More financial institutions to join Google Pay next year

MANILA, Philippines — More banks and financial institutions are expected to join Google Pay next year as providers continue to finalize system readiness and expand digital payment options for Filipino consumers.

On the sidelines of the Google Pay launch yesterday, Visa Philippines country manager Jeffrey Navarro said several issuers are already preparing for onboarding in the first half of 2026.

“It’s safe to say yes,” he said when asked if more partners are coming on board. “For example, there was already an announcement from BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) that next year they will be ready.”

“What we really see, even in other implementations in other countries, is you always start with some and a few — in fact, this is a lot. Then you see more joining a couple of months after.”

Navarro added that most issuers should be onboard toward the end of next year, with additional players expected to begin integration as early as the first and second quarters.

FinTech Alliance founding chairman Lito Villanueva said the initial launch only featured institutions that were fully ready on day one.

“What you saw is just the initial batch,” he said. “There are quite a number of fintechs, banks and non-banks who will also be part of the ecosystem. By early next year, you will be expecting practically more than what you saw at this launch.”

He said the expansion reflects the broader goal of making the smartphone the central hub for digital living.

“Your Google Pay or Google Wallet becomes your digital living that provides digital convenience,” Villanueva said. “Filipinos would have so many plastics or IDs inside the wallet, but no cash. That will now be a thing of the past.”

The announcement follows yesterday’s launch of Google Pay and Google Wallet in the Philippines, a partnership between Visa, Google and the FinTech Alliance, enabling Visa debit and credit cards to be added to Android devices for tap-to-pay and online transactions.

China Banking Corp., East West Banking Corp., GoTyme Bank, Maya Bank, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Union Bank of the Philippines and Wise are part of the initial rollout.

The launch is supported by Visa’s tokenization technology, which replaces sensitive card numbers with unique digital tokens to improve security and reduce fraud.

“Google Pay amplifies the benefits of Visa for consumers, businesses and our banking partners,” Navarro said at the event. “Each payment is protected by Visa’s network token that can help prevent fraud while ensuring a seamless experience.”

Meanwhile, Villanueva confirmed that Apple Pay is also targeting a Philippine rollout.

“Hopefully next year, but we don’t have any available date yet,” he said, noting that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has already given both Google and Apple the green light to operate.