Google Pay, one of the world’s leading digital wallets, officially launched in the Philippines on Tuesday, marking its first major expansion in the local market.

The platform has reportedly partnered with nine banks and financial institutions, offering support for a variety of credit, debit, and prepaid cards:

• China Bank – Mastercard credit; VISA credit/debit

• East West Bank – Mastercard/VISA credit

• GCash – Mastercard debit

• GoTyme Bank – VISA debit

• Maya Bank – VISA credit

• RCBC – Mastercard/VISA credit

• UnionBank – VISA cards

• Wise Philippines – VISA prepaid

• Zed Financial PH – Mastercard credit

Google Pay allows customers to make tap-to-pay transactions at merchants equipped with near-field communication (NFC) terminals, enabling both online and offline payments. More Visa-partner banks are expected to join the platform in the coming year.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan previously clarified that Google Pay, alongside Apple Pay, is considered a technology service provider in the country and is required to register as an operator of payment systems (OPS).

“Google’s mission in the payments world is to make money movement simple, easy, [and] convenient. Whether you want to do it online or whether you want to do it offline,” said TG Ramakrishnan, Google Pay Asia-Pacific Strategic Partnerships Lead, during the launch event in Taguig City.

The launch of Google Pay adds another option for Filipinos looking for cashless, digital payment solutions amid the growing adoption of mobile wallets in the country.