Choosing the best digital bank in the Philippines means finding the right mix of features, fees, and access to your money. This guide compares seven providers for savings, everyday banking, and OFW needs.

How we compared

We compared the banks’ published product terms using six practical criteria:

1. Account features: What can you do with the account? We considered savings products, payments, transfers, and tools for organizing money.
2. App experience (UX): How are routine tasks organized? We considered documented features for checking balances, finding payment details, tracking transactions or due dates, and managing products in one place.
3. Access to money: How can you fund, transfer, or withdraw your balance? We considered available channels, transaction limits, and any lock-in periods.
4. Fees and charges: What does normal account use cost? We looked at transfer charges, free-transfer allowances, and other applicable service fees.
5. Account requirements: What do you need to open and use the account? Relevant factors include eligibility, minimum deposits, required balances, and conditions attached to specific features.
6. Savings value: What return can your balance earn? We distinguished ordinary savings rates from conditional bonuses and time-deposit offers.

Each profile highlights the provider’s main strengths, relevant conditions, and the type of user it may suit. OFW considerations include supported remittance routes and the need to confirm overseas eligibility. The comparison uses published terms and documented app functions. UX observations describe those functions; they are not hands-on ratings of speed, reliability, or ease of use.

Best digital banks in the Philippines compared

“Digital banking” here covers a broader range of banking services than the BSP’s specific digital-bank licence category.

Salmon for savings and app-based money management

Salmon Bank brings savings, time deposits, and eligible credit products into one app. Customers can check balances, track repayment dates, and manage their available products from the same place.

Its documented loan interface puts the next payment date and amount near the top, with a repayment button and access to the payment schedule and agreement. This layout brings the information needed for a routine repayment together, which is a practical UX benefit for customers managing borrowing alongside savings.

Salmon Save offers 4% p.a. with no lock-in, while time deposits start at ₱5,000, with advertised rates from 6% p.a. depending on the placement. Deposit and credit products have separate terms and are provided by the group’s licensed entities.

Choose Salmon if: you value managing savings and eligible credit products in one app, with payment details and schedules readily available.

Maya for payments and savings in one app

Maya is a strong option for people who already use it to pay bills or handle other everyday transactions. Its savings account has a 3% p.a. base rate, with interest credited daily.

Higher advertised returns can make the offer attractive. Maya promotes rates of up to 15% p.a., although qualifying activity or balance-growth requirements apply. Bonus interest is limited to balances of up to ₱100,000.

The key question is whether you would complete those transactions anyway. If your normal spending qualifies, the extra interest can be valuable. If reaching a bonus requires purchases you do not need, calculate whether you actually come out ahead.

Choose Maya if: you want savings alongside payment features and are comfortable tracking bonus requirements.

GoTyme for building a regular saving habit

Keeping all your money in one balance can make it difficult to see how much is available to spend. GoTyme’s GoalSave feature helps by separating savings into up to five goals.

You can personalize each goal, set a target, and schedule automatic deposits. Its round-up feature also moves change from debit-card spending into a selected GoalSave.

This approach suits people who want a more organized view of their finances. Money for a holiday can sit separately from a household reserve, even though both are managed through the same banking app.

GoalSave funds can be moved back to the main deposit account when needed. Check the current savings rate in the app before funding the account.

Choose GoTyme if: visible progress and automatic saving would help you stay consistent.

Tonik for solo and shared savings goals

Tonik’s Stashes separate money for individual or shared goals. Solo Stash pays 4% p.a.; Group Stash rises from 4% to 4.5% p.a. with an owner and at least two participants. The main Tonik Account lists 1% p.a., so where you place funds matters.

Its six-month time deposit lists 4% p.a. plus a conditional 1% p.a. bonus. That bonus requires at least ₱10,000 average daily balance in the Tonik Savings Account every month throughout the term. Include that separate commitment when assessing the return.

Choose Tonik if: you want individual savings pockets or a shared savings arrangement with a qualifying group.

MariBank for frequent bank transfers

Transfer fees can quietly reduce the value of an account, especially if you regularly move money between banks. MariBank lists free, unlimited InstaPay and PESONet transfers, subject to its transaction limits.

Its savings rate is 3.25% p.a. on the first ₱1 million, with 3.75% p.a. applying to the portion above ₱1 million.

For people who split funds between bills, savings, and other accounts, the transfer policy can be as relevant as the interest rate. Other services, including certain card and ATM transactions, have separate charges.

