Visa Strengthens Push for Digital Transit Payments with Urban Mobility Workshop for Banks

 Visa , a global leader in digital payments, is gearing up for the expansion of automated, contactless fare systems to other train lines in partnership with Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC). Through a workshop on smart mobility, Visa and RCBC shared solutions and best practices for issuers on managing digital payments for various modes of transit, particularly urban rail. 

Visa, in partnership with Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), conducted a forum to boost readiness of Philippine banks for transit payments as the country gears up for expansion of the automated fare collection system in LRT 1 and 2.

This workshop is in preparation for the launch of secure, seamless digital payments on other modes of transit in the Philippines. Working with RCBC and other transportation stakeholders, Visa is accelerating the upgrade of payment systems for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines 1 and 2, which have a combined daily ridership of more than 500,000. This will be Visa’s fourth transit project in the country – following the success of other cashless transit projects such as the MRT-3 and bus systems in Cebu, Mandaue, and Bacolod.

According to the Visa Economic Empowerment Institute, open-loop, contactless systems in public transit could potentially boost ridership by up to 10 percent. The shift to digital payments also advances urban mobility, as it responds to evolving commuter preferences for transit. Across Asia-Pacific, 94% of riders expect contactless payments to be offered on their rides, and 45% of commuters would take more trips if it were easier to pay their fares.

“We fully support the government’s vision of transforming everyday commuting experiences for the public, and making them efficient, hassle-free, and truly at par with transit services around the world. We hope to launch contactless payment systems in LRT 1 and 2 within the year,” highlighted Mylene Bico, Chief Commercial Officer of RCBC Credit Cards.

“Enabling commuters to use their cards and smartphones to pay is a step towards broadening digital and financial inclusion, which is a longstanding commitment that Visa shares with the government. When we remove barriers to digital financial systems, we reduce wait times, improve overall accessibility of public transport, and increase productivity to help uplift the economy,” added Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro.

With more than 870 tap-to-ride transit projects globally, Visa continues to deliver innovative mobility solutions that advance economic development, support inclusive growth, and position the Philippines as a global leader in smart, sustainable urban infrastructure.

Accelerating Digital Payments: Visa Brings Banks Together for Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay

 Visa, a global leader in digital payments, is empowering different financial sector stakeholders to adopt the xPays - or mobile payment providers such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay – in the country. In an enablement workshop, Visa collaborated with regional partners – including Google Southeast Asia, Vietcombank, and Starbucks Vietnam – to gather key insights and best practices on how local banks can effectively integrate, launch, and scale xPays in the Filipino market. 

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (“BSP”) recently stated that mobile payment providers like Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay are classified as technology service providers, and not operators of payment systems (OPS), which require prior registration to operate. This means the xPays cannot hold funds for Filipino consumers and will need to be linked to users’ credit, debit, or e-money accounts to work.

From left to right – Visa Philippines Head of Product Ezer Escolar, Visa Head of Product, Regional Southeast Asia Poojyata Katar, Vietcombank Deputy Director of Retail Product Department Nguyen 

Hong Thanh, Starbucks Vietnam Head of Business Development and Marketing Nguyen Bao Tram, Google Payments Strategic Partnerships Lead for Asia Pacific TG Ramakrishnan, and Visa Head of Product for Vietnam and Laos Kelvin Utomo

Once a Visa card is added to a digital wallet like Google Pay, it can be used to tap and pay in stores, online, or in apps, without needing the physical card. Every transaction is protected by Visa’s security technology, offering peace of mind with every purchase.

In Southeast Asia, tokens are used through xPays in markets such as Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand to create a seamless and secure payments experience for consumers and businesses. Tokenization is at the core of this technology, where every time a Visa card is added to an xPay, the actual card number is replaced with a unique digital token. This token is stored securely on the device and is used, alongside a dynamic cryptogram, to authorize each payment. This means the cardholder’s real account information is never shared with merchants or stored on the device, which significantly reduces the risk of fraud. 

