Banco BHD and BPC Mark 13 Years of Payments Modernization in the Dominican Republic

BPC and Banco BHD have marked 13 years of collaboration, highlighting the long-term migration of the Dominican Republic’s payment infrastructure to the SmartVista platform. For fintech professionals, this partnership illustrates the enduring value of scalable core systems in transitioning legacy banking environments into modern, multi-functional digital ecosystems within emerging markets.

What was announced

The milestone celebrates the evolution of Banco BHD from a legacy processing environment to a modern payments ecosystem. Central to this transformation has been the implementation of BPC’s SmartVista platform, which has enabled the bank to replace its previous payments architecture and establish a more flexible environment for network transaction processing. This shift has allowed the Dominican institution to improve its ATM network monitoring, expand its acquiring capabilities, and ensure EMV acceptance across its terminal fleet.

The partnership has specifically focused on the modernization of the bank's ATM channel. Over the 13-year period, Banco BHD’s machines have transitioned from simple cash dispensers into multifunctional touchpoints. Current features available to customers include contactless transactions, cardless cash withdrawals, and cash deposits. The bank has also integrated multi-currency functionality and broader card scheme acceptance to improve the customer experience. Looking ahead, the bank’s roadmap includes the introduction of cash recycling capabilities to further optimize its physical network.

By leveraging the scalability of the SmartVista platform, Banco BHD has been able to strengthen its integration with local payment networks and maintain greater operational control. This infrastructure support has been critical as the bank continues to expand its card transaction footprint and respond to the increasing demand for digital-first banking services in the Caribbean region.

"The Dominican Republic is one of the most dynamic payments markets in the region, and its financial institutions continue to raise the bar for innovation and customer experience. Banco BHD’s modernization journey demonstrates how the right technology foundation can support long-term growth, operational efficiency and service evolution. We are proud to have partnered with Banco BHD for 13 years and to continue supporting its vision with the capabilities of SmartVista and the expertise of our teams."

Mariflor Alice, Account Manager and New Deals Developer for the Caribbean and Central America at BPC

The companies involved

BPC is a global leader in payment solutions, specializing in the "Banking, Payments: Context" ecosystem. The company is best known for its SmartVista suite, a comprehensive platform that handles card processing, merchant acquiring, ATM management, and mobile banking. With a significant presence in emerging markets across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, BPC has established itself as a primary alternative to legacy mainframe-based payment systems. The company has a deep history of facilitating large-scale migrations for national switches and tier-one banks globally.

Banco BHD is one of the primary financial institutions in the Dominican Republic. As a major player in the Caribbean banking sector, it has focused heavily on digital transformation to maintain its competitive edge in a market characterized by rapid adoption of mobile and contactless technologies. The bank’s strategy emphasizes the integration of physical and digital channels, ensuring that its ATM and branch network remains relevant in an increasingly cashless economy.

What FF News has reported before

BPC has been a frequent subject of coverage at FF News, particularly regarding its expansion in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. We previously reported on how Meezan Bank Migrates 7.5 Million Cards to BPC SmartVista as Pakistan's Digital Payments Surge, highlighting the platform's ability to handle massive scale. The company’s work in the Pacific was also noted when BRED Bank Fiji Modernizes Payment Infrastructure with BPC SmartVista Migration and later when BRED Bank Fiji Modernises Payments with BPC SmartVista Cloud Migration. Furthermore, BPC’s global standing was cemented when BPC Wins Top Honors at Asian Banking & Finance FinTech Awards for Global Infrastructure.

What this means

This 13-year milestone highlights a significant trend in the industry: the move away from transactional vendor relationships toward long-term infrastructure partnerships. In an era where "plug-and-play" SaaS solutions are often touted as the future, this announcement proves that for core payment processing, stability and deep integration remain paramount. The Dominican Republic is a key battleground for regional digital dominance, and Banco BHD’s reliance on a single, scalable platform puts pressure on competitors still struggling with fragmented legacy systems. The real test for the sector will be whether these established platforms can integrate emerging technologies like central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) as seamlessly as they did EMV and contactless payments.