Rule · BCB · 7 Jan 2020 · CIEX N° 3/2020
The Central Bank of Bolivia establishes minimum operational security requirements for electronic fund transfer orders, electronic cards, and mobile wallets, requiring financial entities, payment service companies, ACCL S.A., and EDV S.A. to implement robust authentication mechanisms, including dual-factor authentication for specific transactions. The regulation mandates the use of encrypted communication channels, standard encryption algorithms, and specific data handling protocols, while repealing previous circulars SGDB No. 046/2017 and SGDB No. 011/2018. It sets specific operational limits, such as a Bs150 PIN exemption for contactless transactions and a Bs20 exemption for mobile wallet top-ups, and assigns liability for magnetic stripe transactions based on terminal and issuer capabilities.
[Logo: BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA 1928]
BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA
ESTADO PLURINACIONAL DE BOLIVIA
EXTERNAL CIRCULAR
La Paz, January 2, 2020
CIEX No. 3/2020
FROM: GENERAL MANAGEMENT
FINANCIAL ENTITIES MANAGEMENT
TO: FINANCIAL ENTITIES, PAYMENT SERVICE COMPANIES, ACCL S.A., EDV S.A.
SUBJECT: MINIMUM OPERATIONAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRONIC PAYMENT INSTRUMENTS
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In the framework of Article 27 of the Regulation on Payment Services, Electronic Payment Instruments, Compensation and Settlement (RSPIEPCL), approved by BCB Board Resolution No. 137/19 of October 8, 2019, the Central Bank of Bolivia transmits for application and compliance the update of the Minimum Operational Security Requirements for:
I. Electronic fund transfer orders.
II. Electronic cards.
III. Mobile wallets.
These requirements constitute the normative reference framework for the application of standards and best practices in payment systems operating with electronic payment instruments. External Circular SGDB No. 046/2017 of December 29, 2017 and SGDB No. 011/2018 of February 16, 2018 on Minimum Operational Security Requirements for Electronic Payment Instruments are hereby repealed.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
JULIO NUMEREZ QUIROZ
FINANCIAL ENTITIES MANAGER a.i.
BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA
[Signature]
DAVID ESPINOZA TORRICO
GENERAL MANAGER a.i.
BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA
DIET/JHQ/ropr/pmms/jmkt.
Attach.: The cited
The BCB contributes to the economic and social development of the country Ayacucho Street corner Mercado - Telephone: (591-2) 2409090 - Fax: (591-2) 2661590 www.bcb.gob.bo - bancocentraldebolivia@bcb.gob.bo - La Paz - Bolivia
*
[Logo: BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA 1928]
BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA
ESTADO PLURINACIONAL DE BOLIVIA
I. Minimum Operational Security Requirements for Electronic Fund Transfer Orders – OETF
At least one of the factors applied must not be reusable or replicable nor susceptible to being stolen via the internet. In this sense, it is feasible to use a one-time password, generated by a key generator software (tokens), or a combination of numbers from a coordinate card.
The use of double factor authentication at login is optional.
The BCB contributes to the economic and social development of the country Ayacucho Street corner Mercado - Telephone: (591-2) 2409090 - Fax: (591-2) 2661590 www.bcb.gob.bo - bancocentraldebolivia@bcb.gob.bo - La Paz - Bolivia
*
[Logo: BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA 1928]
BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA
ESTADO PLURINACIONAL DE BOLIVIA
a) Authenticity. Have mechanisms that allow the verification of the identity of the holder of the electronic payment instrument. b) Integrity. Be protected against accidental or fraudulent alterations during their processing, transport, and storage. c) Confidentiality. Have standard encryption mechanisms that prevent the dissemination or unauthorized disclosure of the information contained in the operation. d) Non-repudiation. Guarantee that none of the parties involved in the transaction can deny their participation in it. e) Availability. The issuer within its scope of control must guarantee that the processing system is available to users according to the advertised, informed, or contractually agreed conditions with financial consumers.
The BCB contributes to the economic and social development of the country Ayacucho Street corner Mercado - Telephone: (591-2) 2409090 - Fax: (591-2) 2661590 www.bcb.gob.bo - bancocentraldebolivia@bcb.gob.bo - La Paz - Bolivia
*
[Logo: BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA 1928]
BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA
ESTADO PLURINACIONAL DE BOLIVIA
Abbreviations
SSL = Secure Sockets Layer, secure connection layer TLS = Transport Layer Security, transport layer security
Glossary
Authentication: Procedure that allows checking the identity of the holder of the Electronic Payment Instrument.
Double factor authentication or robust authentication mechanism: It is a way of verifying user identity based on the use of the combination of two of the following three authentication factors:
Authorization: Procedure to check if the holder of the Electronic Payment Instrument has the right to perform a specific action, for example, the right to transfer funds or access sensitive data.
