Google Pay Now Lets DBS & OCBC Customers Pay Without a Credit Card
A little magic is about to happen for folks who just have a bank account but no shiny credit card. Beginning next year, DBS and OCBC account holders can tap their phones and send instant payments to nearly 80,000 merchants around Singapore—all thanks to a partnership with Google Pay.
Why This Is a Game‑Changer
- Traditionally, e‑wallets like Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay could only work if you held a credit card.
- Now, the new link between Google Pay and PayNow means you can use your
Bank Accountas the source of funds. - Customers can make seamless payments in stores or online without pulling out a card or worrying about the right wallet app.
How PayNow & Google Pay Work Together
PayNow (launched in 2017) is a service that lets nine banks—including DBS & OCBC—send and receive money just with a mobile number or NRIC. The new integration allows your bank account to be directly linked to the Google Pay app, so every tap pulls money straight from your balance.
When buying in a shop, hold your phone over a contactless reader and watch the magic happen. For online shopping, it’s just a click on the Google Pay button on the checkout page.
Trial Run & Future Roll‑Out
Both banks announced that they’ll test the feature in January, aiming for a full rollout later that year. OCBC’s COO, Ching Wei Hong, called it a step toward “building ecosystems of partnerships and going beyond traditional banking products.”
Looking to jump in? OCBC customers can sign up at the bank’s booth during the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) and get on the wait‑list for the January trial. The festival finishes on Friday.
Beyond Payouts: Building a Cashless Future
Google Pay’s expansion is part of a broader national push to make cashless payments easier by consolidating the fragmented e‑payment options. Below are some recent moves in that direction:
- Land Transport Authority rolled out Nets contactless bank cards for public transport rides on Nov 16.
- Mastercard & Visa users can now tap their cards—or phones—to pay for trains and buses.
- In June, the first phase of a cashless system rolled out to 12,000 hawker stalls, unifying payments from 23 providers.
With these developments, the Singaporean consumer landscape is getting simpler—less gnawing at the many payment options, more tapping, and a smoother, digital shopping experience.