Boleto

Boleto means "ticket" and is a popular cash payment method in Brazil. A "boleto" is a printed or virtual voucher that has a barcode, payment details, and customer information on it. Boleto payments are accepted at thousands of locations across Brazil, from ATMs to digital banks, from post offices to physical branch banks and convenience stores. Boleto can be used to pay for anything, from paying rent to e-commerce purchases.

With approximately 55 million Brazilians without a bank account and others reluctant to share their payment information online, many are choosing alternative payment methods like Boleto. Boleto began in 1993 and is regulated by the Brazilian Banking Federation. With more than 40,000 processing points across the country, Boleto Bancário is a widely used payment method in Brazil for sending and receiving money.

How does Boleto work?

When your customer uses Boleto as a payment method, a Boleto, or voucher, is created specifically for their transaction and then sent via email. Anyone with a bank account can issue a Boleto with all the necessary payment information. It is a push payment that relies on the consumer to initiate the payment, similar to using a bank wire.

When your customer is ready to pay with a Boleto card, they can take it to any location that accepts this payment method or they can process it online. Once their Boleto payment is approved, the transaction is complete. They will receive payment confirmation immediately, while the actual payment will take more time.

Why Brazilian Merchants and Businesses Use Boleto

Merchants often offer discounts for Boleto payments because there is no risk of chargebacks and the payment is completed upfront. Boleto tickets always include a cash amount and a deadline by which the transaction must be completed.

Boletos originally only accepted cash payments, but have since evolved to support online and offline bank transfers. With more than 40,000 processing points across Brazil, Boleto is a widely used payment method for sending and receiving money.

How do I start accepting Boleto Bancario?

Boleto is one of the most popular payment methods in Brazil and has evolved to include online transactions. However, a local processing partner is required to accept and receive Boleto payments. Rapyd Collect lets you accept Boleto and more local payment methods including cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and cash payments.