Aplazo, the first omnichannel buy now, pay later (BNPL) platform in Mexico, today announced that it has partnered with Mastercard and Galileo Financial Technologies to launch Latin America’s first-of-its-kind virtual card solution.
This virtual card brings secure digital payments to the region, providing a seamless payment journey to customers that enables the convenience of BNPL (installment) payments and the capacity to shop anywhere. Aplazo’s BNPL virtual card provides an easy way to utilize credit, allowing users to pay in installments only by linking their existing bank account or debit card to their Aplazo APP.
Once users create an account at aplazo.mx and have their credit approved, the virtual card is activated and can be used with all online retailers in Mastercard’s network. Unlike traditional entities, Aplazo approves virtual cards in record time to allow customers instant access and the ability to purchase goods on-demand, with the convenience of paying for them over time with no hidden fees.
Cardholders also have access to Mastercard’s customer support capabilities. Aplazo leverages Galileo’s powerful financial technology platform and flexible APIs to offer the solution. As the digital payment landscape evolves, Millennial and Gen Z consumers will play a key role in the growth of BNPL solutions in Latin America.
Aplazo is reducing the barrier to entry to credit access for these groups which will ultimately drive the economy forward in this important region with the simplest and most transparent credit option. “We’re thrilled to partner with Mastercard to deliver a unique, convenient payment system and experience to customers in Latin America who have historically faced significant challenges gaining access to credit,” said Angel Peña, CEO and Founder of Aplazo.
“This first-of-its-kind offering underscores Aplazo’s unique offering and ability to scale, and we look forward to continuing to empower Latin American consumers across the region.” “We are delighted to work with partners like Aplazo who share our mission of bringing more people into the digital economy,” said Pablo Cuarón, Vice President of Business Development Fintech and Enablers at Mastercard.
“Through Mastercard Developers, Aplazo gains access to our APIs, solutions, partners and programs through a single point of entry, helping them to build their business at a fast pace.”
The Spring Surge: New Galileo Debit Spend Index Charts Q1 Spend and the Year Ahead
American consumers spent cautiously on debit through January and early February before early tax refunds and spring weather sparked a March spending surge, according to the inaugural Galileo Debit Spend Index.
Why Gen Z’s Debit Card Push is Eating Into Credit Card Profits
For people worried about the economy and dealing with affordability issues, one option could be to tuck that high interest rate credit card aside and reach for a trusty debit card instead. To uncover the latest debit card trends, CardRates recently sat down with Paul Dunning, Vice President of Business Development at Galileo Financial Technologies, a fintech firm owned by SoFi. He explained why Gen Z consumers are turning to debit cards and expecting rewards, the compelling case for debit card rewards, and the appeal of debit cards for the debit-first consumer.
Half of Consumers Have Chosen One Brand Over Another Because Paying or Getting a Refund Was Easier
Consumer demand for financial services embedded within brand apps is outpacing brands’ ability to deliver, with most executives recognizing the gap. New research from Galileo Financial Technologies, soon to become SoFi Technology Solutions, found that 80% of brand executives say they plan to launch integrated financial services, but only 20% have done so thus far. The 2026 Galileo Integrated Financial Services Research Report, based on surveys of more than 2,000 U.S. consumers and 150 senior executives, shows that while consumers are already using features like saved cards, rewards, and instant refunds inside brand apps, most brands have yet to launch these capabilities.
Brand Executives Fear They’re Losing Customers to Rivals With In-App Financial Tools, Galileo Research Finds
Half of consumers have chosen one brand over another because paying or getting a refund was easier
Introducing SoFi Tech Solutions: A Unified Brand Built to Power End-to-End Financial Innovation
We’re evolving from Galileo to SoFi Tech Solutions to reflect the full scope of our platform. We deliver end-to-end infrastructure for fintechs, brands, and financial institutions, now backed by SoFi’s scale and resources. Our mission stays the same: support our clients’ growth while maintaining platform neutrality and strong data protections.
