Philippines – Philippine super app Gcash has recently unveiled its reinforced international services during the Singapore FinTech Festival this 2023, aiming to deliver the convenience of using the app towards Filipinos looking to travel or work abroad. 

Notably, GCash also revealed a new feature in the app where users can view real-time foreign exchange rates in select countries such as Singapore, Japan, and the USA.

This strengthens the efforts of GCash, which has been growing its reach beyond Philippine shores through its partner, global payments giant Alipay+, by allowing travellers to use the e-wallet for cashless transactions in 17 countries such as Singapore, Japan, and the USA. 

This initiative in turn has enabled users overseas to sign up for GCash using international mobile numbers in six countries such as the USA, Italy, and Japan.

Partnering with Visa as well, GCash users can also make cashless transactions with over 80 million merchants across 200 countries. Customers can order the new GCash Card via the app, and can pay with GCash in establishments that accept Alipay+ by either scanning their QR codes or generating a code.

Talking about these features, Martha Sazon, president and CEO of Gcash, said, “Through GCash services, Filipino travellers as well as those who live and work overseas can enjoy the same benefits as those who own credit cards and bank accounts. They can use the app to pay in stores and establishments that accept Alipay+ or accept card transactions.”

Manila, Philippines – Mynt, the fintech arm of Globe, has announced that it is fully acquiring payment system provider ECPay. Through the acquisition, Globe Telecom is now selling its previously-acquired 77% stake in ECPay to Mynt. ECPay’s minority stakeholder, Payment One, is likewise a party to the agreement.

Upon closing of the transaction, ECPay will have access to GCash’s platform, enabling ECPay to better traverse the ever-evolving digital landscape to which GCash is a leader in. As for Mynt, it is expected to better harmonise the capabilities of both ECPay and GCash. The acquisition will help GCash provide best-in-class services in the fintech space and further democratize financial access.

Ernest L. Cu, president and CEO at Globe, shared, “GCash’s meteoric rise to become one of the top fintech brands and the aggressive expansion of its financial services have created a perfect environment for strategic synergies with ECPay. Mynt’s acquisition of ECPay will enable more efficient and effective sharing of each other’s strengths and resources, thus creating a seamless and upgraded experience for their customers.”

Meanwhile, Rizza Maniego-Eala, chief financial officer at Globe, commented, “Mynt’s digital savviness will spill over to ECPay, maximising its previously untapped potential. GCash, on the other hand, can further differentiate itself from its competition as mobile wallets in various shapes and sizes continue to pop up. With ECPay in Mynt’s capable hands, Globe can better steer its ventures and synergistically grow the entire Globe Group ecosystem.”

ECPay is a leading electronic payment service provider in the Philippines and was previously acquired by Globe in 2019 to enhance its distribution network. The ECPay Platform enables merchant partners to process bill payments, electronic prepaid mobile phone top-up loading, electronic pins, e-wallet and cash card reloading, airline ticket payments, online shopping payments, and credit card payments in their various outlets.

Manila, Philippines Leading fintech app in the Philippines GCash has appointed its new chief marketing officer, ex-Lazada Neil Trinidad. The marketing veteran shared the announcement on a personal LinkedIn update. 

Trinidad brings with him a strong background in marketing, general management, and sales across the industries of FMCG, tech, fintech, and e-commerce. Previously, Trinidad also held the CMO position for the Philippine leg of top e-commerce platform Lazada for over 2 years through 2022. 

Transferring to the GCash team right after his CMO stint in Lazada, Trinidad first assumed the position of VP Head of Business of the fintech. 

Other notable marketing leadership under his belt include heading the businesses of Google Philippines and Unilever. In 2017, he also co-founded the e-commerce health food delivery business The Feel Good Food Group. 

Manila, Philippines – Popular mobile wallet GCash has teamed up with property developer Ayala Land to now allow users to view select properties, inquire and access cashless payments when investing in real estate. 

According to a report by ABS-CBN, users can log in to the app’s GLife feature to browse Ayala Land’s property listings and submit an inquiry. Property listings can be viewed by tapping GLife and searching for the ‘real estate’ tab.

Martha Sazon, president and CEO of GCash, said, “With this partnership with Ayala Land, GCash enables potential homeowners and property seekers to conduct virtual unit viewing and, after they make the decision to buy a property, access cashless payment of reservation fees using their e-wallet account.”

