MAKATI CITY, Philippines (Aug 2026): Turning a smartphone into a credit card terminal is now possible through U Accept, a new tool launched by Visa and UMSI to help small Pinoy businesses go digital. The feature allows micro, small, and medium enterprises to accept contactless card payments without buying traditional point-of-sale hardware.
For many Pinoy entrepreneurs, setting up digital payments is a challenge due to upfront hardware costs and complicated onboarding processes. Statistics from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show that small businesses make up over 99 percent of all local enterprises and generate 67 percent of total employment, yet many remain cash-only. Visa research reveals that 83 percent of local small business owners saw sales grow after accepting cards, and 67 percent of cash-only businesses want to adopt digital payments if given the right support.
How it works for your business
The new feature is built right into the uGrow app, the digital platform created by USSC Money Services, Inc.. To start using it, business owners just need to activate U Accept inside the app and link their mobile number to a U Visa Prepaid Card. Customers can then pay by simply tapping their credit or debit card against the merchant’s phone, or via a secure web link.
More than just a payment tool
Aside from handling card transactions, the application helps shop owners manage daily store operations. Users can track their inventory, monitor sales, look through transaction histories, and send digital receipts straight to a customer’s email. Earnings are also sent to the merchant’s prepaid card in near-real time.
Leaders from both companies believe this will change the game for local retail. Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro said the innovation brings payment tools directly to communities, opening up opportunities to capture sales from both local shoppers and tourists. USSC Money Services, Inc. President Jose Xavier Gonzales added that the app builds a safer, more reliable digital ecosystem for unbanked Pinoys in both cities and remote provinces.
