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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Banking & Finance devider EastWest Bank integrates debit cards with Google Pay

EastWest Bank integrates debit cards with Google Pay

Published Mar 4, 2026 01:44 pm
East West Banking Corp. is expanding its digital payment capabilities by integrating its debit cards with Google Pay, allowing customers to conduct contactless transactions via smartphones and wearables.
In a statement, EastWest Bank said the integration allows its cardholders to add their credentials to Google Wallet for use at millions of merchants globally.
The move follows EastWest Bank’s earlier rollout of credit card support for the platform.
Backed by the Visa Inc. network, the service utilizes near-field communication technology to enable 
“tap-to-pay” functionality, eliminating the need for physical cards in daily transactions ranging from retail purchases to international travel.
“By enabling EastWest debit cards on Google Pay, we are giving our customers an easier way to pay that fits naturally into how they live, travel, and shop,” Jerry Ngo, East West Bank chief executive officer said.
The expansion is part of a broader push to deliver secure, globally competitive digital solutions, he added.
The bank is emphasizing security as it scales its digital ecosystem. Users can manage card settings, including locking and unlocking functions to prevent unauthorized use, through the lender’s EasyWay mobile application.
Payments made via Google Pay are protected by tokenization, a process that replaces sensitive card details with a unique digital identifier, ensuring that actual card numbers are never shared with merchants.
EastWest is targeting frequent travelers and high-net-worth individuals through its Priority and Visa Infinite debit offerings. The bank is currently waiving foreign exchange bank conversion fees and offering a reduced 1.7 percent fee for international transactions through March 31, 2026.
During this promotional period, the lender is also providing unlimited free international ATM withdrawals and waiving interbank domestic withdrawal fees.
The strategy aligns with the bank’s goal of deepening client relationships as the Philippine economy sees increased adoption of mobile wallets.
While QR-based payments currently dominate the local market, Ngo noted that NFC-based transactions offer a more seamless experience for users.
The bank’s tech investments now account for about 10 percent of total expenses as it prepares for further competition in the digital space, including the anticipated local arrival of Apple Pay later this year.
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