What Payment Links Do#
Payment Links turn payment collection into a simple, shareable URL. Instead of building complex checkout flows or handling payment integrations yourself, you create a link with your payment details and share it with customers through any channel—email, SMS, WhatsApp, social media, or embedded on your website. Your customers click the link, choose their preferred payment method, and complete the transaction in seconds.This matters because payment friction kills conversions. Every additional step, every form field, every redirect increases the chance a customer abandons their purchase. Payment Links eliminate that friction by providing a direct path from intent to payment, with real-time status tracking so you always know when funds are on their way.Currently available in Colombia with support for PSE, Bre-B, Bancolombia, and Nequi payment methods.
How It Works#
For you: Create a payment link through the Portal by defining what you're charging for, how much, and which payment methods to accept. Copy the generated URL and distribute it however you reach your customers. Track every transaction in real-time from the same interface.For your customers: They click your link, see clear payment details (what they're paying for and how much), select their preferred payment method, authenticate through their bank or e-wallet, and receive immediate confirmation. The entire flow takes under a minute.Behind the scenes: Funds settle in your Cobre Balance, giving you instant visibility and control. You can use these funds immediately for other Cobre operations or withdraw them to your bank accounts. Everything is tracked, recorded, and available through the Portal with complete payment history and status updates.
Business Benefits#
Higher conversion rates: Customers complete payments in one click without navigating away from their comfort zone. Multiple payment method options (bank transfers and e-wallets) mean they can pay however they prefer.Operational efficiency: No manual invoicing, no chasing payments, no reconciliation headaches. Generate a link in 30 seconds, share it, and watch the payment arrive with automatic status tracking.Flexibility at scale: Need one-time payments? Create single-use links. Running an ongoing campaign? Generate unlimited-use links that work for months. Selling different products? Create as many links as you need with unique configurations.Unified treasury control: All incoming payments flow through your Cobre Balance, giving you a single source of truth for receivables. Use these funds immediately for payouts, transfers, or other operations without waiting for bank settlements.
Creating Payment Links#
Access the Module#
Navigate to Payment Links from your Portal menu. You'll see all existing links with their current status, usage counts, and configuration details.Admins and Creators: Full access to create, configure, and manage links
Other roles: View-only access to monitor link performance
Create a New Link#
Click + Create Link to open the creation interface. You'll see a split-screen view:Left side: Configuration form with all link parameters
Right side: Live preview showing exactly what your customers will see
Required Configuration#
Title: What customers see as the main heading. Make it clear and specific.Example: "Premium Membership Renewal" or "Invoice #12345"
Example: "Annual Software License" or "Consulting Services - November"
Fixed: Set a specific amount (minimum 100.00 COP). Customers see this amount and cannot change it.
Open: Let customers enter their own amount. Useful for donations, tips, or flexible payments.
Select from created counterparty: Choose an existing customer or supplier from your Cobre list of counterparties.
Create new: Add a new contact on the fly
Leave undefined: Customer enters their own information during checkout
Cobre Balance: Default option, funds available immediately in your Portal
Connect accounts: If you have Connect integration enabled
Success page on your website
Order confirmation portal
Advanced Configuration#
Expand this section to control link behavior:Usage: Limit how many times the link can be used. Every payment attempt counts (successful, failed, or rejected).Single use: Set to 1 for one-time payments
Limited campaign: Set a specific number for promotions or determined uses
Unlimited: Leave blank for ongoing use
Default: 30 days from creation
Custom date: Select any future date and time
Never: Remove expiration entirely for permanent links
PSE: Bank transfers through PSE system
Bancolombia: Direct Bancolombia button for their customers
Nequi: Direct payments through the Nequi app
Bre-B: Immediate bank transfers
Best practice: Enable multiple methods. Customers have strong preferences, and offering their first choice dramatically increases completion rates. If you only offer PSE but your customer prefers Nequi, they may abandon the payment entirely.
Review and Finalize#
Check the live preview—this is exactly what customers will see
Verify the Redirect URL is correct (a broken redirect frustrates customers after successful payment)
Confirm the amount matches your intention
Ensure at least one payment method is enabled
Success: You'll see a confirmation message and the new link appears in your list. Copy the URL and share it immediately.
