Asociación Bancaria Costarricense, 2025–2026)

Clearing and settlement

SINPECosta Rica’s integrated national infrastructure: gross settlement, funds transfers, direct debits, check clearing, and digital identity services are all operated by the central bank itself. A rare model of a central bank directly running retail payments, which explains how quickly SINPE Móvil was adopted.Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) · since 1997

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