Paying With a Smartwatch Is Now Possible via Garmin Pay in the Philippines

(SPOT.ph) Carrying a bulky wallet while running, cycling, or working out is not exactly ideal. So here's some good news for people who like to travel light: you can now make contactless payments on your watch with Garmin Pay.

Visa launched Garmin Pay in the Philippines in collaboration with Garmin, the American company known for its smartwatches, GPS devices, and fitness tech. The feature allows users to make secure contactless payments through compatible Garmin watches (more on this below).

For now, though, only EastWest Bank and GoTyme Bank Visa cardholders can link their cards to Garmin Pay.

You might be wondering if other banks can be added soon. Unfortunately, the company said it has not confirmed any exclusivity arrangements or further details on future bank or card network expansions.

“Any updates regarding additional supported banks or card networks (including Mastercard) will be announced once officially available,” Garmin Philippines told SPOT.ph.

The Philippines is the fifth Southeast Asian country to get Garmin Pay, joining Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Also read: Google Pay is Here: How to Use + List of Supported Cards in the Philippines

To use Garmin Pay, you will need three things: a supported credit card from either EastWest Bank or GoTyme Bank, a Garmin Pay-compatible device, and the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone, which is downloadable on both iOS and Android.

Compatible Garmin devices include several smartwatch, running watch, dive watch, golf watch, and cycling computer models, including models from the Descent, Instinct, Venu, vívoactive, fēnix, Forerunner, Lily, Approach, vívomove, Edge, and MARQ lines. You can view the full list of compatible devices on Garmin's official website.

Once you have these ready, open the Garmin Connect app and choose the Garmin device you want to pair with Garmin Pay. Select “Create Your Wallet,” then set up a four-digit passcode for security. You will also need to link at least one supported card by entering the required card details.

After setup, you can use your Garmin device at any contactless payment terminal. Just place the watch or device near the terminal, and the screen will show once the transaction is complete. Just make sure to remember your passcode, as three incorrect passcode inputs may lock your Garmin Pay wallet. 

If you find yourself in an unfortunate situation where you lose your Garmin device, you can deactivate Garmin Pay through the Garmin Connect App.

Visa said Garmin Pay uses tokenization technology, which prevents fraud by replacing actual card numbers with unique digital tokens. This way, your account details won’t be easily shared with retailers and merchants.

The launch comes as more consumers in the region shift to digital payments. According to Visa, more than 71% of users in Asia Pacific prefer digital payment methods.

The rollout could also support tourism, Visa said, as only 17% of travelers prefer to use foreign currency.

Also read: Card and QR Payments Now Accepted at 7-Eleven Branches