Visa has issued more than 10 billion tokens as of 2024, with more than 1.5 million e-commerce merchants transacting with Visa tokens everyday. Visa's Token Service (VTS) contributed to a US$2 billion uplift for merchants in Asia Pacific in 2023, while payment fraud rates have been cut by more than half (58%).

Visa’s enablement workshop featured sessions from Google Payments Strategics Partnership Lead for Asia Pacific TG Ramakrishnan, Vietcombank Deputy Director of Retail Product Department Nguyen Hong Thanh, and Starbucks Vietnam Head of Business Development and Marketing Nguyen Bao Tram, highlighting how xPays enable growth for both card issuers and cardholders.  

"Vietcombank has been a trusted partner of Visa in delivering seamless payment experiences to Vietnamese consumers. We’re proud to share our key learnings with peers across the region," said Nguyen Hong Thanh, Deputy Director of Retail Product Department from Vietcombank, the largest commercial bank in Vietnam. Both Google Pay and Samsung Pay have been available in Vietnam since 2022, while Apple Pay went live in 2023.

“Digital wallets like Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay amplify the power of Visa by delivering secure, seamless, and innovative payment experiences for consumers, businesses, and our banking partners. Each tap is protected by Visa’s network token technology, ensuring trust and security while advancing the Philippines’ digital payments landscape. As a trusted global partner, Visa is proud to support the country’s financial inclusion goals by connecting local innovations to our global network –helping Filipinos pay and be paid with confidence, and driving inclusive growth across communities,” said Jeffrey Navarro, Visa Country Manager for the Philippines.

The adoption of xPays in the Philippines is seen to expand digital and financial inclusion for both Filipinos and foreign travelers, who have come to expect seamless digital payments. Across Asia Pacific, 97% of travelers say that they will bring credit, debit, or prepaid cards on their trips, while only 17% intend to bring foreign currency. In the Philippines, 44% of travelers report encountering various payment problems, including non-acceptance by merchants.

According to the latest BSP data, digital retail payments now account for 57.4% of total transaction volume in the country, exceeding the 2024 target under the Philippine Development Plan and on track to meet the 70-percent target by 2028.

Live Your K-Pop Dreams at the 2025 MAMA Awards in Hong Kong with Metrobank Visa

 K-Pop fans: ever dreamt of being in the same space as your idols, feeling the energy of a live performance, and soaking in the global phenomenon that is the annual MAMA AWARDS? Well, get ready, because you can be among the stars this November – here’s how!

That dream could be a reality for you as Metrobank is giving away 2025 MAMA AWARDS Packages for 15 lucky Metrobank Visa cardholders! Each winner will get to enjoy roundtrip economy flights to Hong Kong for 2 people, a fantastic 4-day, 3-night hotel stay from November 27-30, 2025, and even a curated concert essentials pack for you and your friend to see your K-Pop idols in the flesh.

So, how do you get the VIP experience to this epic event? It's easier than you think! From June 25 to September 14, 2025, all you have to do is:

 

• First, register your Metrobank Visa credit card via https://metrobankcard.mymcc.gift or through the Metrobank website. Registration is open during the promo period. No registration, or late registration, means your entries won't qualify, and we wouldn't want you to miss out!

 

• Shop Local, Win Big: Earn five raffle entries, for every single-receipt transaction worth PHP3,500 with your Metrobank Visa credit card at any local store nationwide.

 

• Go Global, Get More Entries: Planning an international trip soon? Use your Metrobank Visa for your purchases abroad and get 10 raffle entries for a minimum single receipt spend of PHP10,000!

 

• Boost Your Chances with a Metrobank Travel Signature Visa: Apply and get approved for a new Metrobank Travel Signature Visa from June 15 to August 30, 2025, and you'll automatically bag five bonus raffle entries! Plus, you get to enjoy exciting benefits such as a low forex rate of 1.68%, 1 mile converted from every PHP 30 spend, and unlimited local lounge access via PAGSS. With this new card, you are always closer to your next trip and now, to living out your  biggest K-Pop awards ceremony  dream!

A few important things to remember: This promo is specifically for card-present transactions (think tapping your card in stores), so online purchases won't count for entries. And of course, make sure your Metrobank Visa credit card is active, and your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date of the trip – you'll need both for your K-Pop adventure!

