More banks deploy Google Pay for digital payments – Daily Trust

More Nigerian banks are integrating Google Pay into their digital fee companies as monetary establishments broaden contactless fee choices and reply to rising demand for handy and safe transactions.

FirstBank and United Bank for Africa (UBA) have introduced the combination of the worldwide digital pockets platform for eligible cardholders.

Google Pay, which launched in Nigeria on October 27, 2026, allows customers so as to add eligible fee playing cards to suitable units and pay for purchases with out presenting bodily playing cards.

Our correspondent reviews that the event marks one other step within the evolution of Nigeria’s digital payments market, as banks deepen expertise investments to enhance buyer expertise and broaden entry to trendy fee options.

Apart from FirstBank and UBA, GTCO had additionally introduced the combination whereas Zenith Bank by its Mastercard credit score, debit and pay as you go playing cards, additionally allow

FirstBank stated the combination would allow eligible cardholders so as to add their playing cards to Google Pay and make contactless payments at supported terminals worldwide.

The financial institution’s Group Head, e-Business and Retail Products, Abednego Ugwueke, stated the event aligned with its digital transformation technique and dedication to bettering banking companies.

“At FirstBank, we are constantly evolving our digital capabilities to deliver banking experiences that are simple, secure and aligned with the lifestyle of our customers,” he stated.

Ugwueke described the combination as a major step in the direction of offering eligible cardholders with a globally accepted fee answer, including that the financial institution would proceed bringing international fee applied sciences nearer to clients.

The service enhances FirstBank’s present digital channels, together with LIT App, FirstMobile, FirstOnline and FirstDirect, alongside its vary of fee playing cards.

UBA stated it was the primary financial institution in Nigeria to allow Google Pay for eligible Visa and Mastercard customers, describing the event as a part of its dedication to delivering safe, handy and progressive banking companies.

The financial institution’s Directorate Head, Cards, Orry Seem, stated the service would simplify on a regular basis transactions by permitting clients to make use of their telephones as digital wallets.

“Our customers live busy lives, and the way they pay should make those lives easier. For many of them, the phone is the first thing they reach for, so it makes sense for it to become their wallet too,” she stated.

Seem added that the combination would allow clients to transact domestically and internationally wherever Google Pay is accepted.

UBA’s Group Head, Brands, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, stated the initiative mirrored the financial institution’s ambition to steer the adoption of progressive digital fee options.

“Digital payment in Nigeria is growing fast, and customers expect more ways to pay. Making Google Pay available to our Visa and Mastercard cardholders gives them a simple, fast option for everyday purchases, backed by the security of their UBA cards,” she stated.

Ladipo stated the financial institution would proceed collaborating with international expertise and fee companions to introduce new banking choices.

UBA additionally presents cellular and web banking companies and LEO, its synthetic intelligence-powered digital banking assistant.

Both banks stated the adoption of Google Pay would supply clients with higher flexibility whereas supporting the transition in the direction of a digitally pushed economic system.

How Google Pay will work in Nigeria

To entry the service, clients will first want so as to add an eligible financial institution card to Google Wallet on a suitable Android smartphone and full any verification required by their financial institution.

Once that has been performed and the cardboard activated, clients can use Google Pay at collaborating retailers that settle for the service.

For in-store payments, the telephone should assist near-field communication (NFC), the expertise that enables units to speak over quick distances.

At checkout, clients can unlock their telephones, authenticate the fee the place required and maintain the system close to a suitable contactless fee terminal.

The terminal captures the fee request and sends it by the related fee methods to the card-issuing financial institution for authorisation. If the transaction is authorised, the fee is accomplished in a lot the identical means as a transaction made with a bodily contactless card.

Google Pay will also be used for on-line and in-app purchases at collaborating retailers that supply it as a fee choice. Instead of getting into card particulars manually, clients can choose Google Pay at checkout and ensure the transaction.

Availability will depend upon the shopper’s financial institution, card sort, system compatibility and whether or not the service provider helps Google Pay. Customers ought to verify Google’s supported-card record and ensure eligibility with their banks earlier than trying so as to add a card.