How to send money from Argentina to Colombia with Bre-B (2026 guide)

You have a business partner in Bogota. Your family lives in Medellin. Or you simply need to pay for a service in Colombian pesos. Whatever the reason, sending money from Argentina to Colombia has always felt more complicated than it should be.

But things are changing. Colombia launched Bre-B, its new instant payment system, and fintech platforms like AstroPay now let you send money as if you were making a local transfer. No lines, no intermediary banks, no waiting days.

If you have your recipient's details, technology does the rest.

What is Bre-B and why it changes transfers in Colombia

Bre-B is Colombia's instant payment system, launched by the Banco de la Republica in October 2025. It works similarly to Pix in Brazil: it allows you to send and receive money in seconds, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays.

What makes Bre-B different is that it connects banks, cooperatives, and digital wallets in a single infrastructure. To receive money, the recipient only needs a "key": it can be their phone number, national ID, email, or an alphanumeric code.

This means you no longer need to ask for the full account number or bank code. With your recipient's Bre-B key in Colombia, the money arrives in seconds.

How transfers from Argentina to Colombia work today

The traditional route for sending money from Argentina to Colombia goes through the SWIFT system. This involves:

• Intermediary banks: your money travels through one or more banks before reaching its destination
• Multiple conversions: Argentine pesos to dollars to Colombian pesos
• Long wait times: between 2 and 5 business days depending on the bank
• High fees: between USD 20 and USD 55 per transfer
• Currency controls: Argentina's BCRA regulations add an extra layer of complexity

For small amounts or frequent transfers, this system makes no sense. Fees can represent a huge percentage of the amount sent.

How AstroPay simplifies sending money to Colombia

AstroPay operates in both Argentina and Colombia, allowing you to send money between countries without going through the SWIFT network. The experience is similar to making a local transfer.

Benefits of using AstroPay for transfers to Colombia

• Speed: transfers are processed in minutes, not days
• Transparent costs: you know exactly how much your recipient gets before confirming
• No intermediary banks: money goes directly from your wallet to the destination
• Available 24/7: no bank hours or business days to worry about
• Multiple currencies: keep balances in USD, EUR, USDT and 10+ currencies
• No bank account required: works from the app, no need to visit a branch

Step by step: send money to Colombia with AstroPay

1. Open the AstroPay app and select "Send money"
2. Choose Colombia as the destination country
3. Enter the recipient's details (bank account or Bre-B key if available)
4. Select the amount to send
5. Review the exchange rate and fees
6. Confirm and done: your recipient receives the money

Comparison: methods for sending money from Argentina to Colombia

How much does it cost to send money to Colombia from Argentina

The real cost of an international transfer is not just the visible fee. It has three components:

1. Service fee: what the platform or bank charges to process the transfer
2. Exchange rate spread: the difference between the market rate and the rate offered to you
3. Receiving bank fee: some Colombian banks charge for receiving international transfers

With traditional banks, the total cost can range from 3% to 8% of the amount sent. Fintech platforms like AstroPay significantly reduce that percentage by eliminating intermediaries and offering more competitive exchange rates.

Tip: always compare the final amount your recipient receives in Colombian pesos, not just the fee. A platform with "0% commission" may be recovering the margin in the exchange rate.

What impact does Bre-B have on transfers from Argentina

Bre-B is a domestic Colombian system: for now, it does not directly connect with Argentina or other countries. But its impact on international transfers is indirect and relevant.

When you send money from Argentina to Colombia through a platform like AstroPay, the final leg (crediting the recipient's account) benefits from the local infrastructure. Bre-B allows that last step to be instant, regardless of whether the money came from Buenos Aires or Bogota.

In practice, this means fintech platforms that integrate Bre-B can offer near-instant crediting times in Colombia, something that previously depended on each bank's processing times.

Common mistakes when sending money to Colombia from Argentina

• Not verifying recipient details: an incorrect account number can take days to resolve
• Ignoring the real exchange rate: a low fee is useless if the conversion rate is bad
• Sending on a Friday afternoon via bank: bank transfers are not processed on weekends
• Not saving the receipt: always keep the reference number for tracking
• Not considering regulatory limits: Argentina has restrictions on international transfers that vary by operation type

FAQ about transfers to Colombia from Argentina

How long does a transfer from Argentina to Colombia take?

It depends on the method. Via traditional bank (SWIFT), between 2 and 5 business days. With fintech platforms like AstroPay, the process can be completed in minutes. Weekends and holidays do not count as business days for bank transfers.

Can I send money to Colombia without a bank account?

Yes. AstroPay allows you to send money to Colombia from its digital wallet, without needing a traditional bank account in Argentina. You can load funds in the app and transfer directly.

What is Bre-B and how does it affect me if I send money from Argentina?

Bre-B is Colombia's instant payment system, launched in 2025. While it is a domestic system, platforms that integrate it can credit money to Colombian recipients almost instantly, improving international transfer times.

How much does it cost to send money from Argentina to Colombia?

The total cost ranges from 1% to 8% of the amount sent, depending on the method. Traditional banks tend to be the most expensive. Platforms like AstroPay offer lower costs by eliminating intermediaries.

What information do I need to send money to Colombia?

You need the recipient's full name, their bank account number or Bre-B key, and in some cases the bank name. For SWIFT transfers, you also need the Colombian bank's SWIFT/BIC code.

The most direct way to send money to Colombia today

If you are looking for speed, cost transparency, and the ability to do everything from your phone, the combination of a fintech platform like AstroPay with Colombia's instant payment infrastructure is the most practical option available today.

With AstroPay you can send money to Colombia directly from the app, with real-time tracking and without the wait times of the traditional banking system.

Download AstroPay and make your first transfer to Colombia today.