Payments platform HitPay has announced a partnership with Visa Acceptance Solutions to facilitate card payment acceptance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the Philippines.

The collaboration will enable local merchants to process both in-store and online transactions.

Through the Visa Acceptance Platform (VAP), HitPay will offer businesses access to payment capabilities, including EMV-certified card readers and mobile-based solutions.

The model allows SMBs to adopt payment systems without establishing direct bank contracts, a process described by the companies as often lengthy and complex.

Aditya Haripurkar, CEO at HitPay, stated that the move aims to lower entry barriers for smaller merchants.

“With our connection to Visa Acceptance Platform, we are removing the friction and cost barriers that historically kept card acceptance out of reach for many Filipino merchants,” Haripurkar said. “This empowers them to compete effectively and truly participate in the Philippines’ rapidly expanding digital economy”.

Kunal Chatterjee, Head of Acceptance Sales, Value-Added Services, Asia Pacific at Visa, noted that the partnership supports financial inclusion.

“By working with partners like HitPay, Visa is helping bring the benefits of our global acceptance network to local businesses in the Philippines,” Chatterjee said.

According to research cited by Visa, merchants that accept card payments can see an 83% increase in turnover.

Following the rollout in the Philippines, HitPay and Visa plan to expand their collaboration to additional markets across Southeast Asia.

Featured image by benzoix via Freepik.