Panama was in second place with 46% of the countries that use digital payments in Latin America after the pandemic, according to a Kaspersky survey in conjunction with the market research consultancy CORPA, which details the current scenario of digital payments throughout the region, the adoption of online platforms and the interactions, methods and uses of digital banking.

Similarly, the survey reveals that a third of Latin Americans who began using Internet banking and/or digital wallet services during the Covid-19 pandemic continue to use them after the health crisis.

According to the results, the country with the highest rate of adoption of these services during the health crisis was Guatemala (50%), followed by Panama (46%) and Peru (41%), followed by Costa Rica (37%), Mexico (34%), Colombia (30%), Argentina (21%) and finally Brazil and Chile (16%).

On the three most prominent reasons for adoption, they can be mentioned: digital transactions are safer and more convenient than face-to-face transactions with 60%; ease with social distancing by 32%; and, there was no other option during the quarantine with 45%.

On the other hand, for Fabio Assolini, director of the Research and Analysis Team for Latin America at Kaspersky, in addition to taking into account the benefits that digital payments offer, new users must be aware of the cyberthreats to which they may be exposed.

“It is essential to emphasize that the adoption of new technologies requires new digital habits and skills, especially with regard to online security. Unfortunately, financially motivated scams abound in Latin America and new users to digital payments and online banking must familiarize themselves with the tactics used by cyber scammers and learn how to protect themselves,” Assolini reported.