The BCB contributes to the economic and social development of the country Ayacucho Street corner Mercado - Telephone: (591-2) 2409090 - Fax: (591-2) 2661590 www.bcb.gob.bo - bancocentraldebolivia@bcb.gob.bo - La Paz - Bolivia
*
[Logo: BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA 1928]
BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA
ESTADO PLURINACIONAL DE BOLIVIA
II. Minimum Operational Security Requirements for Electronic Cards
The BCB contributes to the economic and social development of the country Ayacucho Street corner Mercado - Telephone: (591-2) 2409090 - Fax: (591-2) 2661590 www.bcb.gob.bo - bancocentraldebolivia@bcb.gob.bo - La Paz - Bolivia
*
[Logo: BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA 1928]
BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA
ESTADO PLURINACIONAL DE BOLIVIA
must be carried out in secure and trusted environments.
10. Issuers must implement robust authentication mechanisms for the authorizations of electronic cards used virtually, considering that at least one of the factors applied must not be reusable or replicable nor susceptible to being stolen via the internet (for example, a one-time password specific for a payment and generated by a key generator software (tokens), a combination of numbers from a coordinate card, etc.).
11. As a robust authentication mechanism for chip cards, the holder or user of the instrument to make in-person payments in commercial or service establishments with electronic cards must enter the PIN once the establishment manager enters the transaction amount, which must be visible for the security and certainty of the holder or user. In this sense, issuers must foresee in the design of the instrument that the service code requires the entry of the PIN to perform transactions.
In-person transactions with contactless technology cards are exempt from the application of the PIN up to a maximum amount of Bs150 (One hundred fifty Bolivianos).
12. When using chip cards to process in-person payments in commercial or service establishments, a handwritten signature or an issued printed receipt (voucher) for the client is not necessary, unless requested by the latter.
13. For the case of electronic cards from foreign issuers that have exclusively magnetic stripe for processing in commercial or service establishments in Bolivia, the holder or user of the instrument at the time of making an in-person purchase must present their identification document and sign the transaction receipts.
14. Acquirers must instruct commercial or service establishments to process transactions always using chip reading.
15. The commissions that commercial or service establishments pay to Electronic Card Administrator Companies cannot be transferred to the holder or user of the electronic card.
16. Disputes or claims regarding the processing of transactions will fall on the issuing or acquiring entities that do not operate with chip cards under the EMV standard as follows:
The BCB contributes to the economic and social development of the country Ayacucho Street corner Mercado - Telephone: (591-2) 2409090 - Fax: (591-2) 2661590 www.bcb.gob.bo - bancocentraldebolivia@bcb.gob.bo - La Paz - Bolivia
*
[Logo: BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA 1928]
BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA
ESTADO PLURINACIONAL DE BOLIVIA
a) Liability for transactions processed with magnetic stripe on terminals that do not have the capacity to process chip cards will be that of the acquirer. b) Liability for transactions processed with magnetic stripe-only cards on a terminal that has chip reading enabled will be that of the issuer that does not operate under the EMV standard.
17. Standard encryption algorithms must be applied to authenticate the chip card and the operation data.
18. In addition to robust authentication factors with the use of PIN, biometric authentication systems can be used to verify the cardholder's identity.
19. In case the issuer authorizes the performance of off-line operations, cards must use a dynamic authentication mechanism (CAM) of type DDA or CDA that allows recalculating the value of the digital signature in each transaction, for which they must be equipped with a cryptoprocessor.
20. The operating system of the cards can be native platform or open, both must have the capacity to handle DDA or CDA, in case the issuer accepts the processing of off-line transactions.
21. For contactless technology payments, issuers must implement in their monitoring and tracking systems internal control mechanisms, strict security parameters, and alerts for fraud prevention based on the creation of rules of frequency, speed, limit amounts, and others that allow controlling the number of transactions approved under contactless technology. Among these measures, they must establish for their customers a daily limit amount for this type of transaction, modifiable at the holder's request, so that when it is exceeded, transactions are rejected.
22. Issuers must provide their customers with secure mechanisms that allow them to enable and disable the use of PIN in in-person transactions with contactless technology cards.
