The association highlights that this method already accounts for nearly a third of the amount transferred through electronic mechanisms, reflecting the accelerated transformation of the Dominican payment system
SANTO DOMINGO.- The amount transferred through instant payments multiplied by 36 between 2015 and 2025, going from RD$130 billion to RD$4.8 trillion, reflecting the growing adoption of digital payment solutions and the transformation of the Dominican payment system, reported the Association of Multiple Banks of the Dominican Republic (ABA), based on an analysis prepared by its Technical Directorate.
The financial institution explained that this growth allowed instant payments to increase from representing just 3.7% of the total amount transferred through electronic mechanisms in 2015 to nearly 29% in 2025. With this, it added, this method now accounts for almost a third of the resources mobilized through electronic transfers and registered an average annual growth of 48.8%, the highest among the main payment mechanisms.
"The speed, security and ease offered by this method have boosted its adoption, making it one of the preferred options for individuals and businesses to make their transfers," the banking association highlighted.
He also stated that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this process, boosting the use of digital channels and facilitating faster adoption of electronic payments. As a result, instant payments saw a 43.9% increase in 2021.
Although instant payments have shown the greatest dynamism during the last decade, the Banking Association specified that the Automated Clearing House (ACH) continues to play a relevant role within the payments ecosystem.
In that regard, he reported that after registering a reduction in the amounts processed after the entry into operation of instant payments, this modality showed a sustained recovery, going from RD$127,878 million in 2016 to RD$412,000 million in 2025, with an average annual growth of 9%.
The company explained that ACH continues to be a widely used alternative for payroll payments, supplier payments, loan payments, and peer-to-peer transfers, thanks to the fact that it allows these transactions to be carried out at no cost to users.
He also indicated that, in terms of the volume of resources mobilized, the main instrument continues to be direct debit and credit, which operates through payment orders or debit authorizations and reached RD$11.7 trillion in 2025. "Its share within the total amount transferred through electronic mechanisms decreased from 96% in 2015 to 71% in 2025, as a result of the accelerated growth of instant payments," he noted.
He stated that the evolution observed during the last decade demonstrates a sustained transformation in the way individuals and companies make their electronic payments.
According to the association, the increasing digitization of financial services, the investments made by financial intermediation entities, and the continuous strengthening of the national payments system infrastructure continue to drive an increasingly agile, secure, and efficient ecosystem.
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