The transition from traditional brick-and-mortar banking to digital-first neobanking has introduced significant shifts in financial user interfaces and data models. A common source of confusion for new users of the Colombian digital wallet Nequi is the apparent absence of a traditional "account number" (e.g., a 10- to 18-digit numeric code). This paper argues that Nequi’s lack of a conventional account number is not a deficiency but a deliberate design affordance that reshapes user behavior around peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions, security, and financial identity. We explore what substitutes for an account number within Nequi’s architecture: the linked Cédula (Colombian national ID), the cell phone number , and the proprietary Nequi Tag (e.g., @username). We conclude that the "Nequi account number" exists as a sociotechnical fiction—a phantom limb of legacy banking—that masks a more fluid, phone-centric model of value transfer.
Author: [Generated for Academic Review] Date: April 14, 2026 Journal: Journal of Digital Banking & Financial Inclusion (Vol. 12, Iss. 3) nequi account number
Legacy banking systems (e.g., Davivienda, Bancolombia) are predicated on the concept of a static, unique numeric account identifier. This number serves as the canonical reference for payroll deposits, bill payments, and wire transfers. In contrast, Nequi—operating as a digital subsidiary of Grupo Bancolombia—deliberately obfuscates this legacy identifier from its primary user interface. This paper addresses the following research question: What functions as an “account number” in the Nequi ecosystem, and what does this substitution reveal about the future of personal financial data? We explore what substitutes for an account number