DIGITAL PAYMENTS. Asia United Bank (AUB) and Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services have teamed up to provide cross-border digital payments from Hong Kong, South Korea and Malaysia. AUB, through its all-in-one digital payment acceptance product AUB PayMate has enabled Alipay+ transactions in over 5,000 stores in Manila and Cebu. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – The Asia United Bank (AUB) has enabled more local merchants to accept cross-border digital payments from Hong Kong, South Korea and Malaysia via Alipay+ and AUB PayMate.
In a statement on Tuesday, the bank said travelers can now pay using their home country’s e-wallets for purchases related to tourism, retail, food and beverage, entertainment and attractions in the Philippines.
These are e-wallets AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR), Kakao Pay (South Korea) and Touch ‘n Go eWallet (Malaysia), in addition to Alipay (Chinese mainland) which has been accepted by Filipino merchants since 2017.
AUB PayMate, which is the bank's all-in-one digital payment acceptance product, has enabled Alipay+ acceptance in over 5,000 stores in Manila and Cebu.
“We see a resurgence of inbound personal travels this year so our partnership with Alipay+, the first in the Philippine banking industry, will give a much-needed boost to merchants serving the tourism sector,” AUB senior vice president and Cards and Acquiring Business Group head Mags Surtida said.
“Expect more foreign wallets to be added under this unified QR (quick response) code,” Surtida added.
Dr. Cherry Huang, general manager of Ant Group’s Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services, said the strengthened partnership with AUB aims to enhance tourists' travel experience in the Philippines.
The AUB is the pioneering bank partner in the Philippines of Alipay+, a global cross-border digital payments, marketing and digitalization solutions.
"Through our local partners, we aim to help more businesses integrate Alipay+, creating a positive digital ecosystem, driving more opportunities for partners, and merchants, while making it more convenient and seamless for travelers,” Huang said. (With reports from Anna Leah Estrada/PNA)
