Colombia’s Coffee Growers’ Smart ID Card: Successfully Reaching Rural Communities with Digital Payments

Over seven years, the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (Colombian Coffee Growers Federation) saved approximately $15.5 million by shifting their payments to coffee growers from cash to payment cards, a saving of approximately 80 percent of the cost of making those payments in cash. The program also resulted in an opportunity to expand financial inclusion, which is particularly challenging in rural areas. This case study is the first to examine a shift to electronic payments in a large-scale rural business-to- business context. The study relies on data and insights from Federación and bank leaders, as well as focus groups and in-depth discussions with the coffee growers