Security Bank plans to introduce Apple Pay and Google Pay for its customers in the second half of 2027 as the Philippine lender upgrades its core credit card infrastructure, according to a report by The Philippine Star.

“We’re changing our system, our core credit card system,”

said Victor Lee, President and CEO of Security Bank.

Lee said the bank expects both services to become available in the second half of next year. Once launched, eligible Security Bank cardholders will be able to use their cards with the digital payment services for mobile transactions.

Apple Pay integration is also part of Security Bank’s broader three-year growth strategy for its wealth management business. Lee said around 80% of the bank’s wealth customers use Apple devices, making Apple Pay particularly relevant to the segment.

Security Bank also sees wider QR payment adoption as an opportunity for banks to regain a larger share of the payments business from electronic wallets.

Lee cited markets such as Thailand and Cambodia, where greater QR adoption has allowed banks to play a more direct role in everyday digital payments.

He said banks could handle more micro-payments while customers continue to keep larger savings balances in their bank accounts.

“Would you put your entire savings into a wallet?”

Lee said, pointing to what he described as a trust gap between banks and electronic wallets.

He said greater convenience through bank-based payments, including the use of debit and credit cards alongside interoperable QR payments, could help banks remain relevant in customers’ daily financial activity.

The payment initiatives form part of Security Bank’s broader strategy to use digital channels to deepen customer relationships.

The bank’s retail digital platform has 1.71 million customers, with around 65% classified as active users.

Security Bank is also rolling out an upgraded digital platform for corporate and MSME clients as it seeks to capture more payments, collections and other transaction banking activity.

The bank is separately reviewing an expansion of its offerings around the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA), a voluntary retirement savings programme that provides tax incentives for qualified investments in the Philippines.

Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Philippines, based on image by sekillerim05 via Magnific