The grand raffle draw will be on September 29, 2025. Keep an eye on Metrobank Card's social media pages, your email, SMS, registered mail, or even a call-out within five banking days of the draw – you might just be one of our lucky winners!

 

With your Metrobank Visa credit card, you can get access to the best experiences to ignite your passion points. Visit the official website of Metrobank at metrobank.com.ph or a Metrobank branch near you to apply for one today.

 

Visa Unveils AI-Powered Payment Innovations to Shape the Future of Commerce in the Philippines

 With AI emerging as the new frontier in digital payments, Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in the industry, has unveiled a suite of innovative products designed to enable the next wave of digital payment experiences in the Philippines. The country’s digital payment sector is rapidly expanding, with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reporting that 50% of retail payments were digitized in 2023—a milestone that highlights both the growing adoption and the readiness for further innovation.

As digital transactions continue to rise, Visa’s AI-enabled solutions are set to empower Filipino consumers and business owners by providing secure, seamless payment experiences. “The continuously growing digital payment sector in the Philippines makes it a prime environment for technological innovation—one that harnesses AI for the benefit of the digital Filipino business owner and consumer,” said Jeffrey Navarro, Country Manager, Visa Philippines.

In this new era of agentic commerce, where AI agents will browse, purchase, and manage transactions on behalf of users, trust is more important than ever. Over the past decade, Visa has invested more than US$3 billion in AI and data infrastructure, enabling regional partners—including AI platforms, fintechs, banks, and merchants—to connect effortlessly to the Visa network. In an increasingly digital landscape marked by evolving threats and the need for greater accountability, Visa’s continued focus on AI, tokenization, and real-time fraud prevention ensures every transaction remains secure.

Leading this wave of innovation is Visa Intelligent Commerce, a new initiative that opens Visa’s payments network to developers and engineers building the next generation of AI-powered commerce in Asia Pacific.

Visa Intelligent Commerce: A New Era for Asia Pacific

Visa Intelligent Commerce brings a suite of integrated APIs and a commercial partner program to AI platforms, enabling developers to deploy Visa’s AI commerce capabilities securely and at scale. Visa announced that it is in explorations with Ant International, Grab and Tencent to grow AI commerce by enabling a secure and seamless checkout experience.

Ant International is a leading global digital payment, digitisation, and financial technology provider. Grab is Southeast Asia’s leading super app offering ride-hailing, food delivery, digital payments, and financial services across eight markets. Tencent is a multinational technology leader that develops a wide range of digital products and services, including Weixin/WeChat, China’s super app. 

“The Philippines’ digital economy remains vibrant, and Visa’s cutting-edge innovations are key to keeping the country at the forefront of payment technology,” said Poojyata Khattar, Head of Product for Regional Southeast Asia at Visa. “Imagine the possibilities that AI brings to everyday life for Filipino digital consumers—from automatically ordering your favorite meals on Grab before you even think of it, to alerting you about the next big K-pop concert and arranging all your travel plans. With Visa’s trusted payment infrastructure and advanced AI capabilities, these seamless, secure, and enjoyable experiences are now within reach for everyone in the country,” Khattar added.

Over the past 25 years, Visa’s global network has handled 3.3 trillion transactions. Today, Visa is advancing its infrastructure, standards, and capabilities to power AI-driven commerce, opening new opportunities for consumers across Asia Pacific. Soon, AI agents integrated into familiar platforms will be able to transact using Visa’s 4.8 billion credentials at millions of merchant locations worldwide.

Expanding payments innovation and connectivity for Filipino businesses

Visa is also launching new services to make it easier for consumers, merchants, and businesses in the Philippines to pay and be paid. 

Visa Pay: A service designed to connect any participating wallet to any Visa-accepting merchant, local or international, in-store or online, launches across Asia Pacific, home to the largest number of digital wallet users. Through partnerships with leading players including LINE Pay in Taiwan, Maya in the Philippines, OpenRice in Hong Kong, and Woori Card in South Korea, Visa is expanding access to its global network, giving consumers more ways to pay globally by tapping, scanning or online. 

