Philippines, Cambodia Move to Link QR Payment Systems
Central banks are considering interoperability, regulation and governance for a cross-border QR payment connection.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Financial Services
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The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the National Bank of Cambodia are planning to link their QR payment systems. The plan was reaffirmed at a bilateral meeting in Phnom Penh on October 30-31, led by BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. and NBC Governor Chea Serey.
Why it matters
The linkage is intended to make cross-border transactions faster and more affordable for consumers and businesses in both countries. Payments between the two countries are expected to become more accessible and convenient once it is implemented.
No quantitative figures were reported in the source. The linkage's technical design, participating institutions and transaction volumes remain undisclosed, and the timeline for implementation has not been announced.
The players
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is the central bank of the Philippines, responsible for monetary policy and financial system oversight.
National Bank of Cambodia
The National Bank of Cambodia is the central bank of Cambodia, responsible for monetary policy and regulation of the country's banking system.
Eli Remolona Jr.
Eli Remolona Jr. is the Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, leading the Philippines' central bank delegation in the talks.
Chea Serey
Chea Serey is the Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, leading the Cambodian side of the bilateral discussions.
The details
The BSP issued a statement on Friday on the planned linkage, and the central banks reaffirmed their commitment to payment cooperation during the Phnom Penh meeting. The two institutions also exchanged views on supply-driven inflation, growth prospects, combating financial fraud, cyber incident response and sharing cyberthreat information.
Timeline
October 30-31: Bilateral meeting held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on the payment linkage.
Friday: BSP issued a statement on the QR payment linkage.
Market Landscape
The plan follows the model of linking national instant payment systems that the Bank for International Settlements has studied through Project Nexus. It positions both central banks within a regional push to make cross-border retail payments faster and cheaper.
Once implemented, the linkage is expected to make sending money between the Philippines and Cambodia more convenient for travelers, businesses and households. The source does not specify fees, supported apps or a start date, so users should not expect changes to their payments yet.
The takeaway
Cross-border QR linkages can cut the cost and friction of sending money, but their value depends on the regulatory and governance details still being worked out. Watch for official announcements from either central bank before assuming any change to existing payment apps.
Further reading
For broader context on how banks and payment providers are reshaping money movement, explore Financial Services coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
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