GCash adds Visa card QR payment option for Filipino users

GCash and Visa have partnered to let Visa debit and credit cards be linked to the GCash app, enabling users to pay merchants by scanning a QR code without first topping up their wallet balance. The “link‑and‑pay” feature will use Visa Payment Passkey biometric authentication, allowing verification via fingerprint, facial recognition or device PIN and aiming to cut fraud by up to 50% compared with SMS OTPs.

The rollout targets eligible Visa cards in the Philippines; a specific launch date has not been announced. The move comes as digital transactions already account for 57.4% of monthly retail‑payment volume and 59.0% of value in 2024, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Visa Philippines country manager Jeffrey Navarro and GCash CEO Ren‑Ren Reyes said the collaboration expands payment flexibility for millions of Filipinos.