Visa and USSC Money Services Inc. (UMSI) are introducing a new payment method in the Philippines that aims to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) securely accept card payments without the need for a traditional POS machine. Merchants only need an eligible smartphone with NFC capabilities to accept contactless card payments.
The collaboration comes as businesses continue to adapt to the growing use of digital payments in the Philippines. While consumers have access to different cashless payment methods, merchants also need the tools and infrastructure to accept these payments. By allowing an NFC-capable smartphone to be used for contactless card payments, the service is designed to lower some of the hardware requirements traditionally associated with card acceptance.
You GROW With UAccept
UAccept is a new payment solution from Visa and USSC that is integrated into the U-GROW app. It allows merchants to accept contactless card payments directly using their NFC-capable smartphones, removing the need for a traditional point-of-sale (POS) terminal.
MSME owners can activate UAccept inside the U-GROW app to enable contactless payments, including card payments and pay-by-link. The service also provides merchants with digital receipts that can be sent through email, while allowing them to track and view their transaction history.
U-GROW also includes features beyond payment acceptance. The app provides sales monitoring and inventory management tools, giving small businesses a platform that can be used not only for cashless payments but also for managing some of their day-to-day operations.
Traditional POS terminals typically require dedicated hardware and an onboarding process, which can create additional barriers for smaller businesses looking to accept card payments. U-GROW, on the other hand, allows merchants with eligible smartphones to access payment acceptance without relying on a separate POS device.
However, removing the need for a traditional POS terminal does not remove every requirement. Merchants still need an NFC-capable smartphone to use UAccept. Businesses without a compatible device may still need to obtain one before they can use the service. This means that while the solution can reduce the need for dedicated payment hardware, access still depends on the availability of compatible devices.
According to Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro, solutions such as UAccept can make payment innovation more accessible to Filipino entrepreneurs. UMSI President and CEO Jose Xavier Gonzales also said that the payment solution aims to address barriers faced by Filipino merchants by allowing them to use their smartphones for transactions and providing small businesses and retailers with a more secure and reliable way to manage their businesses.
This does not mean that cards will replace cash or digital wallets. Instead, UAccept gives merchants another option to accept payments, allowing customers to choose between cards and other digital payment methods depending on what works best for them.
To Adopt or Not to Adopt: The MSME Question
Around 99% of businesses in the Philippines are MSMEs, and they generate almost 67% of total employment. Given the large share of MSMEs in the Philippine business sector, expanding their ability to accept digital payments could contribute to wider access to cashless transactions among Filipino consumers.
According to a Visa survey of Filipino SME owners, around 83% said their turnover increased after accepting card payments, while 41% reported that customers were willing to spend more when using cards. Among SME owners who have yet to accept card payments, 67% said they would consider doing so if adequate support were provided.
These figures point to a potential gap between businesses that are interested in accepting card payments and the barriers that can prevent them from doing so. UAccept is designed to address part of this gap by reducing the need for dedicated POS hardware.
However, card payments currently represent only a portion of the Philippines’ broader payment ecosystem. According to the Global Payments Report 2025, card payments accounted for around 13% of e-commerce and POS transaction value in the Philippines in 2025.
This places cards alongside other widely used payment methods, including cash and digital wallets, rather than making them the dominant form of payment.
This also highlights that expanding digital payments is not only about consumers having access to cashless payment methods. Merchants also need to be equipped to accept them. Allowing businesses to use NFC-capable smartphones for contactless card payments could lower the entry barrier for some smaller merchants and potentially expand the number of businesses able to accept card transactions.
At the same time, adoption may still depend on factors beyond the availability of technology. Merchants need compatible smartphones and must be willing to integrate card payments into their businesses. The availability of a simpler payment acceptance tool does not automatically mean that every MSME will adopt card payments.
As digital payment adoption continues to develop in the Philippines, making payment acceptance available to a wider range of merchants could help bridge the gap between consumers who are ready to make cashless payments and businesses that are equipped to receive them.
DOPAY as your financial partner
Just like the U-GROW app, DOPAY also aims to bridge the gap toward the wider acceptance of digital financial services by giving MSMEs tools to accept digital payments while also helping them manage their day-to-day business operations.
As more Filipinos shift to cashless transactions, having an app where they can manage their money digitally can make the transition easier and less intimidating.
DOPAY also focuses on keeping transactions secure. a BSP-licensed Electronic Money Issuer (EMI) and Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP), DOPAY provides e-wallet and crypto wallet services, giving Filipinos access to digital financial services through a regulated platform.
With DOPAY’s crypto wallet, users can also gain crypto rewards for every trade under its Trade & Earn program. Not just that, through APC’s Refer & Earn program, Filipinos can unlock additional earning opportunities with every successful referral.
Download the DOPAY app today!
