Google Pay has officially gone live in the Philippines today, marking the first major global digital wallet to enter the market after months of coordination with banks, card networks and regulators.

GoTyme Bank leads the initial batch of issuers activating the service beginning 18 November, alongside at least eight other banks and fintech players. Several of them are onboarding through Visa, while some are integrating via Mastercard.

BDO Unibank Inc. and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) are not part of the launch group, as both lenders are still completing technical integration.

Key BSP policy decision

The launch follows a key policy decision from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), which earlier ruled that Google Pay and Apple Pay do not need to register as payment service providers.

The central bank determined that the platforms function only as technology service providers and do not directly handle or store funds.

How it works

Google Pay allows users to store debit and credit cards inside Google Wallet on Android phones and wearables.

Once set up, customers can pay by simply tapping their devices at NFC-enabled terminals — the same system used for contactless card payments.

The service also works for in-app transactions and online checkout, removing the need to manually type card details during purchases.

Boost to Phls’ digital payments push

Moreover, the arrival of Google Pay is seen as another boost to the Philippines’ digital payments push, following the adoption of QR Ph and the rapid rise of e-wallet usage during the pandemic.

With Apple Pay also expected to enter the local market soon, the Philippines joins a growing list of Asian economies where global tech companies now compete directly with local e-wallets.