Digital payments giant Visa and mobile wallet GCash have announced a partnership to introduce a new, more secure way for consumers to pay for everyday purchases across the Philippines.
Under the new integration, GCash users will soon be able to link their eligible Visa debit or credit cards directly to the app and use them to pay via QR code wherever GCash is accepted.
Previously, shoppers who ran out of wallet balance had to manually top up using a linked bank account or transfer funds from another bank before completing a transaction. The new capability eliminates that extra step, allowing payments to be drawn directly from a linked Visa card at checkout. Users can now choose their preferred payment method within the app, whether they are dining at restaurants, shopping at local weekend markets, or buying souvenirs while traveling across the country.
To protect users against fraud, transactions made through linked Visa cards will be secured by Visa Payment Passkey. Built on global FIDO standards, this technology replaces traditional passwords and one-time passcodes (OTPs) sent via SMS with biometric authentication, such as facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, or a device PIN. According to Visa, using biometric verification can cut fraud rates by up to 50 percent compared to standard SMS-based passcodes.
Leaders from both companies noted that the collaboration addresses growing consumer demand for flexible and secure digital payments. Jeffrey Navarro, country manager for Visa Philippines, highlighted that expanding Visa credentials to everyday QR journeys helps make digital payments more convenient and accessible for everyone.
Ren-Ren Reyes, president and CEO of GCash operator G-Xchange, Inc., emphasized that the feature gives millions of Filipinos greater control over how they manage their funds while reinforcing the shared effort to bring more citizens into the digital economy.
The move comes as digital transactions continue to gain rapid traction in the country. Recent data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shows that digital payments now make up 57.4 percent of total monthly retail volume in the Philippines. By enabling card-backed QR payments, both companies aim to support this ongoing digital shift and broaden financial inclusion nationwide.
