Netbank has secured Series B funding led by Altara Ventures to expand its licensed banking-as-a-service (BaaS) platform in the Philippines. The undisclosed round included full participation from existing investors BeeNext, Kaya Founders, January Capital, Oak Drive Ventures, and Boleh Ventures. Netbank operates an embedded finance platform under a full banking licence, providing accounts, payments, cards, and lending products to fintechs and digital platforms on a white-label basis. The funding follows a strong year for the company. Netbank reported an 88 percent year-on-year increase in revenue in FY2025. It also achieved profitability, launched card issuing, expanded its accounts-as-a-service business, and grew…

Malaysia is a global leader in Islamic finance. But are Islamic banks delivering the kind of digital experience customers now expect? In this Fintech News Network roundtable, senior leaders across Malaysia’s banking and fintech ecosystem debate the digital maturity of Islamic banking, the gaps that still remain, and where the biggest opportunities for innovation lie. The discussion covers UX, ethical banking, Sharia compliance, personalization, Islamic wealth management, financial literacy, cloud migration, legacy infrastructure, and what it will take to move from compliance to genuinely better customer experiences. Speakers featured: Dafinah Ahmed Hilmi, CEO, HLB Islamic Aizuddin Danian, Chief Personal Banking…

Philippines’ Salmon Group has raised US$100 million in funding through equity and bonds to strengthen its banking unit and expand lending, according to DealStreetAsia. The package includes US$60 million in equity and a US$40 million public bond under Salmon’s Nordic bond programme, priced at a 13.7% yield. Spice Expeditions anchored the equity round, with Washington University Investment Management Company, Moore Strategic Ventures, FJ Labs and existing investors also taking part. The equity proceeds will support product expansion, broader distribution and added capital at its banking business, while the bond proceeds are earmarked for lending growth. The bank said in March…

Ant International, International Finance Corp. (IFC), and GCash are developing a Sustainability Impact Scorecard. The GCash MSME sustainability scorecard will make it easier for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to track their environmental and social impact, easily adopt sustainability practices in business operations, and align with global standards. The scorecard aims to provide Filipino MSMEs with trusted, clear, and accessible pathways to measure sustainability performance, strengthen credibility, and unlock opportunities aligned with global ESG standards. By leveraging the GCash ecosystem and metrics curated towards the Philippine market, the MSME sustainability impact scorecard aims to empower local MSMEs with insights…

GoTyme Bank has launched PH Stocks, an in-app feature that lets its customers invest in companies listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) without going from one platform to another, according to the Daily Tribune. GoTyme Bank PH Stocks aims to help skip the need for multiple accounts and complex processes. It allows users to use a single platform to oversee their finances and investments. The feature works through DragonFi Securities, a licensed brokerage that is a PSE Trading Participant and also a member of the Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines, PDTC, and SIPF. PH Stocks will support long-term…

Skyro has expanded its payment network through a partnership with ECPay, allowing customers to settle their loans using only their mobile numbers. The integration connects Skyro customers to ECPay’s network of over 462,000 over-the-counter locations, 90 digital touchpoints, and 16,000 kiosks across the country. Borrowers can now process a Skyro payment via ECPay partners, which include digital wallets like GCash and PalawanPay, as well as 7-Eleven’s CLiQQ service. Customers can also make over-the-counter payments at pawnshops, remittance centres, and retail outlets including Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Express, Prince Retail, and LCC. “We hope that this partnership will make everyday transactions simpler,…

Igloo has outlined its 2026 strategy for the Philippines under newly appointed Country Head Ramjit Lahiri. The company said it will expand beyond embedded insurance distribution to position itself as a full-stack technology infrastructure provider for digital platforms and financial institutions in the market. The Philippines is one of Igloo’s fastest-growing markets. Since entering the country, it has partnered with more than 40 digital platforms and launched over 55 insurance products. A recent partnership with motorcycle ride-hailing platform Angkas provides personal accident insurance benefit of PHP 650,000 and medical coverage of PHP 200,000 to over 20,000 riders, for a minimum…