Error: If something's wrong (invalid URL format, missing required field, etc.), you'll see:Red error text under the problematic field
A notification explaining what needs fixing
Managing Payment Links#
The Links List#
Your Payment Links module shows all created links in a sortable, filterable table:| Column | Description |
|---|
| Title | Link name you set during creation |
| Product or Service | What the payment is for |
| Link | Copy icon to grab the URL |
| Status | Active or Inactive |
| Amount | Fixed amount or "Open" |
| Origin | Which counterparty/contact (if defined) |
| Uses | How many times it's been used (if limited) |
| Creation Date | When you created it |
All: Every link you've created
Active: Links currently accepting payments
Inactive: Expired or maxed-out links
Link Actions#
Copy Link: Click the link icon to copy the full URL to your clipboard. Share it anywhere:View Details: Click any row to open the detail view:Complete configuration information
Full payment history with transaction statuses
Associated money movements
Link Status#
Active: Ready to accept payments. The link works and hasn't reached its limits.Inactive: No longer accepting payments. This happens when:Usage limit reached (e.g., set to 5 uses, received 5 payments)
The Customer Experience#
Understanding what customers see helps you create better links and provide better support when questions arise.Opening the Link#
Customers receive your link through whatever channel you chose—email, text, social media, embedded button. When they click:The checkout page loads instantly
They see your Title as the main heading
Product/Service description appears below
Payment amount is clearly displayed (or they see an input field for open amounts)
Available payment methods show as buttons
Checkout Interface#
Cobre branding (establishes trust and security)
Your Title and Product/Service description
Counterparty information fields (if you didn't pre-define it)
Amount input (if you set it to open)
Payment method buttons (only the ones you enabled)
Each button shows the method's logo and name
Making the Payment#
1. Customer selects their preferred method
They click one of the enabled payment buttons (PSE, Bre-B, Bancolombia, Nequi, etc.).2. Redirect to authentication
The system securely redirects them to their bank or e-wallet to authorize the payment. This step happens entirely on the bank's secure platform—Cobre never sees or stores banking credentials.3. Authentication varies by method:PSE: Select bank, enter credentials, confirm transfer
Bancolombia: Bancolombia app authentication
Nequi: Nequi app push notification and PIN
Bre-B: Bank-specific authentication flow
After authentication (successful or not), customers return to a Cobre status page showing:Iniciando (Starting): Payment process initiated
Procesando (Processing): Bank is processing the transfer
Completado (Completed): Payment successful
Rechazado (Rejected): Customer abandoned or authentication failed
Fallido (Failed): Technical error during processing
The status page includes a button to return to your Redirect URL. Customers can click this immediately or close the page—the payment status is already final.Payment Timing#
Most payments complete within 1-2 minutes. Bank transfers through PSE may take slightly longer during high-traffic periods. Nequi payments are typically instant.Important timing note: Nequi payments must be confirmed within 10 minutes. If a customer opens the Nequi app but doesn't complete the authentication, the transaction automatically rejects after 10 minutes.
