VISA, UMSI launch U Accept, allowing MSMEs take card payments via NFC-enabled phone

VISA and UMSI launch U Accept to boost digital payments for Philippine MSMEs.

Card payments now possible on small vendors

Wider payment solutions for MSMEs

VISA (NYSE: V) and USSC Money Services, Inc. (UMSI), one of the largest one-stop financial services providers in the Philippines, have launched "U Accept", a payment solution designed to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) accept contactless card payments using an eligible smartphone (NFC).

U Accept is powered by Visa Accept, which allows merchants to turn their smartphones into payment acceptance devices, eliminating the need for traditional point-of-sale terminals. 

The feature is integrated into UMSI's uGrow app, a digital platform for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and is intended to lower barriers to digital payment acceptance and support MSME participation in the digital economy.

VISA noted that MSMEs account for more than 99% of business enterprises and generate 67% of total employment in the Philippines. 

The executives present at the launch event

Despite their scale, many MSME owners face obstacles to accepting card and digital payments, including upfront hardware costs, lengthy onboarding processes, and limited awareness of available solutions.

According to Visa research, accepting card payments has produced measurable benefits for both merchants and consumers. Among Filipino SME owners surveyed, 83% reported increased turnover after adopting card payments, and 41% said customers spent more when paying by card. Among merchants who do not currently accept cards, 67% said they would adopt a solution if given support.

With U Accept, MSME owners can activate the feature within the uGrow app to accept contactless payments, including cards and pay-by-link transactions, without investing in additional proprietary hardware. 

The feature also allows users to send digital receipts to customers via email and track transaction history, complementing other uGrow tools such as sales monitoring and inventory management. Near-real-time settlement is available to users' U Visa Prepaid Card.

Any VISA card is supported as long as the phone has NFC

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) welcomed the launch, citing its role in advancing payments digitalization in the country. Mamerto E. Tangonan, BSP Deputy Governor for the Payments and Currency Management Sector, said the initiative

marks an important step towards democratizing digital payments acceptance, with more Filipino MSMEs set to benefit from improved access to payment innovations," adding that the collaboration "supports the country's broader digital transformation agenda and advances financial inclusion for more Filipinos throughout the country.

Jeffrey Navarro, Visa Philippines Country Manager, described the partnership as 

a game-changer for Filipino MSMEs, bringing payments innovation to where it can have the most impact on our communities." He added that "with Visa Accept, payments innovation is now within reach of every Filipino entrepreneur, unlocking many opportunities for small businesses through acceptance of secure, seamless payments from both Filipino consumers and tourists traveling to the Philippines.

Jose Xavier Gonzales, UMSI President and Chief Executive Officer, said 

with Visa Accept, the uGrow app has become the perfect digital accelerator for the modern Filipino entrepreneur." He noted that "through uGrow, UMSI creates an ecosystem where small business owners and retailers have secure, more reliable ways to manage their business without the complexity of traditional enterprise systems," and that the innovation "also complements our commitment to serve the unbanked across urban centers and remote areas, helping them shift seamlessly to digital, cashless transactions."

The launch builds on an existing partnership between VISA and UMSI. In 2025, the two companies announced a strategic collaboration to launch Visa Direct, aimed at enhancing outbound money movement and providing business owners and customers with secure, fast, and convenient cross-border payment services.

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