Visa introduces Google Pay capabilities in the Philippines
11/18/2025
● Visa, in collaboration with FinTech Alliance and Google, has launched Google Wallet and Google Pay in the Philippines, ushering in a new era of digital payments that expands financial inclusion and broadens technology adoption for both Filipinos and tourists
● Visa’s tokenization technology provides seamless and secure payments, reducing the risk of fraud
L-R: Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology Henry Aguda, FinTech Alliance.ph Founding Chairman Lito Villanueva, Google Payment Head of Partnerships for Asia Pacific TG Ramakrishnan,Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan.
Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, today announced that Visa cardholders in the Philippines can now add their Visa debit or credit cards to Google Wallet and pay using Google Pay. With this new feature, shoppers can simply unlock their phone and tap to pay at contactless-enabled terminals – no need to hand over a physical card. Google Pay also works for online purchases and in apps, making everyday transactions quick and convenient. Every payment is backed by Visa’s advanced security technology, giving cardholders peace of mind with every tap.
In collaboration with FinTech Alliance and Google, Visa hosted over 200 leaders from banking, finance, and tech to celebrate the launch of Google Pay in the Philippines, marking an important milestone in digital payments. The service is now available in the Philippines through seven partner issuers: Chinabank, EastWest Bank, GoTyme Bank, Maya Bank, RCBC, UnionBank, and Wise. This launch aligns with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ guidance that mobile payment providers like Google Pay are classified as technology service providers, meaning they don’t hold consumer funds but simply link to Visa credit, debit, or prepaid cards.
In Southeast Asia, Google Pay transactions in markets like Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand – and now in the Philippines – are enabled by Visa’s tokenization technology. Tokens are used to create seamless and secure payment experiences for businesses. Through tokenization, each time a Visa card is added to Google Pay, the actual card number is replaced with a unique digital token. This token is stored securely on the device and is used, alongside a dynamic cryptogram, to authorize each payment. This means the cardholder’s real account information is never shared with merchants or stored on the device, and can significantly reduce the risk of fraud.
Visa has issued more than 10 billion tokens as of 2024, with more than 1.5 million e-commerce merchants transacting with Visa tokens everyday1. Visa's Token Service (VTS) contributed to a US$2 billion uplift2 for merchants in Asia Pacific in 2023, while payment fraud rates have been cut by more than half (58%)3.
“Google Pay amplifies the benefits of Visa for consumers, businesses, and our banking partners. As a trusted payment solution used worldwide, it is now available in the Philippines, bringing speed and security to every transaction. Each payment is protected by Visa’s network token – a unique, one-time digital code that can help prevent fraud while ensuring a seamless experience. By extending this secure, convenient way to pay across shops, public transport, and tourist destinations, we make it easier for visitors to spend, empower local merchants to embrace digital payments, and support the Philippines’ vision of a cash-lite economy, driving stronger tourism and greater financial inclusion,” said Jeffrey Navarro, Visa Country Manager for the Philippines.
Merchant acceptance
Recognizing the active role merchants play to broaden adoption of new payment technologies, Visa has also launched an exclusive campaign with Pick Up Coffee to promote the use of Google Pay. Across 100 participating Pick Up Coffee stores nationwide, customers paying with their Visa card receive a free upsize on their drinks, and they get an additional Php50 off when they tap to pay using Google Pay.
Seamless transactions at home and abroad
The launch of Google Pay also offers seamless and secure payment experiences for both Filipinos traveling abroad and visitors traveling to the Philippines. Across the Asia Pacific region, 97% of travelers4 say that they will bring credit, debit, or prepaid cards on their trips, while only 17% intend to bring foreign currency. Visa’s research found that in the Philippines, 44% of tourists report encountering various payment problems, including non-acceptance by merchants.
According to BSP’s latest data, digital retail payments now account for 57.4% of total transaction volume in the country5, exceeding the 2024 target under the Philippine Development Plan, and is on track to meet the 70% target by 2028.
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1 Visa. (2024, June 4). Visa issues 10 billionth token, generating $40 billion in incremental e-commerce globally. Visa Newsroom. https://usa.visa.com/about-visa/newsroom/press-releases.releaseId.20701.html
2 Processed payment volume using tokenised credentials over VisaNet in AP region for the year Jan to Dec 2023 multiplied by the authorisation uplift.
3 Visa Risk Datamart, Global, FY22 Q1–Q4 Token Fraud Rate vs PAN Fraud Rate by PV for merchants with over 1,000 CNP token transactions per month per country. Merchant's individual results may vary.
4 Visa. (2023). Global Travel Intentions Study. https://usa.visa.com/partner-with-us/visa-consulting-analytics/economic-insights/chinas-reopening-sets-global-travel-on-path-to-full-recovery-in-2023.html
5 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. (2024). Report on E-payments Measurement. https://www.bsp.gov.ph/PaymentAndSettlement/2024_Report_on_E-payments_Measurement.pdf
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.