Mobile wallet provider Apple Pay is now expected to launch operations in the Philippines by the third quarter of the year, giving local banks more time to integrate with the platform.<\/p>\n
According to Fintech Alliance PH founding chairman Lito Villanueva, banks still need to meet several technical requirements, with the rollout aimed at onboarding all key players.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need to ensure that key players would be on board or would be ready\u2026 As regards having to ensure that the key players would have to be ready by the time that they launch, para hindi \u2018yung phase one, phase two, dapat lahat (So it\u2019s not like phase one, phase two, it should be all),\u201d he said in an interview on Friday in Manila City.<\/p>\n
\u201cMay mga tech requirements pa, kasi (There are still tech requirements, because) it has to be from the side of the bank. They need to comply, they need to be able to satisfy the requirements of Apple Pay,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Villanueva in November said Apple Pay is set to launch Philippine operations<\/a> early this year, following the launch of its competitor Google Pay.<\/p>\n Google Pay launched<\/a> in the Philippines on November 18, 2025, with several initial partner institutions \u2014 China Banking Corp., East West Banking Corp., GCash, GoTyme Bank Corp., Maya Bank Inc., Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Union Bank of the Philippines, Wise Philippines, and Zed Financial PH Inc.<\/p>\n The country\u2019s biggest private banks \u2014 BDO Unibank Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) \u2014\u00a0have yet to integrate with Google Pay.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is dependent on the bank as to the readiness. They command a high market share, pero siyempre (but of course) wallets naman, they are ready \u2014 Maya, GCash,\u201d Villanueva said.<\/p>\n Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) deputy governor Mamerto Tangonan last August clarified that Google Pay and Apple Pay were deemed as technology service providers, and will not have to register<\/a> as operators of payment systems (OPS).<\/p>\n