GCash taps Visa to cut extra wallet top-ups

MANILA, Philippines — GCash will soon let users pay QR transactions using linked Visa cards, eliminating the need to top up wallets as the fintech giant deepens its partnership with global payments firm Visa.

Under the new “link-and-pay” feature, users can connect eligible Visa credit or debit cards to their GCash accounts and use them directly as a funding source when scanning a GCash QR code at participating merchants. The companies did not disclose a rollout date but said the feature will launch soon.

Currently, users with insufficient balances must cash in via linked bank accounts or transfer funds before completing a transaction. The new feature removes that step by charging payments directly to a linked Visa card.

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Moreover, Visa said the enhancement will give consumers greater flexibility while making digital transactions more convenient. It will support everyday purchases wherever GCash QR is accepted, including restaurants, weekend markets, and tourist destinations nationwide.

To strengthen security, every card-funded transaction will use Visa Payment Passkey, a biometric authentication solution. Instead of passwords or SMS one-time passwords (OTPs), users can verify purchases via fingerprint, facial recognition, or PIN. Built on Fast Identity Online standards, the technology can cut fraud by up to 50 percent compared with SMS-based OTPs, according to Visa.

“Consumers increasingly expect flexibility in how they pay, and are looking for payment experiences that are simple, secure and seamless,” Jeffrey Navarro, Visa Philippines country manager, said.

Meanwhile, Ren-Ren Reyes, president and CEO of G-Xchange Inc., the mobile wallet operator of GCash, said the feature will give millions of Filipinos greater freedom in managing payments while preserving the platform’s user experience.

As digital payments gain traction in the Philippines, the companies said enabling card-funded QR payments will further accelerate cashless transactions while expanding consumer payment options. /pai INQ