The sari-sari store down the street can now accept credit and debit cards with nothing more than an NFC-enabled smartphone. Visa and USSC Money Services, Inc. (UMSI) launched U Accept on August 11 in Intramuros, Manila, giving micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) a way to take contactless payments without buying a point-of-sale terminal.
What is U Accept?
U Accept is powered by Visa Accept, a solution that turns smartphones into payment acceptance devices. It is integrated as a key feature of the uGrow app, UMSI’s digital platform for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Merchants activate the feature in the app, then customers tap their contactless credit or debit card on the merchant’s phone. It works on eligible Android and iOS devices with NFC.
Besides in-person taps, the service supports pay-by-link transactions, so sellers can collect payment through a secure web link. It also sends digital receipts by email and logs transaction history, while uGrow adds sales monitoring and inventory management on top. Settlements land on the merchant’s U Visa Prepaid Card in near real time.
Why small shops have stayed cash-only
MSMEs account for more than 99 percent of businesses and 67 percent of employment in the Philippines, yet many still reject card payments. The usual blockers are upfront hardware costs, lengthy onboarding processes, and a general lack of awareness on enabling products, according to Visa.
Visa’s research makes the case for jumping in: 83 percent of surveyed Filipino SME owners reported higher turnover after accepting cards, and 41 percent said customers spent more when paying by card. Among businesses that do not accept cards, 67 percent said they would adopt a solution if given support.
An entry point, not a terminal replacement
Visa Philippines country manager Jeffrey Navarro said U Accept brings payments innovation “to where it can have the most impact to our communities,” unlocking opportunities for small businesses to accept secure, seamless payments from both Filipino consumers and tourists. Transactions are processed in real time, with near-real-time settlement to the U Visa Prepaid Card.
Newsbytes.PH reported that the arrangement is not exclusive to UMSI, “but they are the first and so far the only provider of this service,” and that merchants only need to present a barangay or business permit to get accredited.
Who is UMSI?
UMSI, short for USSC Money Services, Inc., is an affiliate of Universal Storefront Corporation, one of the largest one-stop shops for financial services in the country. It is a registered and licensed e-money issuer under the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and aims to serve the more than 12 million customers of USSC alongside millions of unbanked Filipinos.
The launch follows a 2025 partnership between Visa and UMSI that introduced Visa Direct for outbound and cross-border money transfers. The Bangko Sentral welcomed the launch: Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan called it “an important step towards democratizing digital payments acceptance.”
What it means for the cashless shift
U Accept lands as Filipinos juggle more ways to pay than ever. We broke down why the cashless hype is real, what to tell the cashier so Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Samsung, and Garmin Pay work, and how GCash now lets you link Visa and Mastercard cards for QR payments. Apple Pay’s bank lineup keeps expanding too.
For the quick launch announcement, check our earlier report on Visa and UMSI U Accept for small Pinoy shops.
