Banking on the country’s growing digital economy, Asia United Bank (AUB) has partnered with Mastercard to launch a virtual card so customers can make online purchases through the credit payment platform Mocasa.

The Mocasa Virtual Card will be a feature on Mocasa’s app and will give its customers access to Mastercard’s online merchant acceptance network, enabling them to make payments seamlessly and safely to millions of merchants online.

The partnership is riding on the country’s growing digital economy, where e-commerce transactions are projected to grow by a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17% to reach US$22 billion by 2025. The Mocasa Virtual Card is expected to meet the growing demand for a digital payment option that suits the young and digitally native Philippine population, which includes a high proportion of mobile-first customers.

Mags V. Surtida, AUB senior vice president and Cards & Acquiring Group Head, said: “Mocasa is looking for ways for its customers to utilize loan funds disbursed to them. Through the Mocasa app, customers can use the loan proceeds to pay utility bills, buy prepaid loads, scan, and pay QRPh merchants, or use it to shop at Mocasa’s existing merchant tie-ups.”

The collaboration will also allow Mocasa to grow its merchant network faster by having access to the Mastercard virtual card technology. “We are opening up Mocasa’s customer base to millions of e-commerce merchants who accept Mastercard card payments today. With this offering, Mocasa can purely focus on its core business of client acquisition and lending,” Ms. Surtida added.

Virtual cards work exactly like a physical bank card except that they are stored in an app on the phone, such as the Mocasa app, instead of a physical wallet. Cardholders will continue to enjoy benefits similar to a regular card-based transaction but with enhanced security and convenience. With Mastercard’s virtual card technology, each virtual card generated is a unique digital payment credential and can be enabled with enhanced controls on how, where, and when it can be used.

“Demand for digital payment options is rapidly rising across the world, and consumers are increasingly more digital-first in how they live, work, and play. Mastercard is proud to collaborate with AUB and Mocasa to bring the benefits of Mastercard's virtual card technology and acceptance network to millions of users in the Philippines and globally,” said Simon Calasanz, Country Manager, Philippines, Mastercard.

“Mocasa, through its credit payment services, is enabling financial access to new-to-credit consumers in the Philippines. Together, Mastercard, AUB, and Mocasa are bringing consumers a new payment option that can be used securely at millions of e-commerce transaction points globally and allow consumers more flexibility in their purchases. This solution will offer consumers more choice and more convenience, and encourage them to use digital payment methods more frequently.”

Robin Wong, CEO and founder of Mocasa, said: “AUB’s Virtual Mastercard program relieves us of the required merchant system integration with each e-commerce merchant just to be able to have our user base transact online. At the same time, our customers can also take advantage of local/global online Mastercard promotions without any additional cost to us. More importantly, it provides an additional feature for our customers in our current app.”

The Mocasa app is available for download from the Google Play Store. For more information, visit https://www.mocasa.com/.

Asia United Bank (AUB) is one of the fastest-growing publicly listed universal banks in the country. Established at the height of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, AUB is one of only two local commercial banks licensed at the time which has since thrived and expanded its operations. 

It is known for its digital innovations, which started years prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic which spurred many of its competitors to embark on digital transformation. Among its digital innovations are e-wallet HelloMoney, pioneering payments via QR and the early adoption of the national QR PH code, and AUB PayMate, its all-in-one digital payment acceptance product.

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. 

Using secure data and networks, partnerships, and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all. To learn more about Mastercard, visit www.mastercard.com.

Founded in 2021, Mocasa is a fintech company focusing on providing innovative credit payment services to the Philippine market. It aims to enable Filipino users to experience the convenience of credit payment anytime and anywhere – whether online or offline, without actually owning a physical card – while also enjoying benefits such as zero interest when paying on time, flexible installment plans, and credit limit growth. 

To learn more about Mocasa or to experience its credit payment service, visit www.mocasa.com or download the Mocasa App in Google Play or Apple App Store.

More stories:

• GetGo goes mobile with new lifestyle rewards app
• GetGo turns four, brings an exciting month-long celebration for members
• PHA's Sneakers Friday encourages working professionals to achieve overall health and wellness by sitting less
• Embrace the holidays in this next-normal lifestyle
• FLY FOR FREE AND GET MORE! WITH THE CEB GETGO PREPAID CARD
• More than 3 million GetGo points up for grabs in #GetGoTheDistance: Points Boost Promo