Choose MariBank if: moving money frequently is a central part of how you bank.

CIMB for saving through GSave

CIMB offers a familiar route for people who already use GSave through GCash. Its GSave and UpSave accounts have a 2.30% p.a. base rate.

GSave through CIMB has no minimum deposit or maintaining balance. That can make it practical for someone who is starting with small amounts and adding money over time.

Convenience is its main attraction in this comparison. If the account fits an app you already use, setting aside money may become easier to repeat. Evaluate any promotional interest separately from the ordinary savings rate.

Choose CIMB if: GSave fits your existing routine and you want an accessible starting point for saving.

UNO for daily interest crediting

UNOready credits interest daily and adjusts its rate according to the account balance:

• 3% p.a. for balances below ₱5,000.
• 3.5% p.a. for balances from ₱5,000 to ₱4,999,999.99.
• 1% p.a. once the balance reaches ₱5 million.

The balance bands make it important to compare the rate you would actually receive. A larger deposit does not always mean a higher rate.

Daily crediting also gives savers regular visibility into their earnings. However, the annual rate and applicable balance rules matter more than how often an interest entry appears.

Choose UNO if: you prefer daily interest crediting and your typical balance fits its more attractive rate band.

How to choose: savings, everyday banking, OFW needs

Savings

For savings, prioritize the return you can earn consistently and access that matches your timeline. An emergency fund needs flexible withdrawals. Money for tuition or a planned purchase may suit a fixed term.

Salmon is worth considering for its combination of accessible savings and time deposits. Tonik offers individual and group savings arrangements, while GoTyme can help you separate goals and automate contributions. UNO may appeal if you prefer daily interest crediting, provided your balance fits the relevant rate band.

Compare like with like: an annual time-deposit rate involves a different commitment from a flexible savings rate. Eligible deposits have PDIC protection up to ₱1 million per depositor, per bank, subject to its rules. Several accounts at the same bank share that coverage limit.

Everyday banking

For everyday banking, compare the total cost of your normal transactions before chasing a higher savings rate. List the bills, transfers, and withdrawals you make each month, then check both fees and limits.

Maya can fit a routine built around payments and savings in one app. MariBank is worth comparing if you regularly transfer between banks, while CIMB may be convenient if you already save through GSave. GoTyme’s separate goal balances can help keep planned savings apart from spending money.

Consider the app workflow as well: can you find your balance, review a payment, and locate the relevant account details without switching between services? For Salmon customers, the combined product view and repayment information are relevant here; GoTyme emphasizes goal organization, while Maya brings payments and savings together.

Check how you will deposit cash or withdraw it when needed. Also distinguish money held in a bank savings account from a linked wallet balance; features and protection may differ between products.

OFW needs

For OFW needs, choose around the remittance route and overseas account access before comparing savings rates. Request quotes for the same sending amount and compare the pesos delivered after fees and currency conversion, together with the arrival time. A transfer advertised as fee-free can still produce a different result because of the exchange rate.

Domestic InstaPay or PESONet access alone does not establish that an account supports direct international remittances.

GoTyme is one option to investigate because it supports incoming remittances through international banks and partner channels. Confirm that the specific sending country, currency, and transfer provider are supported before making a choice.

Account access is a separate consideration. Check whether you can open and maintain the account from your country of residence, which identification and address details are required, and whether you can receive verification codes abroad. Being able to receive an overseas transfer does not automatically mean an account can be opened remotely from overseas. Salmon’s app listing, for example, limits service availability to users located in the Philippines and requires a Philippine mobile number.

Once money arrives, decide how it will be used. Household spending needs convenient local access, while funds for a later goal may suit a separate savings account or time deposit. The best remittance route and the best place to keep savings can be different services.

Conclusion

The best digital bank is the one whose features fit how you manage money. Salmon combines savings options with in-app management of eligible credit products, making it worth considering for customers who want to keep those tasks in one place.

Choose Maya for a payment-led routine, consider GoTyme for savings organization and supported remittance routes, and compare Tonik for shared goals. MariBank’s transfer policy, CIMB’s GSave access, and UNO’s daily crediting may matter more depending on how you use the account.

The most useful comparison is the one built around your own balance, withdrawal timeline, and transactions. Start there, check the conditions for the exact product, and choose the account that delivers value in your everyday use.