WhatsApp introduces digital payments in Brasil

Facebook yesterday introduced digital payments in WhatsApp. Users in Brasil can now send money or do a purchase from a local business without leaving their chat.

Last year, Facebook launched a WhatsApp Business app enabling merchants to sell directly on WhatsApp. It also launched Catalogs, a storefront for businesses to showcase and share their goods.

Payments was the feature missing so buyers do the full purchase on WhatsApp. Facebook says that by making payments simple can help bring more businesses into the digital economy, opening up new opportunities for growth.

Payments on WhatsApp are enabled by Facebook Pay

Payments on WhatsApp are enabled by Facebook Pay. Users have to use a six digit PIN or a fingerprint that is required to prevent unauthorized transactions. Facebook supports debit or credit cards from Banco do Brasil, Nubank, and Sicredi on the Visa and Mastercard networks. Facebook says it is working with Cielo, a payments processor in Brazil.

Sending money or making a purchase on WhatsApp is free for buyers. Businesses have to pay a processing fee to receive customer payments, similar to what they may already pay when accepting a credit card transaction.