Meanwhile, Bobby O. Dy, president and CEO at Ayala Land, commented, “As more and more individuals are turning to the convenience of online shopping, we strongly believe that buying home and real estate properties should not be any different. By launching four of our key brands on GLife, Filipinos can now have a more seamless experience in buying Ayala Land properties.”

The announcement comes after GCash recently announced the opening its new in-app stock trading platform service ‘GStocks’ and a digital wallet for minors ‘GCash Jr’.

Manila, Philippines – Top e-wallet in the Philippines GCash has launched its new digital wallet designed for youth ages seven to 17 years old. Called ‘GCash Jr’, the new e-wallet aims to provide a safe and reliable digital transaction experience that is fit for the ‘next generation’ of Filipinos.

With the new e-wallet, minors can now buy their favourite things online, level up their gaming experiences, and explore a world of finances with their own GCash Jr. accounts.

GCash shared that there is a separate verification process for minors because there is a need to collect parents’ consent. This will be collected in the form of the requirements, and the parent will also be the one who needs to agree to the terms and conditions.

To verify the GCash Jr. account, app users must have a valid ID (passport, student ID, or national ID), and a parent that is fully verified on GCash with details, such as the parent’s full name, a fully verified GCash number, a picture of the parent holding the minor’s ID used in verification, and an original copy of the applicant’s birth certificate.

“This is just the first of many steps as we innovate for the youth,“ said GCash CEO Martha Sazon on her LinkedIn. 

Manila, Philippines – Global package delivery company UPS has announced that local electronic wallet GCash has been now integrated into their services, where any shipper or recipient in the Philippines can now instantly and securely pay for UPS’s logistics services, and settle any outstanding shipment-related charges, at any time, using GCash’s digital payment app on their mobile phones.

Grace Gavilan, finance manager at UPS in the Philippines, said, “Being able to leverage GCash’s leading mobile payments technology enhances how our customers do business with us in several ways, including improved customer experience, payment convenience, and even minimising package delays in the event shipments are held at customs due to outstanding duties and taxes.”

She added, “Small businesses form the backbone of our economy, and as the Philippines pivots towards becoming a digitalized and cash-lite economy, their active participation is crucial or they risk getting left behind. We’re confident this enhancement opens more doors for Filipino small businesses to be part of an inclusive financial ecosystem, and addresses their needs for a smarter, more digital-first approach to logistics and international trade.”

Meanwhile, Luigi Reyes, vice president for enterprise at GCash, commented, “Our company’s fintech service is built on the premise of enabling a digital ecosystem to help every Filipino. We are delighted to team up with UPS as this moves us closer to our goal of accelerating financial inclusion in our society – across government, businesses and consumers – via our financial services platform.”

The latest integration is part of UPS’ latest initiatives aimed at enabling a global smart, technology-enabled logistics network, including new shipping technologies like My Choice for Business which provides shippers with greater flexibility and visibility of their inbound and outbound shipments.

Manila, Philippines – Mynt, the fintech company under telecommunications company Globe, has recently raised US$300m in funding, therefore valuing the company now at US$2b. Said funding has been led by investors Warburg Pincus, Insight Partners and Bow Wave.

Mynt has been at the forefront of the digital transformation among Filipinos as the ‘go-to’ payment and financial services solution to over 48 million users, nearly half of the national population. 

With the continued relevance of the app among its users, Mynt is on track to reach ₱3t of gross transaction value, 3 times more than last year’s record number. The company has also recorded peak daily app log-ins and daily active transactions of 19 million and 12 million, respectively.

For Martha Sazon, president and CEO of Mynt, this is further proof that their growth and achievements have not gone unnoticed. 

“We have been able to continuously expand by introducing game-changing innovations while improving our profitability profile. We are excited about our new partnership with Warburg, Insight, Itai Tsiddon and Amplo, as they each bring strategic value to our team in the pursuit of our vision towards finance for all,” Sazon stated.

Meanwhile, Ernest Cu, chairman of the board of Mynt and president and CEO of Globe, commented, “Their investment in Mynt and GCash further validates the strides the company has made in providing access to innovative financial services to more Filipinos and highlighting the Philippines to the global investor audience. Together with the continued support of Mynt’s existing shareholders, we are confident of furthering Mynt’s market leadership and creating positive and transformative disruption in the Philippine financial services sector.”

