Frequently Asked Questions

To help you better understand how InstaPay works, here are the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions.

InstaPay to an Account Number

What is InstaPay?

InstaPay is the fastest way to send money in the Philippines. It is a service by which you can electronically transfer funds from your bank or e-wallet account to another bank or e-wallet account. Money is received instantly, as soon as it is sent.

Who can use InstaPay?

Anyone with a peso bank account or e-wallet account (with or without ATM/debit cards) can use instaPay. Money is sent through the bank’s mobile banking app or website or the e-wallet app in smartphones or tablets.

Do I need to register to use InstaPay?

In general, you do not need to register to use instaPay. The service is accessed through your bank’s or e-wallet’s mobile app or through an online banking website.

However, you may need to register with your bank or e-wallet to access their respective apps or online services. Please check with your bank or e-wallet.

How do I use InstaPay?

Simply go to your bank’s or e-wallet’s mobile app, or online banking website to start sending money.

How do I know if my recipient received the money I sent?

Your recipient can check the balance of his account. Some banks and e-wallets also notify their customers via SMS or email.

What are the uses of InstaPay?

InstaPay can be used to send money to another person’s bank or e-wallet account. For example, you can send allowance to your children or parents; or send money to a relative or friend in the province. 

You can also use it to pay for goods or services, such as service fees of plumbers, electricians, and cleaners; or professional fees of doctors, dentists, lawyers, and accountants.

To whom can I send money using InstaPay?

You can send money to customers of InstaPay partner banks and e-wallets.

Is there a limit to how much I can send using InstaPay?

The maximum amount you can send per transaction is PhP50,000. However, you can have more than one transaction in a day.

How many times in a day can I use InstaPay?

In general, as many times as needed. Some banks have limits on the number of times you can InstaPay in a day. Please check with your bank. 

How much does it cost / Does it have a service fee?

The sender is charged a small fee per transaction no matter the amount sent as long as it is within the PhP50,000 limit. The fee is deducted from the sender’s account. The amount of transaction fee is set by the InstaPay partner.  

The receiver, on the other hand, is not charged and will receive the money in full.

How does InstaPay compare to other fund transfer methods?

Money sent using instaPay is received instantly. The service is available 24×7, all year round.

Is there an InstaPay app?

InstaPay does not have an app of its own. The InstaPay app you’ll find on the Apple App Store and the Google

PlayStore is a different service. Sending money via InstaPay is done through your participating bank’s or e-money issuer’s smartphone app or website.

Can I use InstaPay to send money overseas?

No, you cannot send money overseas with InstaPay. InstaPay only allows sending money within the Philippines.

Does my bank/e-wallet offer InstaPay?
InstaPay to a QR Ph Code
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What is InstaPay?

InstaPay is an electronic fund transfer service that enables the transfer of money between accounts in different banks or e-wallets in real-time, anytime and anywhere in the country. It is powered by electronic payment network BancNet.

What is InstaPay QR?

InstaPay QR enables the transfer of money between accounts in different banks and e-wallets by scanning a QR code instead of typing an account number. It follows the QR Ph standard.

 

What is a QR Code?

A QR code (short for “Quick Response code”) is a 2-dimensional image-based bar code capable of holding large amounts of data. QR codes store data using patterns of black dots and white spaces, arranged in a square grid. It can be read by a smartphone QR scanner or mobile device that is equipped with a bar-code reader.  

 

When personal and financial data are stored in it, a QR code can be used to send and receive money. A recipient of the funds shows his /her QR code to the payer or sender who will scan the code to initiate the transaction. 

What is QR Ph?

QR Ph is the Philippines’ QR code standard based on the Europay-Mastercard-VISA (EMV) standard, a global standard for secure payments. It gives customers of partner banks and non-bank electronic money issuers (EMI) or e-wallets a quick and safe method to pay, transfer to and receive funds from other bank and e-money accounts in the Philippines. 

 

QR Ph allows a common QR code to be scanned and interpreted by any participating bank or EMI mobile app and used for fund transfers and payments. QR Ph interconnects participating banks and non-bank e-money issuers much like how the ATMs of different banks are interconnected.

What are the benefits of InstaPay QR?

InstaPay QR offers you added security, convenience, and peace of mind.

 

You can send or receive money in the comfort and safety of your home or office and you need not withdraw and carry large amounts of cash.

 

If you are sending money, you do not have to type your recipient’s account number and you are assured that your money will go to the correct account.

 

If you are receiving money, you do not have to share your account number with the person sending the money and you are assured that the money is sent to the correct account.

Who can use InstaPay QR?

InstaPay QR can be used by customers of partner banks and e-wallets through their mobile apps.

What do I need to be able to send or receive money through InstaPay QR?

You need a smartphone with a camera and a reliable data/Internet connection. You also need to download the mobile app of your bank or EMI.

To receive money, you need to generate a QR code through your bank’s mobile app or your e-wallet. 

 

What are the uses of InstaPay QR?

