Contactless payments in Mexico are rapidly developing against the background of digitalization of the market and the growing popularity of non-cash payment methods. According to the Association of Banks of Mexico, the volume of contactless payments (including NFC payments) has increased by approximately 150% over the past year, reflecting increased consumer interest in fast and convenient payment technologies in stores and retail services. It is estimated to take into account that this is growth from a relatively low base.
Mastercard analytics shows that around 30% of all card transactions in Mexico will be contactless by the end of 2025. While this figure is still well below the global average of ~73%, it represents a sharp increase from 2023, when the share of such transactions was less than 5%. It is estimated that the number of contactless transactions will reach approximately 225 million in 2024.
Overall, the country's payment ecosystem continues to shift towards cashless payments: according to the central bank Banco de México (Banxico), in 2024-2025. The number of debit and credit card transactions reached more than 10.6 billion transactions, reflecting the steady growth of digital payments in everyday spending.
NFC (Near Field Communication) technology underlies most contactless transactions and allows the user to pay for a purchase by simply presenting a card or device to the terminal without physical contact. Such payments are supported by Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Wallet technologies, which interact with POS terminals via NFC. In particular, BBVA Mexico and the OXXO network have deployed more than 45,000 POS terminals supporting contactless payments at 22,000 points of sale nationwide.
Approximately 50% of smartphones in Mexico already support contactless payments via NFC/digital wallets, creating a potential user base for this type of transaction.
At the same time, the situation with support for individual services in Mexico is more complicated than in other countries: Apple Pay is officially available and works through Wallet, and Samsung Wallet also supports contactless transactions, but Google Pay still faces limitations in local implementation and is not always available for direct use with local bank cards. However, in some networks (for example, in OXXO convenience stores), Apple Pay payments may not be accepted due to the peculiarities of local POS systems. User analysis indicates that many smartphones support NFC, but not all mobile wallets are activated and integrated with banking products in Mexico.
At ATMs, NFC technology is typically used not for cash withdrawals, but for identification and authorization of transactions (for example, contactless entry to the ATM interface before entering a PIN code). The NFC ATM network in Mexico as of 2025 is still relatively limited. This is due to the fact that key players and regulators focus primarily on retail payments. The NFC option is already available at approximately 8,000 of Santander's more than 10,000 ATMs in Mexico, at BBVA and Citibanamex — only at selected ATMs.
The growth of contactless payments indicates a change in consumer behavior: more and more shoppers are choosing quick tap-to-drink. solutions instead of a physical card or cash, especially in large cities and for everyday purchases. However, widespread adoption of the technology requires, in addition to bank support, merchant preparedness and consumer education regarding the security and use of digital wallets.