After years of anticipation, Google is preparing to officially launch Google Wallet (Google Pay) in Bangladesh within the next month, sources told The Business Standard. The rollout will initially allow City Bank Visa and Mastercard holders—including Bangladesh currency cards—to link accounts and pay via Android phones using NFC technology at contactless terminals.
The service will gradually expand to other banks, marking a major step in digitising Bangladesh’s financial ecosystem. Until now, lack of integration with local banking infrastructure limited Google Wallet’s availability, despite growing urban demand for NFC payments.
Google Pay leads South Asia’s digital payments, especially in India where it accounts for 51% of transaction value and 37% by volume. Pakistan officially launched Google Pay on March 12, 2025. The platform is also active in Southeast Asian markets including Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
Google Wallet itself will not store user data and does not require direct approval from Bangladesh Bank; transactions are processed by banks linked to users’ cards. Banks must notify the central bank before integration.
Google generally does not charge users for basic transactions, but banks may impose fees, especially on foreign currency or international gateway payments. Local payment platforms such as bKash, Rocket, and Upay remain widely used in Bangladesh.
Mobile Financial Service providers like bKash have called for a level playing field as Google Pay’s launch could impact local digital payment ecosystems.
