Paymentology launches card programme guide for Philippines

Paymentology has released a new market-focused guide aimed at helping financial institutions and FinTechs navigate the complexities of launching card programmes in the Philippines, as card usage and digital payments continue to gain momentum in the country.

Developed in collaboration with consulting firm Flagship Advisory Partners, the Quick Start Guide for New Card Programmes in the Philippines outlines the operational, regulatory and technical considerations involved in bringing debit, credit and prepaid card products from concept to launch. The guide is positioned as a practical reference for banks, FinTechs and brands seeking to enter or expand within one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing card markets.

The release comes as card adoption in the Philippines accelerates alongside broader digitalisation in financial services. Virtual banks are entering the market, while rural and community banks are modernising their offerings to support higher transaction volumes and new customer segments. In 2025, card usage in the Philippines reached 283 million cards, facilitating PHP 11.3 trillion in transaction value. Debit cards accounted for an estimated five billion transactions annually, prepaid card issuance exceeded 100 million, and commercial card volumes grew at an annual rate of 21%.

This growth, however, is accompanied by structural and regulatory complexity. Issuers must align operating models with local market requirements, define responsibilities across multiple stakeholders, and integrate with domestic payment infrastructure such as BancNet. According to Paymentology, these factors can create friction for new entrants without a clear execution framework.

“Launching cards in the Philippines isn’t just about speed to market, it’s about building a sustainable model that can scale within a highly localised ecosystem,” said Minh Ha Truong, Head of Growth for Asia Pacific at Paymentology. “This guide distils the practical decisions issuers need to make around operating models, compliance and local rails like BancNet, so they can focus on delivering differentiated products and sustainable growth.”

The guide details different operating structures, including technical processing, programme management and co-branded models, and examines how responsibilities can be distributed across issuers, licence sponsors, programme managers, processors and card schemes. It also addresses how partnerships can help reduce regulatory and compliance burdens while allowing issuers to retain control over customer experience and product design.

As competition intensifies in the Philippine payments ecosystem, industry participants are increasingly seeking structured approaches to product rollout. Paymentology’s guide reflects a broader trend among infrastructure providers to support market entry and scale through advisory-led frameworks, particularly in high-growth, regulation-intensive markets across Asia-Pacific.