Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) and PearlPay have sealed a partnership to accelerate the adoption of QR Ph digital payments among local government units, schools, clinics, and micro and small enterprises.
The signing ceremony was held at the RCBC Collaboration Hub in A.T. Yuchengco Tower, Bonifacio Global City.
Through this collaboration, PearlPay operators can now accept interoperable QR Ph payments, the national standard for QR-powered transactions launched by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The initiative will empower community-based businesses such as small schools, clinics, and homegrown shops to join the formal digital economy, advancing financial inclusion at the grassroots level.
Users of RCBC’s digital platforms Pulz and DiskarTech, as well as other banks and e-wallets participating in QR Ph, can conveniently pay PearlPay-enabled merchants by simply scanning their QR codes, marking another step toward a unified, cash-lite Philippines.
RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva and PearlPay Chairman Jonas Bill Martinez led the signing, joined by PearlPay Co-Founder and President Sparky Perreras, CTO Pio Ryan Lumongsod, CFO Pao Dela Vega, and other key executives.
‘PearlPay isn’t just facilitating payments; it’s enabling digital livelihoods,’ said Villanueva. ‘This partnership aligns with our vision of open finance via API banking, where digital innovations connect ecosystems, empower communities, and drive inclusive growth for freelancers, gig workers, and everyday entrepreneurs.’
‘By advancing sustainable finance, we’re proving that innovation can uplift lives while expanding opportunities for all,’ Villanueva added.
PearlPay Chairman Jonas Bill Martinez emphasized the collaboration’s role in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) empowerment.
‘RCBC is an ideal partner as we scale QR Ph acceptance nationwide. Together, we’re reducing costs, improving safety, and helping small businesses build a digital footprint that unlocks access to credit and growth,’ Martinez said.
Co-Founder and President Sparky Perreras added, ‘This collaboration makes digital payments as easy as scanning a code. With PearlPay’s merchant stack integrated into the QR Ph rails, business owners can go digital instantly with no extra hardware and no friction.’
The RCBC-PearlPay partnership reinforces RCBC’s leadership in digital transformation and open finance. It follows recent milestones such as the launch of the MySSS Mastercard Debit Card powered by DiskarTech, which integrates social security benefits into digital banking for freelancers and gig workers.
RCBC continues to redefine sustainable digital banking by fostering interoperability, collaboration, and inclusion, ensuring that every Filipino, from city centers to barangays, can thrive in a connected digital economy.