Filipinos can now use the mobile wallet GCash abroad, with international SIM cards.
This developed after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) approved the beta launch of GCash Overseas, allowing Filipinos in Japan, Australia, and Italy to sign up for the mobile wallet, even without a Philippine SIM.
The beta mode will run for a limited time only and the full launch is expected later this year.
“We continue to make a difference in Filipinos' lives by making financial services easier and more accessible to our 76 million-strong registered users," Martha Sazon, GCash president and CEO, announced Thursday, Feb. 16.
"With around 10 million Filipinos living abroad, we want them to also be able to take advantage of GCash services even as they use international SIMs," she explained.
Under the beta launch, only the first 1,000 users from Japan, Australia, and Italy can access GCash with an international SIM card.
Once they’re fully verified, Filipinos overseas regardless of their SIM card can begin signing up for GCash and support their families back home by sending money for free (GCash-to-GCash), paying for bills on time, and instantly buying them load credits with just a few taps on the app.
GCash has also been doubling down on its international expansion thanks to its partnership with global payments platform, Alipay+.
Aside from GCash Overseas, it can now be used to pay in select merchants across countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Qatar as well as top European destinations like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy.
GCash offers its users a wide variety of accessible financial products and services, such as Send Money, Buy Load, and Pay Bills.
Likewise, users can explore other innovative financial services to jumpstart their journey towards their financial goals through GSave, GInsure, and GInvest.