Zero-fee GCash remittances open for OFWs in Bahrain
Digital money transfer provider Taptap Send and GCash, the Philippines’ largest mobile wallet operator, have expanded their cross-border remittance network to Bahrain, targeting the growing market of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) seeking lower transfer costs.
In a statement, GCash said the partnership allows Filipinos in the Middle Eastern nation to send funds directly into recipient GCash accounts in the Philippines.
Under a temporary promotional agreement, the companies are offering zero transfer fees on transactions originating from Bahrain, though standard foreign exchange conversion margins still apply.
Beyond Bahrain, the companies plan to extend the integrated service to major migrant worker destinations including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and 27 European nations.
“Our partnership with GCash allows us to make it even easier for overseas Filipinos to send money home through a trusted digital platform,” said Faye Sta. Ana-Corpuz, head of Philippines growth and Southeast Asia expansion at Taptap Send.
She added that competitive foreign exchange rates and zero transaction fees across supported corridors aim to help workers maximize their transfers home.
The company also seeks to divert money flows away from informal, unaccredited remittance channels toward licensed electronic networks, which offer regulators and users clearer transaction logs and security.
“By working with trusted international partners like Taptap Send, we are expanding access to safe, convenient, and reliable ways for Filipinos abroad to send money home while strengthening their connection to the Philippines,” said Carlos Bauza, vice president for international payments at GCash International.
To execute a transfer, senders download the Taptap Send application, select the Philippines as the receiving destination, choose GCash as the settlement method, and input the recipient's mobile phone number registered under either Philippine country code +63 or Bahrain country code +973. Once verified, the digital funds clear instantly into the recipient's GCash wallet balance.