Transaction Tracking#
Every payment attempt generates a money movement in your Portal. You can track these through the Payment Link detail view or the main Money Movements module.Payment Statuses#
| Status | Description |
|---|
| Iniciando (Starting) | Customer clicked "Pay" and the process began. This status is brief—seconds, not minutes. |
| Procesando (Processing) | Authentication completed and the bank is processing the transfer. Funds are in motion. |
| Completado (Completed) | Money successfully received in your Cobre Balance. You can use these funds immediately. |
| Rechazado (Rejected) | Customer abandoned the payment during authentication or actively canceled. Common reasons: changed their mind, realized they selected wrong method, insufficient funds noticed during bank login. |
| Fallido (Failed) | Technical issue prevented completion. Could be: bank system temporarily unavailable, network interruption during transfer, authentication timeout. |
| Error | System-level error during processing. Rare, but happens occasionally with bank API issues. |
Real-Time Updates#
Payment status updates in real-time:Open the Payment Link detail view
Status changes appear automatically without refreshing
Associated money movement updates simultaneously
Balance updates reflect immediately
Best Practices#
Link Configuration#
Be specific with titles. "Payment" is meaningless. "Q4 Consulting Invoice - Project Alpha" tells the customer exactly what they're paying.Keep product descriptions concise. One clear sentence. "Monthly SaaS subscription for 10 users" is perfect. A paragraph explaining your entire service offering is overkill.Set realistic expiration dates. Too short and customers complain they missed it. Too long and you lose urgency. For invoices, 7-14 days works well. For campaigns, match your actual campaign duration.Enable multiple payment methods. You might prefer PSE, but if your customer only uses Nequi, you'll lose the sale. Enable all available methods unless you have a specific reason not to.Use counterparty definitions when you know the payer. This creates a cleaner customer experience (no form-filling) and better record-keeping on your side.Always verify redirect URLs work. A successful payment that leads to a 404 error page ruins the experience. Test your redirect URLs before sharing links widely.Link Distribution#
Match the channel to your audience. B2B invoice payments work great via email. Consumer products perform better with WhatsApp or SMS links. Social campaigns need embedded website buttons.Provide context when sharing. Don't just drop a bare URL. "Click here to complete your order" or "Pay your invoice securely" gives customers confidence to click.Use QR codes for physical contexts. At events, on printed invoices, on product packaging. Customers scan and pay instantly without typing URLs.Track which links perform best. If you create multiple links for different campaigns, note which channels and configurations drive the most completions.Customer Support#
Customers ask "Is this link safe?" Yes. Direct them to the Cobre branding on the checkout page and explain that they'll authenticate through their own bank—you never see their banking credentials."The link doesn't work." First check: Is it expired? Hit usage limit? If inactive, create a new link. If it should be active, verify the URL wasn't broken when sharing (sometimes email clients or messaging apps break long URLs)."The payment failed." Check the status in your Portal. If it shows "Rechazado," the customer likely abandoned during authentication—have them try again. If it shows "Fallido" or "Error," there was a technical issue—create a new link and try a different payment method."I paid but you say you didn't receive it." Check the link's transaction history. If it shows "Completado," payment succeeded and the money is in your Balance. If it shows "Procesando," it's still in progress—bank transfers can take a few minutes. If it shows any other status, payment didn't complete and you haven't been charged.Security and Fraud Prevention#
Payment Links are secure by design. Authentication happens on the bank's platform. Cobre never stores banking credentials. All data transmission is encrypted.For high-value payments, define the counterparty. This prevents random people from attempting payments meant for specific customers.Set short expiration windows for time-sensitive offers. This limits exposure if a link accidentally leaks to unintended recipients.Monitor your Payment Links list regularly. If you see unexpected usage patterns (link used 50 times when you expected 5), investigate immediately.
Technical Details#
Link URL Structure#
Payment Links use this format:https://checkout.cobre.co/payment-links/[unique-identifier]
Integration Options#
Portal-based creation (covered in this guide): Create links manually through the interface. Perfect for occasional use, customer service teams, and situations where you need custom configuration for each payment.API-based creation (see Checkout API documentation): Generate links programmatically from your own systems. Ideal for e-commerce platforms, automated invoicing, or high-volume link generation.Both methods create identical Payment Links with identical functionality. Choose based on your workflow and technical capabilities.Data Synchronization#
Payment Link data synchronizes in real-time across:If you open a Payment Link detail view, you'll see status updates appear automatically as customers make payments. No manual refresh needed.