Mynt offers a full array of financial services, spanning credit, savings, insurance, loans, and investments. Assets Under Management (AUM) for its GSave product has grown to over ₱9b, from ₱5b in 2020, while its GInvest product has already captured 70% of the domestic market of total UITF accounts. GInsure, GCash‘s microinsurance offering launched in 2020, accounts for 1/3 of all new insurance policies issued in the Philippines.

In addition, GCash’s GCredit disburses over ₱1b worth of loans each month, with ₱15b worth having been disbursed as of June 2021, and boasts the best repayment rates locally with the lowest past-due and non-performing loans. Mynt also piloted GLoan, a cash loan product that allows qualified users to borrow as much as ₱25k, with repayment spread over 12 months.

Manila, Philippines – Top e-wallet in the Philippines GCash’s new service is a step forward in customer service and in fulfilling its brand promise of safe financial transactions. In partnership with Singapore-headquartered regional insurtech Igloo, GCash launches a first-of-its-kind online shopping insurance protection that will secure consumers from online marketplace fraud.

Igloo’s Online Shopping product is part of its Cyber Protection vertical, which secures financial loss arising directly from any online marketplace fraud. Through the partnership, GCash users will be protected from any transaction they make via online marketplaces such as Lazada, Shopee, including Viber, and Facebook marketplaces as long as their payment was fulfilled through the GCash platform. 

GCash continues to be the leading digital wallet in the Philippines and is continually amplifying its services. The fintech has also recently announced that it is eyeing to launch a Buy Now Pay Later service within this year. 

Martha Sazon, GCash’s president and CEO, said that the shopping insurance offering comes at a time when they have seen robust growth in online transactions and user base.

“With excellent customer experience being the heart of our business alongside value-added services through our platform, we are thrilled to launch this new product with Igloo that secures online transactions for our customers,” said Sazon.

Mario Berta, Igloo’s country manager for the Philippines, commented, “We are excited to partner with the leading e-wallet in the country, GCash, who shares the same vision of protecting digital consumers by pioneering innovative solutions to end-customers at an economical price. With the growing number of digital consumers in the country, now more than ever, is it most important to provide flexible solutions for the changing needs and processes of both businesses and customers.” 

According to GCash, its users currently stand at 46 million. The app has also had over 13 million log-ins per day, peaking at almost 15 million in the second quarter of 2021.

GCash has been integrating insurance as one of its value propositions to users. Within the app, it currently offers a line of insurance products similarly powered by Singapore-grown insurance firm, Singlife. GCash’s offerings are mainly characterized by low-cost premiums and include a range of protection from income loss to health coverage such as Dengue and even COVID-19.

The Online Shopping protection is one of the first products Igloo will be launching with GCash but will soon be rolling out more products with the e-wallet in the next six months that will be geared towards MSMEs.

Manila, Philippines – Telco giant in the Philippines Globe has announced in a press release that it is looking to scout new businesses to build additional streams of revenue.

Even amid successful vaccination programs around the world, nations continue to grapple with the pandemic, and the Philippines, the home of Globe, is currently seeing a new surge in positive cases. 

Globe President and CEO Ernest L. Cu said in a virtual interview in the APOS media conference, that it is important for the telco to explore other sources of income especially in light of the current situation.

“We are very fortunate that we continue to see revenue growth and are able to sustain growth over the past 10 years. But we also know that it’s going to be difficult to keep it up in the future,” said Cu.

The Coronavirus crisis has affected both global and local telecommunication revenues due to lack of international travel and lower handset upgrades caused by the closure of retail stores, challenges in the corporate industry, and SME markets, as well as spending pressures among the prepaid segment. 

Cu cited Globe’s recent success story with its e-wallet GCash, successfully growing to become the largest e-wallet in the Philippines. According to Globe, it has grown its client base to over 33 million last year or about 65% higher compared to the 20 million users in 2019 due to a shift in consumer behavior amid strict mobility and quarantine restrictions. GCash is one of the portfolio companies under 917Ventures the telco’s fully-owned subsidiary, which deems to be one of the largest corporate venture builders in the country.