You can use InstaPay QR to:

  • send or receive allowances of/from your parents, children and other relatives
  • send or receive charitable and sympathy donations
  • repay someone or get paid for a loan
  • pay or get paid for services like plumbing, electrical, cleaning, tutorial, repair, etc.
  • pay or get paid for online medical consultations 
  • pay or get paid for goods bought/sold online 
How can I send money through InstaPay QR?

It’s as easy as 1,2,3!

  1. Open your bank app or e-wallet and go to Pay or Transfer via QR.
  2. Scan your recipient’s QR code.
  3. Input source account and amount, then confirm.
How can I receive money through InstaPay QR?

It’s as easy as ABC!

a) Open your bank app or e- wallet.  

b) Click Generate a QR code

c) Share your QR code with the sender.

       

      How much can be sent or received through InstaPay QR?

      You can send or receive up to Php50,000 per transaction. 

      Is there a fee to use InstaPay QR?

      In general, yes. The amount varies from bank/EMI to bank/EMI. The sender pays the fee. The recipient receives the amount in full.

       

      Which banks and EMIs offer InstaPay QR?

      Click here to view the InstaPay Partners for sending money via QR Code

      InstaPay to a mobile number or email address as a receiving customer

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      What does sending to a mobile number or email address mean?

      Sending to a mobile number or email address is a feature of InstaPay which allows you to send money instantly to another bank or e-wallet without having to type your recipient’s account number. Instead, you type or select his mobile number or email address if he has linked it to his bank or e-wallet account.

      Why is this important to me as a recipient of money?

      If you are a customer of an InstaPay partner and you link your account to a mobile number or email address, there is no need to give out your account number to the person sending you money.

      My account is with an e-wallet which already uses my mobile number as the account number. Will this InstaPay feature provide any added value to my account?

      Although e-wallets are not yet partners for this feature, you can still receive money from other partner banks and e-wallets since your mobile number is your e-wallet account number. 

      If your bank has this InstaPay feature, you can also link your mobile number to your bank account because with this feature, you can link the same mobile number or email address to your account. 

      My friend is sending me money via my email address. How can we be confident that there is no typo error?

      Your mobile banking app will display parts of your name to the sending customer for his confirmation, “Example: Transfer to Juan D.”. Only when he confirms and accepts it will the fund transfer proceed.

      My friend and I have different banks, will we be able to receive money through our mobile numbers or email addresses?

      Yes, if your banks offer this InstaPay feature. Note that not all InstaPay banks and e-wallets offer this feature. Please check with your bank or e-wallet first. If the feature is not yet available, you may still receive money by giving the sender your account number  

      Can I customize the name shown to the sending customer?

      You can add a nickname depending on your bank’s rules.

      I am using a prepaid mobile number, what would happen if my sim card expired, and the number was given by the Telco and to another person?

      While your registration is active and your mobile number is linked to your bank account, the fund transfer will push through. Therefore, you need to register your new mobile number with your bank immediately. Always keep your personal information with your bank updated. Please ask your bank how you can unlink a mobile number.

      Can I link the same mobile number to a different bank account?

      A mobile number or email address that is already linked to an account cannot be linked to another account within the same bank but you can still link it to an account in another bank or e-wallet.

      Can fraudsters register my mobile number and link it to their own bank account?

      Email addresses and mobile numbers registered by fraudsters will need to pass through the bank or e-wallet’s Know Your Customer (KYC ) process and validation. Also, anyone who tries to send money to this number or email address will initially see the fraudster’s first name and first letter of his last name as the owner which shall alert the sender that the recipient is invalid.

      Is there any security risk in using my mobile number or email address to receive money?

      None. Each bank or e-wallet issuer regularly reviews this feature to see if it conforms to standards and puts security controls in place to secure your account.

      InstaPay to a mobile number or email address as a sending customer

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      How does sending to a mobile number or email address benefit me as a sending or paying customer?

      Mobile numbers and email addresses are easier to remember. This minimizes the possibility of errors in keying in an account number thus, you are assured that the money goes to the correct recipient’s account.

      How will I know if the recipient’s bank or e-wallet allows sending to a mobile number or email address?

      Click here to view if the bank or e-wallet allows sending to a mobile number or email address via InstaPay

      I am not sure if I have the latest email or mobile number of the recipient, is there a way to confirm its correctness?

      Kindly confirm first with the recipient if his mobile number or email address is linked to his bank account.  Also, your mobile banking app will initially display parts of the recipient’s name for your confirmation, “Example: Transfer to Juan D.”. Once you confirm and accept this, only then will your money transfer proceed.

      How can I be sure that the money will be credited to the recipient’s account?

      Your bank or e-wallet app will display a digital receipt to confirm if the money transfer was successful. You can also check with the recipient if he received the money.

      What if the recipient has accounts with different banks and e-wallets?

      As a sending customer, you will still select the destination bank or e-wallet together with the mobile number or email address. If the mobile number or email address is linked to the destination account, the recipient’s name will be shown for your confirmation.

      What would happen if I enter the wrong email address which happens to be linked to another person’s account?

