FirstBank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Zenith Bank have been listed among Nigerian banks whose eligible cards support Google Wallet, expanding access to Google Pay as the digital wallet launches in the country.

The service allows eligible cardholders to add supported bank cards to Google Wallet and make payments using compatible devices at supported contactless terminals.
Customers can also use Google Pay for online purchases where the payment option is available. Google says contactless payments require an Android phone with near-field communication (NFC), while individual card eligibility depends on the issuing bank.

FirstBank said the integration would give customers a convenient payment option backed by Google Pay’s security features and faster checkout.
“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,” said Abednego Ugwueke, the bank’s group head of e-Business and Retail Products.
UBA has also enabled Google Pay for eligible Visa and Mastercard users.

“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,” said Orry Seem, UBA’s directorate head of Cards.

Alero Ladipo, UBA’s group head of Brands, Marketing and Corporate Communications, said customers increasingly expected more convenient ways to pay.

“Digital payment in Nigeria is growing fast, and customers expect more ways to pay,” she said, adding that Google Pay offers a fast option for everyday purchases backed by UBA card security.

GTCO, the parent company of GTBank, has extended the service to customers and businesses through its payments subsidiary, HabariPay, and its Squad payment gateway.
GTBank customers can add eligible debit cards to Google Wallet to pay online for subscriptions, travel bookings, food delivery and bills. Squad merchants can also offer Google Pay at checkout, including for international customers where their payment setup supports overseas transactions.

“Most failed online payments are not refused; they are abandoned. Somewhere along the way the customer gives up, and the business never learns about the sale it lost,” said Segun Agbaje, GTCO’s group chief executive officer.

HabariPay managing director Eduofon Japhet said Squad merchants could add the payment option to their existing checkout without a separate integration.

Google’s official support list also includes eligible Zenith Bank Mastercard credit, debit and prepaid cards. The supported card categories vary across the four banks, meaning availability is not universal for every cardholder.

The rollout gives customers additional ways to pay digitally while creating more opportunities for merchants to offer faster checkout options.