{
  "id": 1976893,
  "title": "Visa sees promising Apple Pay start",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/visa-sees-promising-apple-pay-start",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-19T16:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Philippine Star Business",
    "slug": "philippine-star-business",
    "url": "https://www.philstar.com/business/2026/08/20/2550401/visa-sees-promising-apple-pay-start"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Visa is optimistic about the early adoption of Apple Pay in the Philippines, but acknowledges that wider acceptance will depend on additional banks partnering with the platform and programs to convert initial consumer interest into regular usage. Visa Philippines country manager Jeffrey Navarro expressed satisfaction with the initial response to Apple Pay following its launch earlier this month. He noted that the traction is positive and the company is confident in its potential. Navarro also highlighted the strong interest from Filipino consumers, particularly in the online space. However, he cautioned that it is premature to predict how quickly Apple Pay will gain scale, especially considering that several major banks have not yet made the service available to their customers. Visa expects a clearer understanding of adoption rates once the ecosystem expands and more participating institutions roll out programs to encourage frequent usage. Apple Pay officially launched in the Philippines on August 4, with China Banking Corp., GoTyme Bank, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., and Union Bank of the Philippines as the initial participating banks. The list is smaller than Google Pay's initial lineup in November 2025, when Visa launched that service in the country. Navarro pointed out that the difference in the number of banks on each platform does not necessarily reflect the readiness of Philippine banks for Apple Pay. He explained that mobile payment platforms have their own requirements, while banks follow separate technology and product timelines. Regarding the time it takes for banks to join Apple Pay, Michelle Mascariñas, Visa Philippines head of products, explained that the timing varies by issuer due to their unique standards, processes, and product pipeline priorities. Mascariñas added that the speed of onboarding depends on the bank's assessment of when they can achieve certification. Apple Pay enables eligible cardholders to make contactless payments using an iPhone or Apple Watch, as well as through supported Apple devices in apps and on websites. To ensure security, Apple Pay uses a device-specific number and a unique transaction code instead of transmitting the user's actual card number to merchants. Purchases also require authentication through Face ID, Touch ID, or a device passcode. Visa's experience in other markets suggests that Apple Pay's transaction contribution becomes more significant after about a year, depending on the number of participating issuers and efforts to promote usage. Navarro stated that despite some major banks yet to activate the service, he is confident in the platform's success once most banks join the ecosystem.",
  "summary": "Visa is seeing encouraging early traction for Apple Pay in the Philippines, but said wider adoption will depend on more banks joining the platform and programs that can turn initial consumer interest into regular usage.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}