Limitations and Considerations#
| Limitation | Details |
|---|
| Geographic availability | Currently Colombia only. Support for other countries coming in future releases. |
| Minimum amount | Fixed amounts must be at least 100.00 COP. Open amounts technically have no minimum, but bank payment methods may enforce their own minimums. |
| Payment method requirement | At least one method must be enabled. You cannot create a link with all payment methods disabled. |
| Authentication timeouts | Nequi payments must be completed within 10 minutes. If a customer opens their Nequi app but doesn't finish, the transaction automatically rejects. |
| Link immutability | You cannot edit core link parameters (amount, expiration, usage limit) after creation. If you need different settings, delete the old link and create a new one. |
| Status finality | Once a payment reaches "Completado," "Rechazado," "Fallido," or "Error" status, it's final. You cannot reverse or retry from the same transaction—customers must initiate a new payment. |
| Redirect URL requirement | You must provide a valid redirect URL. This is mandatory because customers need somewhere to go after payment. If you don't have a specific page, use your website homepage. |
Troubleshooting#
"I can't create a link"#
Check your role permissions. Only Admins and Creators can create Payment Links. If you're in a different role, request access from your organization administrator.
Verify all required fields. Title, Product/Service, Amount, Counterparty configuration, Destination Account, Reference, and Redirect URL must all be filled in correctly.
Ensure at least one payment method is enabled. Toggle on PSE, Bancolombia, Nequi, or any available method.
Validate your redirect URL. It must start with https:// and be a properly formatted URL.
"Customers say the link doesn't work"#
Check link status. If it shows Inactive in your list, it's either expired or hit its usage limit. Create a new link.
Verify the full URL. Sometimes when copying and pasting, the URL gets truncated or modified. Copy it fresh from the Portal.
Check the expiration date. Even if the link shows Active in your list, it might have expired between when you last looked and when the customer tried to use it.
"Payment shows as Processing for a long time"#
Bank transfers take time. PSE payments typically complete in 1-3 minutes, but during high-traffic periods (lunch hours, end of business day), banks may take 5-10 minutes.
If it's been over 20 minutes, something likely failed. Check if the status changed to "Fallido" or "Error." If still showing "Procesando" after 20+ minutes, contact Cobre support.
"Customer says they paid but I don't see the money"#
Check the transaction status first. Open the Payment Link detail view and look at the associated money movements:If "Completado" → Money is in your Cobre Balance. Check your Balance page.
If "Procesando" → Still pending. Wait a few more minutes.
If "Rechazado," "Fallido," or "Error" → Payment didn't complete. Customer wasn't charged.
Verify you're looking at the right account. Confirm the Destination Account matches where you expected to receive funds.
"I need to change a link's amount"#
You can't edit after creation. This is by design to maintain payment integrity and audit trails.
Solution: Delete the old link and create a new one with the correct amount. If you've already shared the old link, communicate the new link to your customers and apologize for the confusion.
Frequently Asked Questions#
Can customers pay with credit cards?
Not currently. Payment Links support bank transfers (PSE) and e-wallets (Nequi, Bancolombia button, Bre-B). Credit card support may come in future releases.Do I pay fees for Payment Links?
Transaction fees apply based on your Cobre pricing agreement and the payment method used. Contact your account manager for specific rates.Can I customize the checkout page design?
The checkout page uses Cobre's standard design to maintain security, trust, and reliability. You cannot customize colors, logos, or layout.What happens if a customer tries to pay twice?
If the link has a usage limit, the second attempt will fail if the limit is reached. If set to unlimited uses, both payments will process successfully—you'll receive funds twice.Can I get notified when someone pays?
Portal shows real-time updates. For programmatic notifications (webhooks), see the Checkout API documentation for event subscriptions.Is there a maximum amount I can charge?
No specific maximum in the Payment Links feature itself. However, individual payment methods may have transaction limits (PSE, Nequi, bank-specific limits).Can customers request refunds through Payment Links?
No. Payment Links only handle collection. For refunds, you need to initiate a separate money movement from your Cobre Balance back to the customer's account.What languages does the checkout page support?
Currently Spanish, as Payment Links are designed for the Colombian market. Language settings may expand with geographic expansion.Can I see which specific customer used which link?
Yes, in the Payment Link detail view. Each transaction shows the associated counterparty information. If you left counterparty undefined, you'll see whatever information the customer entered during checkout.Do Payment Links work on mobile devices?
Yes. The checkout page is fully responsive and optimized for mobile. Many payment methods (especially Nequi and Bancolombia) work better on mobile since customers authenticate through their mobile banking apps.
For API-based Payment Link generation and advanced integration options, see the Checkout API documentation.