GCash, the Philippines' leading electronic wallet operated by Mynt — a joint venture backed by Globe Telecom, Ant Group, and Ayala Corporation — has entered into partnerships with Visa and Mastercard to allow debit and credit cards to fund QR payments directly through its app. The move comes as the country continues its shift away from cash-heavy commerce, with QR-based payments gaining traction through QR Ph, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas-backed interoperable national standard.

Visa Partnership: Link-and-Pay Feature

A new link-and-pay feature, expected to launch soon, will let users complete QR transactions via the GCash app using their linked Visa cards. This reduces the need for users to cash in or top up from their deposit accounts, Visa said in a statement issued on Monday.

"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," Visa said.

All transactions funded through Visa cards will be protected by Visa Payment Passkey, the company's in-house biometric authentication solution. It verifies online purchases using a device's fingerprint scanner, facial recognition, or PIN, replacing passwords and SMS one-time passwords (OTP). The solution is built on Fast Identity Online (FIDO) standards, which guard against phishing and other forms of online fraud. Visa noted that biometric authentication can reduce fraud rates by up to 50% compared to SMS-based OTPs.

Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeffrey V. Navarro emphasized the broader impact: "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."

G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), the entity that handles GCash's mobile wallet operations, welcomed the enhancement. GXI President and Chief Executive Officer Oscar Enrico A. Reyes, Jr. said: "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."

The partnership positions GCash to deepen its reach among cardholders who previously had to preload wallet balances before transacting — a friction point that has limited conversion in the Philippines' still largely cash-driven retail environment. Visa added that enabling card-funded QR payments will help accelerate the country's transition to digital transactions, in line with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) goal of making the Philippines more cash-lite to support the digital economy's continued growth.

"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," Visa said.

Mastercard Partnership: Pay Local for International Visitors

Under a separate partnership with Mastercard, eligible international visitors to the Philippines will be able to link their Mastercard credit and debit cards to the GCash app and pay local merchants without needing to cash in or load the e-wallet. The feature addresses a long-standing gap for tourists in markets where domestic QR payment systems are widely used but not directly accessible to foreign cards — a common scenario across Southeast Asia, where e-wallets like GCash, GrabPay, and Indonesia's GoPay dominate local commerce.

Mastercard Pay Local, slated for launch within the current quarter, is designed to simplify spending for international visitors while broadening merchants' payment acceptance capabilities.

"Merchants in the Philippines will be able to accept payments from international visitors through their existing QR setup, expanding their reach to more customers without any changes to their existing payment infrastructure," Mastercard said. "This service builds on the longstanding collaboration between Mastercard and GCash across card issuance, merchant acceptance and QR enablement to make digital payments more accessible and secure for local residents, international arrivals and merchants across the Philippines."

Mastercard Country Manager for the Philippines Jason Crasto highlighted the benefits for tourism: "Travelers increasingly expect the convenience and confidence of their everyday payment experiences to travel with them. Mastercard's global network coupled with GCash's everyday acceptance means visitors can spend less time thinking about how to pay and more time enjoying everything the Philippines has to offer, while helping local businesses benefit from growing tourism."

GXI's Mr. Reyes echoed that sentiment: "Trips should be about experiencing a destination, not worrying about how to pay for essentials and experiences. By extending the convenience of GCash to international visitors through GCash Link and Pay, we're helping make the Philippines even more accessible while creating more opportunities for businesses across the country."

— A.M.C. Sy