Apple Pay Officially Launches in the Philippines, Entering Digital Payment Arena

MANILA, Philippines – It’s official: Apple Pay has begun rolling out in the Philippines, bringing Apple’s contactless payment service to Filipino customers for the first time. Customers of participating banks can now add eligible cards to the Apple Wallet app and use their iPhone to pay at stores that accept contactless transactions. Apple Pay may also be used for purchases on supported apps and websites. Apple Pay does not replace a user’s bank account or card. Instead, it creates a digital version of an eligible card in Apple Wallet. To pay in stores, users simply hold their supported Apple device near a contactless terminal and authenticate the transaction through Face ID, Touch ID, or their device passcode. The merchant does not receive the customer’s actual card number. The initial rollout is limited to cards issued by participating financial institutions, with more banks and card products expected to gain support over time. Currently, the following banks support Apple Pay: Metrobank, UnionBank, GoTyme, and ChinaBank. The announcement confirms an earlier hint from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan that a wait for Apple Pay may be nearly over. “We didn’t object to it. So, it’s up to the banks,” Tangonan previously told reporters during a roundtable. “Stay tuned,” he added, without identifying the lenders or providing an exact date. Must Read [Finterest] Apple Pay, LRT1 tap-to-pay? What’s next in BSP’s digital payment roadmap Previously, the Philippines did not appear on Apple’s list of markets and participating financial institutions for Apple Pay. Earlier reports placed the Philippine entry in the third quarter of 2026 as local banks worked to meet the platform’s technical requirements. The announcement comes as the BSP seeks to expand Filipinos’ payment options and increase competition among banks, electronic wallets, QR payments, and international digital-wallet platforms. (READ: Banks are dropping transfer fees. Here’s why it took so long.) Google Pay arrived earlier, launching in the Philippines on November 18, 2025, with initial partners including China Bank, EastWest, GCash, GoTyme, Maya, RCBC, UnionBank, Wise, and Zed. Users can check out further details on the Philippine Apple Pay website. – Rappler.com