Digital Identity:  This suite of solutions includes Passkeys, Tap to Confirm, and enhanced data which are meant to identify and authenticate digital users. These solutions will reduce friction for consumers by being digitally native while improving payment security and authorisation rates with enhanced transaction data and state-of-the-art fraud prevention techniques. New partners in the region include Coles, a supermarket chain in Australia and Maybank, a leading financial services provider in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

Visa Accept is a new solution that allows micro-sellers to receive payments directly to their eligible Visa debit card using any NFC-enabled smartphone. Launching in Vietnam, the service supports micro-entrepreneurs and informal sellers such as street vendors, freelancers, and small service providers. Participating issuers will enable cardholders to accept contactless payments through their bank’s mobile app. 

Seamlessness in payments 

Visa continues to expand its product portfolio with solutions designed to support the evolving payment needs of consumers and businesses in the country and across Asia Pacific, particularly 
Millennial and Gen Z consumers who are increasingly looking for flexible and convenient payment options that match their lifestyles. 

Flex Credential: Visa’s Flex Credential, a next-generation card that allows users to seamlessly toggle between debit, credit, and reward points, continues to gain traction in Asia Pacific. Visa first launched Flex in partnership with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and Sumitomo Mitsui Card Company (SMCC), known as Olive, two years ago in Japan. Today, more than 5 million Olive account holders are benefitting from the Visa Flex Credential. The Olive card continues to outperform, with cardholder transactions averaging 40% higher than the national average in Japan over the past year. 

Visa and SMCC have expanded the Visa Flex Credential to support small businesses with the flexibility to switch between business and personal accounts using the same Olive card, enhancing access to credit and cash flow management. Visa is also collaborating with local banks in Vietnam to launch Flex Credential in the next few months.

Stablecoins: Visa has been facilitating cryptocurrency transactions for over five years and is now expanding its offering to include stablecoin-backed cards, settlement, and programmable money. On and off-ramps via stablecoin-backed cards allow consumers to use their Visa credentials to buy stablecoins with fiat currency and pay with stablecoin across Visa-accepting merchant locations. In Asia Pacific, Visa is partnering with DCS Singapore, DTC Pay and StraitsX on stablecoin-backed cards that support conversion through regulated infrastructure. 

Enabling seven-day-a-week settlement for stablecoins: Visa has settled more than $225 million to date in stablecoin volume that has been settled through Visa across participating clients. In Asia Pacific, Visa is working with StraitsX for stablecoin settlement.

Through the Visa Tokenized Asset Platform (VTAP), Visa provides a platform for our partners to issue and manage fiat-backed tokens, offering interconnectivity to public and private blockchains, enabling programmable financing, trading of tokenized assets and facilitating cross-border money movement. Visa is looking to expand the availability of VTAP to more partners later this year and into 2026.

“We are excited to work with local banks, acquirers, merchants, and the government in bringing these innovations to the Philippine market. Working with the right partners will help us translate these global innovations into real, tangible impact for local stakeholders – helping us all advance into the future of payments,” said Navarro. 

Maya Launches Visa Cross-Border AFT to Boost Payment Flexibility for Tourists, Expats, OFWs, and Freelancers

 Visa, a world leader in digital payments, and Maya, the Philippines’ leading digital bank and fintech ecosystem, are collaborating to enable cross-border account funding transactions (AFT) in the Maya app. This innovative partnership allows Maya users to seamlessly pull funds from foreign-issued Visa cards and load them directly into their Maya accounts, expanding payments flexibility.

With this new feature, Maya users can easily access and transfer funds from Visa cards issued overseas, offering a streamlined solution for expatriates, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and global travelers who need to manage their finances across borders. Upon cashing in from their foreign-issued Visa cards, Maya users can now spend, save, and even invest their money in the Philippines through the Maya app. 