      The app will show the partial name of the person whose account the email address or mobile number is linked to. You will then know that the recipient is incorrect and that you should not proceed with the transfer. Call your bank or e-wallet if you made a mistake in confirming the transaction.

      Do I need to register the recipient’s details in my mobile app before I can send him money through InstaPay?

      This may or may not be required by your bank or e-wallet.

      InstaPay Your Store Payments via QR Ph
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      What is a QR Code?

      A QR code (short for “Quick Response code”) is a 2-dimensional image-based bar code capable of holding large amounts of data. QR codes store data using patterns of black dots and white spaces, arranged in a square grid. It can be read by a smartphone QR scanner or mobile device that is equipped with a bar-code reader.  

      When personal and financial data are stored in it, a QR code can be used to send and receive money such as payment transactions. A recipient of the funds shows his /her QR code to the payer or sender who will scan the code to initiate the transaction. 

      What is QR Ph?

      QR Ph is the Philippines’ QR code standard based on the Europay-Mastercard-VISA (EMV) standard, a global standard for secure payments. It gives customers of participating banks and non-bank electronic money issuers (EMI) a quick and safe method to pay, transfer to and receive funds from other bank and e-money accounts in the Philippines. QR Ph is approved by the Philippine Payments Management, Inc. and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

      Why do we need QR Ph?

      QR Ph was developed to standardize the use of QR codes in the Philippines. It allows a common QR code to be scanned and interpreted by any participating bank or e-wallet mobile app and used for fund transfers and payments. QR Ph interconnects the QR codes of participating banks and non-bank e-money issuers much like how the ATMs of different banks are interconnected. Through QR Ph, a depositor of Bank A can use his bank’s mobile app to scan the QR Ph code of a person or merchant whose account is with Bank B or e-wallet Z to transfer money and vice versa. 

      What are the uses of QR Ph?

      Since 2019, QR Ph has been used for person-to-person money transfers through InstaPay QR.  Now it can be used also for payment of goods and services of formal and informal merchants or sellers, whether in physical stores or online.  Soon, it can be used as well as for payment of bills. 

      What is InstaPay?

      InstaPay is a digital payment service that allows the transfer of money between accounts in different banks and e-wallets. Money can be sent at any time and is received in real-time. InstaPay QR follows the QR Ph standard.

      What are the benefits of paying for goods and services via InstaPay QR?

      InstaPay QR offers you added convenience, speed, and security.

       

      • Convenience– You can now pay at more business establishments. Before QR Ph, you could pay via QR only at the stores that display the QR code of your bank or e-wallet. With QR Ph, you can pay at any store displaying the QR Ph code regardless of bank or e-wallet.
      • Speed– No need to count cash or bring out and swipe a credit card and sign a charge slip. No need to type your payee’s account number. 
      • Security– The risk of loss or theft when bringing large amounts of cash is eliminated. Moreover, QR Ph follows strict global security standards to protect your transaction. 
      • Lower risk of infection – By not handling cash, you lessen the risk of virus or bacterial contamination.
      Does InstaPay have its own mobile app?

      No. InstaPay does not have a stand-alone mobile app. It is part of your bank’s mobile app or your e-wallet.

      Who can pay using InstaPay QR?

      Customers of partner banks and e-wallets can pay using InstaPay QR.

      Which banks and e-wallets offer InstaPay QR for payment of goods and services?
      What do I need to be able to use InstaPay QR to pay for goods and services?

      You will need:

      1. a smartphone with a camera 
      2. the mobile app of a participating bank or EMI downloaded on your smartphone
      3. the QR Ph code of the business establishment and 
      4. a reliable data/Internet connection. 
      Where can I pay using InstaPay QR?

      You can pay using InstaPay QR at over 32,000 business establishments enabled by participating banks and e-wallets. They display the QR Ph code. These are:

      • Supermarkets
      • Specialty stores (e.g., gadget shops, hardware stores, drug stores, travel agencies, bookstores, coffee shops)
      • Department stores
      • Restaurants
      • Schools/Universities
      • Fitness gyms, beauty and wellness shops
      • Hotels and resorts
      • Delivery service providers
      How can I pay via InstaPay QR?

      It’s easy. Simply:

        1. Open your bank app or e-wallet and choose Pay via QR.
      • Scan the store or seller’s QR Ph code and if asked by the app, type the amount to be paid. 
      • Check the details and approve the transaction.  

              You will receive a confirmation of your transaction.

      When will the cashier or seller receive my payment?

      The cashier or seller will receive your payment instantly. 

      How will the cashier or seller be notified of my payment?

      The cashier or seller will receive a text or in-app message that payment has been received.

      Is there a fee for this service?

      This service is free for the customer as the business owner or seller will be the one to pay the bank or e-wallet provider for the service.

      Is there a transaction amount limit?

      Generally, there is no limit on the transaction amount. However, your bank or e-wallet may set a limit for certain stores or sellers.

      What should I do if I have a question or problem with my transaction?

      Please contact the bank where you maintain your account or your e-wallet provider.