The BCB contributes to the economic and social development of the country Ayacucho Street corner Mercado - Telephone: (591-2) 2409090 - Fax: (591-2) 2661590 www.bcb.gob.bo - bancocentraldebolivia@bcb.gob.bo - La Paz - Bolivia
*
[Logo: BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA 1928]
BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA
ESTADO PLURINACIONAL DE BOLIVIA
Abbreviations
CAM = Card Authentication Method, card authentication method CVV = Card Verification Value, card verification value CDA = Combined Data Authentication, combined data authentication DDA = Dynamic Data Authentication, dynamic data authentication EMV = Europay, MasterCard and Visa PAN = Primary Account Number, primary account number CAV2 = Card Security Code, card validation code for JCB CID = Card Security Code, card validation code for American Express CVC2 = Card Security Code, card validation code for MasterCard CVV2 = Card Security Code, card validation code for VISA PIN = Personal Identification Number, personal identification number
Glossary
Authentication: Procedure that allows checking the identity of the holder of the Electronic Payment Instrument.
Double factor authentication or robust authentication mechanism: It is a way of verifying user identity based on the use of the combination of two of the following three authentication factors:
Authorization: Procedure to check if the holder of the Electronic Payment Instrument has the right to perform a specific action, for example, the right to transfer funds or access sensitive data.
Secure Environment: Environments under the responsibility of the issuer in which adequate client authentication is guaranteed as well as the protection of confidential and sensitive information.
III.
The BCB contributes to the economic and social development of the country Ayacucho Street corner Mercado - Telephone: (591-2) 2409090 - Fax: (591-2) 2661590 www.bcb.gob.bo - bancocentraldebolivia@bcb.gob.bo - La Paz - Bolivia
*
[Logo: BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA 1928]
BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA
ESTADO PLURINACIONAL DE BOLIVIA
IV. Minimum Operational Security Requirements for Mobile Wallet
The BCB contributes to the economic and social development of the country Ayacucho Street corner Mercado - Telephone: (591-2) 2409090 - Fax: (591-2) 2661590 www.bcb.gob.bo - bancocentraldebolivia@bcb.gob.bo - La Paz - Bolivia
*
[Logo: BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA 1928]
BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA
ESTADO PLURINACIONAL DE BOLIVIA
c) Other authorizations involving the processing of payment orders such as internet purchases or commercial and service establishments.
At least one of the factors applied must not be reusable or replicable nor susceptible to being stolen via the internet. In this sense, it is feasible to use a one-time password, generated by a key generator software (tokens), or a combination of numbers from a coordinate card.
The use of double factor authentication at login is optional.
Mobile phone balance purchase operations are exempt from the application of the double or multiple factor authentication mechanism up to a maximum amount of Bs20 (Twenty Bolivianos).
The BCB contributes to the economic and social development of the country Ayacucho Street corner Mercado - Telephone: (591-2) 2409090 - Fax: (591-2) 2661590 www.bcb.gob.bo - bancocentraldebolivia@bcb.gob.bo - La Paz - Bolivia
*
[Logo: BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA 1928]
BANCO CENTRAL DE BOLIVIA
ESTADO PLURINACIONAL DE BOLIVIA
Abbreviations
ESP = Payment Service Company
Glossary
Authentication: Procedure that allows checking the identity of the holder of the Electronic Payment Instrument.
Double factor authentication or robust authentication mechanism: It is a way of verifying user identity based on the use of the combination of two of the following three authentication factors:
Authorization: Procedure to check if the holder of the Electronic Payment Instrument has the right to perform a specific action, for example, the right to transfer funds or access sensitive data.
The BCB contributes to the economic and social development of the country Ayacucho Street corner Mercado - Telephone: (591-2) 2409090 - Fax: (591-2) 2661590 www.bcb.gob.bo - bancocentraldebolivia@bcb.gob.bo - La Paz - Bolivia
Note from RegAlert. AI assistants can read this document in full, and search 70,000+ more, through the RegAlert MCP connector (https://mcp.regalert.today/mcp). Free with an account. How to connect ChatGPT, Claude or Cursor.
RegAlert holds no document that amends or replaces this one. This is not a check that it is in force: confirm with the regulator.
“External Circular SGDB No. 046/2017 of December 29, 2017 and SGDB No. 011/2018 of February 16, 2018 on Minimum Operational Security Requirements for Electronic Payment Instruments are hereby repealed.”
“External Circular SGDB No. 046/2017 of December 29, 2017 and SGDB No. 011/2018 of February 16, 2018 on Minimum Operational Security Requirements for Electronic Payment Instruments are hereby repealed.”
“In the framework of Article 27 of the Regulation on Payment Services, Electronic Payment Instruments, Compensation and Settlement (RSPIEPCL), approved by BCB Board Resolution No. 137/19 of October 8, 2019”
This document supersedes: Circular Externa SGDB No. 046/2017: Minimum Operational Security Requirements for Electronic Payment Instruments
More like this from BCB
BCB published 11 documents in the last 30 days. We email you each new one the day it's published.
Source: Banco Central de Bolivia — original document · Summary generated with machine assistance and reviewed before publication; the authoritative text is the regulator's original document. How RegAlert works
In RegAlert: added · updated