From left to right – Maya Consumer Business Lead Justin Soon, Head of Enterprise Product Nitin Chawre, Head of Consumer Business Mariam Randhawa, and Group Chief Commercial Officer Khurram Malik, along with Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro, Head of Product and Solutions Ezer Escolar, Director for Commercial and Money Movement Solutions Abigail Aguilar, and Director and Account Executive Oliver Ornido. 

“Our longstanding partnership with Maya continues to grow from strength to strength, and with this latest collaboration, we help make digital payments even more flexible. By enabling funding transactions from foreign-issued Visa cards, we provide Maya users with the power and convenience to manage their finances effortlessly, while ensuring seamless and secure transactions. This connects them to countless possibilities through their Maya accounts,” said Jeffrey Navarro, Visa Country Manager for the Philippines.

Maya, through its robust fintech ecosystem, continues to drive digital payments growth in the country. Visa has previously recognized Maya for processing the highest e-commerce and contactless payments volumes in the Philippines from 2021 to 2024, as well as for being the top acquirer for merchant transaction volume. This collaboration further underscores their commitment to advance payments innovation while improving user experience.

“With this new feature, we’re making it easier for Filipinos and OFWs to move money from their Visa cards abroad straight into their Maya wallets. Maya has redefined how we spend, save, and invest—and we’re pleased to bring the same ease and flexibility to cross-border payments,” said Khurram Malik, Group Chief Commercial Officer of Maya.

Visa Advances Financial Access for Filipino SMEs with Digital Payment Innovations

Visa, a world leader in digital payments is looking to expand support for Filipino small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which, despite their economic contribution, still face significant barriers to financial inclusion and growth. While making up more than 99% of all business enterprises in the country and generating 66% of total employment, SMEs in the Philippines continue to face significant challenges, including access to funding. 

A global funding gap

Visa's recent study reveals significant challenges faced by SMEs, particularly in accessing capital, with these businesses receiving less than 10% of total corporate loans. Cash flow concerns are prevalent, as 44% of SMEs highlight it as a top issue, and over half report having reserves that would last less than six months. Additionally, other hurdles include device and hardware cost for acceptance and lengthy application processes for card holders. Fraud prevention was also cited as a key concern by 33% of those accepting cards.

The financial landscape further complicates these challenges, with the International Finance Corporation reporting a $5.2 trillion global funding gap for SMEs annually, predominantly in East Asia and the Pacific. The Philippines exemplifies this issue, with a $221-billion funding demand against a $15-billion supply. Despite mandates to increase SME lending, utilization remains low due to informal business practices, limited credit history, and financial literacy gaps.

Women-led SMEs across the region face additional social barriers, including gender bias in lending and limited property rights, which restrict their ability to use financial collateral. Moreover, the added burden of household responsibilities can hinder their capacity to effectively manage and expand their businesses. However, Visa's research shows promising outcomes, revealing that 51% of women-led SMEs and 56% of micro-businesses in the Philippines experienced revenue growth through the adoption of digital payments.

Innovation in SME support and funding

Recognizing the crucial role SMEs play in economic development, Visa, through the Visa Foundation, previously launched a $100-million small business accelerator initiative aimed at advancing digital financial inclusion, stimulating job creation, and increasing access to capital for SMEs in Asia Pacific, including the Philippines. 

This program has reached an estimated 29.6 million SMES in the region, including 10.9 million women-led SMEs. The program is complemented by Visa’s Practical Business Skills program, which equips SME owners with essential knowledge in cash flow management, digital payment integration, and financial planning. 

Visa has been actively working with local partners to launch innovative products designed to expand financial inclusion for SMEs. Recently, it signed a new deal with CIMB Bank Philippines to launch a new Visa Business Debit Card. Designed to cater to SME owners, the card will be linked to a high interest business savings account, where business owners can enjoy zero fees, free fund transfers, insurance product offers, as well as a revolving credit facility that they can maximize to grow their business. 

“SMEs form the backbone of our economy and supporting them helps contribute to overall economic growth. We continue to work with local partners to bring financial products and solutions responsive to their unique needs, and we share the government’s vision to help SMEs unlock their full potential through innovation and resilience,” said Jeffrey Navarro, Visa Country Manager for the Philippines.