Visa, GCash to launch seamless link-and-pay feature for faster, more convenient payment experience

08/03/2026

  • Soon, GCash users will have a more seamless payment experience through the new link-and-pay feature, minimizing the need to cash-in and top-up from deposit accounts and enabling linked Visa cards as funding source for QR payments 
  • Each transaction is protected by Visa Payment Passkey, an authentication method that enhances security while keeping payment experiences smooth and frictionless


Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, and GCash, the Philippines’ leading finance super app and largest cashless ecosystem, will soon launch a new and more secure payment experience allowing consumers to use Visa cards as a funding source for QR transactions in the GCash app. 

The new capability gives consumers greater security and flexibility in how they pay, enabling them to link eligible Visa cards to GCash and use them for everyday purchases anywhere GCash is accepted. Previously, when consumers lacked the wallet balance to fund transactions, they would need to top-up from linked bank accounts in their GCash app or through fund transfers from other banks. The solution will make wallet funding more seamless, enabling consumers to make QR payments at checkout through their linked Visa cards.

 

 

Whether enjoying meals at restaurants, buying from weekend markets, or shopping for souvenirs across the country’s many tourist destinations, consumers can now choose the funding method that best suits their needs – all within a familiar digital wallet experience. 

Consumers will also be able to transact with confidence and ease as each transaction using a Visa card is protected by Visa Payment Passkey, a next-generation biometric authentication solution that allows consumers to verify online purchases using their device’s fingerprint, face recognition, or PIN instead of passwords or SMS one-time passcodes (OTP). 

Built on Fast Identity Online (FIDO®) standards, Visa Payment Passkey helps deliver a faster, more seamless checkout experience while enhancing protection against phishing and other forms of online fraud. Biometric authentication can reduce up to 50% of fraud rates1 compared to SMS-based OTPs.

“Consumers increasingly expect flexibility in how they pay, and are looking for payment experiences that are simple, secure, and seamless. This exciting collaboration expands that flexibility for consumers, allowing consumers to use their Visa credentials across everyday digital payment journeys including QR payments. This takes us forward in making digital payments more accessible and convenient for everyone,” said Jeffrey Navarro, Country Manager for Visa Philippines.

“This new feature further enhances the GCash experience for millions of Filipinos, giving them greater freedom in how they pay and manage their funds while maintaining the experience they’ve come to expect from GCash. This partnership also reinforces our shared trust with Visa to expand financial inclusion and bring more Filipinos into the digital economy,” added Ren-Ren Reyes, President & CEO of G-Xchange, Inc. (the mobile wallet operator of GCash) 

According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), digital transactions now account for 57.4% of total monthly retail volume in the Philippines2. Enabling card-funded QR payments accelerates this digital shift and reinforces Visa's broader strategy of enabling consumers to pay wherever and however they choose. By supporting innovative payment experiences across cards, wallets, and QR payments, Visa and GCash continue to help drive the growth of digital commerce and advance financial inclusion across the Philippines. 


___________________________________________

1 Visa. (n.d.). Visa Payment Passkey: A modern authentication solution. Visa. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from https://www.visa.com/en-us/products/visa-payment-passkey
2 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. (2024). 2023 Report on E-payments Measurement: 2023 Status of Digital Payments in the Philippines. BSP. Retrieved from BSP Report on E-payments Measurement

 

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.


About GCash

GCash is the Philippines’ #1 Finance Super App and Largest Cashless Ecosystem. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills via partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. Its mobile wallet operations are handled by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only $5 billion unicorn in the Philippines.

GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.