Filipinos are at the forefront of digital remittance adoption in Asia, according to a new report by Visa.
The report, “Money Travels: 2025 Digital Remittances Adoption Report,” surveyed 44,000 senders and receivers across 20 countries, including the Philippines.
The findings cite the Philippines as a top adopter of digital remittances, with 74 percent of Filipinos sending money digitally and 66 percent receiving it through digital channels.
A significant majority (73 percent) of respondents in the Philippines view digital payments as the fastest way to access funds, while 45 percent also consider it a safe and private method.
“The Philippines accounts for more than 60 percent of total inbound remittance transactions in Asia Pacific, underscoring our robust position as a driver for regional remittance growth,” said Jeffrey Navarro, Visa’s country manager for the Philippines.
“The shift to digital remittances fosters greater financial inclusion, with more people and businesses able to access secure, regulated digital channels for managing and receiving money,” he said.
The report notes the Philippines is also emerging as a key player in the outbound money movement market, particularly for business-to-business (B2B) payments. A previous Visa report found that 70 percent of Filipino small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) needed to procure goods and services from overseas, and 60 percent were interested in sending money internationally.
The study also revealed that 41 percent of surveyed Filipinos send money for “unexpected needs,” a figure second only to India (44 percent) and higher than Australia (31 percent). The Philippines also has the highest rate of regular remittance receivers in the region at 39 percent, followed by China (34 percent) and India (30 percent).
Despite the rise of digital apps, many Filipinos cited high fees as a major concern. Forty-three percent of senders and 30 percent of receivers reported app fees as a pain point, the highest rates in Asia Pacific. For physical remittances, 45 percent of senders and 29 percent of receivers in the Philippines also cited high fees as a top concern.
Digital apps are being embraced by older users. One hundred percent of Filipino respondents aged 65 and above said they plan to send remittances digitally, a higher rate than the 45-64 age bracket (72 percent), the 35-44 bracket (75 percent) and the 18-34 bracket (74 percent).
To address these trends, Visa teamed up with Philippine companies like USSC Money Services, Inc. (UMSI) and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC). These collaborations are focused on outbound remittances and the use of Visa Direct, a real-time payment platform that delivers funds directly to eligible Visa cards, accounts and wallets worldwide.
“The shift in remittance trends reflects a broader change in consumer needs and preferences,” Navarro said.
“Speed, security, and convenience are no longer optional—they are expected. Together with our partners, Visa drives this momentum, expanding financial inclusion through efficient, reliable and affordable ways for Filipinos to send and receive money,” he said.
