The next phase of digital commerce may not be driven by humans tapping checkout buttons, but by AI agents acting on their behalf. Santander-owned Getnet is positioning itself for that shift with new infrastructure that enables autonomous software agents to initiate and complete payments securely, creating the foundations for a future where AI systems can manage purchases within predefined rules and spending limits.
Getnet, the global merchant payments subsidiary of Spanish banking conglomerate Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: SAN), has officially launched a secure, interoperable payment infrastructure designed to automate transactions initiated by artificial intelligence (AI) agents. The technology solution establishes a standardised interface that allows merchant networks to accept and process autonomous, software-driven purchases. Introducing built-in identification and authentication layers eliminates the need for complex, bespoke technical integrations, allowing merchants to capture emerging transaction volume from the rapidly growing agentic commerce ecosystem.
To validate the practical scalability of the infrastructure, Getnet collaborated with card network giant Mastercard (NYSE: MA) and Mexican property-technology firm Neivor to execute a real-world transaction in Latin America using the Mastercard Agent Pay framework. This system ensures that autonomous, agent-initiated payments are executed with verified consumer intent, strict tokenised identity protocols, and predefined budgetary spending parameters. Following the successful Mexican pilot, Getnet is actively working to expand its system compatibility to interface with Visa’s upcoming Intelligent Commerce protocols. Juan Franco, CEO of Getnet, noted that the platform’s core design objective is to supply a secure, protocol-agnostic highway enabling merchants, enterprise platforms, and third-party AI agents to interact frictionlessly at scale. The transaction processing rollout coincides with a broader institutional commitment by Banco Santander to hardwire deep machine learning across its retail footprint.
The banking group recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Abu Dhabi-based technology group G42 to co-develop localised artificial intelligence solutions, leveraging G42’s hyper-scale computing layers to construct predictive compliance systems and AI-guided customer advisory desks. This technology push follows Santander’s milestone $12.2 billion acquisition of U.S.-based Webster Financial Corporation, a transaction slated to close in late 2026 that will create a top-ten retail and commercial banking force in the United States with combined assets of $327 billion. The group’s aggressive multi-regional growth and structural modernisation initiatives have captured Wall Street interest, receiving an explicit “Buy” recommendation from market analyst Jim Cramer during a recent Mad Money broadcast highlighting the structural strength and scaling profitability of the global financial franchise.
What this means for the industry
- Agentic commerce is moving from theory to infrastructure, with payment providers beginning to build systems that allow AI agents to transact on behalf of consumers and businesses.
- Identity, authentication and spending controls are becoming critical, as financial institutions work to ensure AI-initiated transactions remain secure and aligned with customer intent.
- Banks and payment networks are racing to establish standards, with Mastercard and Visa developing frameworks that could shape how autonomous commerce operates globally.
- Merchants may gain access to new transaction channels, enabling software agents to purchase goods and services automatically without requiring traditional checkout processes.
- Protocol-agnostic infrastructure will be essential, allowing banks, merchants, AI platforms and payment networks to interoperate rather than creating fragmented ecosystems.
- AI is expanding beyond customer service and analytics into transaction execution, signalling a shift toward systems that not only recommend actions but can carry them out autonomously.
- Financial institutions are preparing for an AI-native economy, investing in machine learning, digital identity and intelligent payment infrastructure to support emerging forms of commerce.
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