Visa and GCash will soon introduce a link-and-pay feature that lets users fund GCash QR payments with eligible Visa cards. The feature removes the extra step of topping up a GCash wallet before checkout and adds Visa Payment Passkey to authenticate every transaction with biometric verification or a device PIN.
The new payment option allows GCash users to link eligible Visa cards to their accounts and use them as a funding source for QR transactions. Users can pay directly with their linked Visa cards at merchants that accept GCash, even if their wallet balance falls short.
Visa Payment Passkey secures each transaction through biometric authentication that uses a fingerprint, face recognition, or device PIN. The system follows FIDO standards and replaces SMS one-time passwords during authentication. Visa said the technology helps reduce phishing risks and can lower fraud rates compared with SMS-based verification.
Jeffrey Navarro, Country Manager for Visa Philippines, said the partnership expands payment options by allowing consumers to use Visa credentials for everyday QR transactions through GCash. He added that the initiative supports Visa's goal of making digital payments more accessible and convenient.
Ren-Ren Reyes, President and CEO of G-Xchange Inc., said the feature gives GCash users more flexibility in managing payments through the app. He also said the collaboration supports the companies' efforts to expand financial inclusion in the Philippines.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that digital payments accounted for 57.4% of the country's monthly retail transaction volume. Visa said card-funded QR payments support the continued growth of digital commerce by giving consumers another payment option across cards, digital wallets, and QR transactions.
