Skandia is an asset management company with decades of experience in the Colombian financial market. Through its Fidu as a Service platform, it offers fiduciary solutions designed for companies and fintechs that operate in digital environments and require round-the-clock availability. This case study illustrates how Cobre’s payment infrastructure enabled Skandia to become Colombia’s first 24/7 fiduciary, marking a turning point for the sector.

Why did the traditional model limit Skandia’s fiduciary efficiency?

The Fidu as a Service model was created to serve digital business models, but the available financial infrastructure imposed barriers that undermined that promise. Operations depended on ACH windows, business days, and banking hours that did not align with the pace of the companies or fintechs that Skandia served. The problem was not one of design; it was one of underlying infrastructure.

Addressing this limitation required a fundamental overhaul of the trust’s operational layer. Optimizing internal processes alone was not enough; integration with a banking interoperability infrastructure capable of executing real-time payments—without relying on time windows or manual reconciliations—was necessary. The partial solutions available on the market did not reach that level of depth.

The main limitations of the traditional trust model were:

• Collections subject to bank hours and ACH windows
• Settlements executable only on business days
• No support for nighttime and weekend operations
• Delays due to time zone differences in regional companies
• Manual reconciliations with high exposure to operational error

How does the integration of a payment infrastructure with the custodial operation work?

Skandia integrated Cobre’s infrastructure directly into its custodial architecture to enable a continuous operation model. The connection was established via Cobre’s API, which acts as a bridge between Skandia’s autonomous custodial accounts and the Banco de la República’s Bre-B instant payment system. This allows each collection or disbursement to be settled in seconds, without additional intermediaries or processing windows.

The architecture not only addresses 24/7 availability: it incorporates referenced transfers that automate the reconciliation of each fiduciary transaction. The result is a continuous, traceable operation free from the friction of the traditional ACH model, without compromising the regulatory requirements of the fiduciary framework.

Features enabled by the integration:

• Real-time domestic business payments via Bre-B
• Instant collections from any bank in the Colombian financial system
• Referenced transfers with automatic reconciliation
• Centralized management of escrow disbursements, including weekends and holidays

These changes represent a structural shift in how fiduciary operations are conducted in Colombia, better aligned with the operational realities of businesses and fintech companies.

“With the addition of Cobre as a platform enabler, we are advancing the evolution of fiduciary services toward a truly 24/7 model. This achievement is the result of our architecture, processes, and vision, all aimed at consolidating an agile, digital fiduciary ecosystem aligned with the standards of the fintech world we serve.” - Carolina Nieto, Vice President of the Corporate Segment, Skandia

What are the benefits of Skandia’s operating model and Cobre’s infrastructure?

The benefits of operating with Skandia, combined with Cobre’s infrastructure, include fast fund collection, the freedom to operate without banking restrictions, and nationwide coverage.

Instant collections via Bre-B

Companies and fintechs operating with Fidu as a Service can now receive funds in their segregated accounts in real time, using the Central Bank’s Bre-B instant payment system. This eliminates reliance on ACH windows and makes funds available for immediate use.

24/7 Fund Disbursements

Payments to beneficiaries are processed at any time: weekends, holidays, and late at night. Skandia’s operations no longer depend on the banking calendar to meet its obligations.

Referenced Transfers

Each transaction carries a structured reference that allows Skandia to automatically reconcile cash flows, reducing operational burden and manual errors.

Nationwide Coverage in Colombia

From a single integration, it is possible to disburse funds to any bank account within the Colombian financial system, centralizing the cash management process.

Why did Skandia choose Cobre for its infrastructure?

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“We are proud to have had Skandia in our portfolio of clients and partners for over a year. This new step represents the coming together of two complementary forces. Being able to enable 24/7 fiduciary operations represents not only a technological advancement but also a new way of understanding the financial system: one that never stops.” - José Vicente Gedeón, CEO and Co-founder, Cobre

FAQ’s About Fiduciary Transactions

What is 24/7 Fiduciary?

It is an operational model that enables real-time collection and disbursement of funds, without being subject to traditional banking hours. Through its integration with Cobre, Skandia makes this capability available to companies and fintechs in Colombia via Bre-B.

How does Bre-B benefit fiduciary operations?

Bre-B enables payments to be settled in seconds, any day of the year. For fiduciary operations, this means that funds are available immediately, eliminating wait times and improving companies’ cash flow.

Which companies can access this model?

Companies and fintech firms that operate with Skandia’s fiduciary platform and require continuous, automated operations.

How does this infrastructure integrate with fiduciary operations?

Cobre provides the technological infrastructure for instant payments that Skandia has incorporated into its fiduciary architecture. This includes a direct connection to Bre-B, bulk payment processing, and automatic reconciliation tools.