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is extending relief measures to supervised financial institutions and their clients following the declaration of a State of National Energy Emergency on 24 March 2026. Approved under Monetary Board Resolution No. 296, the BSP relief package aims to sustain lending and support borrower recovery. Previously reserved for states of calamity, these measures will remain available for one year from the emergency declaration date. Banks may now grant six-month grace periods for loan payments, while agricultural borrowers are eligible for deferments of up to one year. To maintain financial stability, these loans can be excluded…

Global insurtech Cover Genius has partnered with online travel agency Tongcheng Travel to launch embedded travel insurance in the Philippines and Malaysia. The deployment allows Tongcheng Travel to offer protection products directly within the booking journey for its international customers. The integration operates through Cover Genius’s digital distribution platform, XCover, which connects the two companies via a single API. For travel platforms expanding across borders, managing multiple regional insurers and varying regulatory frameworks presents an operational hurdle. This technical approach allows travel brands to add financial products without managing individual local relationships. It provides a scalable foundation for Tongcheng Travel…

Stablecoin transaction volumes surged 72% in 2025, reaching a record US$33 trillion and signalling growing institutional adoption for real-time settlement. Stablecoin payment activity is also heavily concentrated in Asia. Payments originating from the region account for around US$245 billion, or 60% of global stablecoin payment volume, driven largely by Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. As adoption accelerates, institutions are increasingly focused on operational resilience, regulatory compliance, and integrating stablecoins into treasury and payment systems. The question is no longer whether stablecoins work, but how to scale them safely across global cross-border payment networks. In this webinar, we will explore: How…

Sumsub is scaling its local team to respond to regulatory shifts and emerging fraud patterns affecting Philippine financial institutions. The company is co-creating solutions tailored to the domestic market alongside local partners such as Nexus Technologies. Andrew Sever, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sumsub, noted that rapid growth in fintech and digital payments makes the Philippines a priority. “By expanding our presence in the Philippines and working closely with local businesses, regulators, governments, and industry associations, we are adapting our global expertise to local realities,” Sever said. DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center Executive Director Aboy…

Four digital financial entities operating under the Monee brand by Sea Limited have officially become members of the Fintech Alliance.PH. The induction of ShopeePay Philippines, MoneeInsure, Monee (Credit), and Scoring Technology Inc. took place during the organisation’s General Membership Meeting on 11 March 2026 in Bonifacio Global City. Renato Paraiso, an executive director for the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, administered the oath of membership. These new additions join MariBank, another Sea Limited affiliate that has been an active alliance member since 2024. Furthermore, MariBank Director Martha Borja was recently elected to the alliance’s 2026 Board of Trustees. The industry group states…

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) have signed a memorandum of understanding to enable seamless Philippines-UAE cross-border payments. The agreement aims to integrate the instant payment platforms of both countries, a development that BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. noted will create better remittance channels for overseas Filipino workers. Signed by Remolona and CBUAE Governor, H.E. Khaled Mohamed Balama during a virtual ceremony, the initiative seeks to streamline transaction processing and enhance interoperability between the two nations. The monetary authorities are also considering the future interlinking of their national card…

Philippine Seven Corp has recorded an increase in customer spending and visitor numbers following the deployment of new point of sale terminals across its network. The aggressive rollout has directly boosted average basket sizes, as first reported by InsiderPH. Until recently, most convenience store checkout transactions in the domestic market relied entirely on cash or mobile digital wallets. The new infrastructure enables customers to pay using traditional credit and debit cards. This removes the natural spending limit imposed by the physical cash a consumer carries on hand. Accepting card payments at the Philippines 7-Eleven locations allows the retailer to capture…

MYEG Philippines has partnered with the Philippine Ports Authority to expand electronic digital payments options across the national port network. The agreement, reported by the Daily Tribune, integrates MYEG’s Electronic Payment Collection System into the existing port payment portal. Previously, port users relied on physical cashiers and the Land Bank of the Philippines LinkBiz Portal to settle fees. The integration widens access to more than 100,000 payment channels nationwide. Supported options now include credit and debit cards, online banking, and prominent digital wallets such as GCash, Maya, ShopeePay, and GrabPay. The system also accommodates QRPh for app-based payments. Port users…

At least 24 companies, including GCash, Visa, and Mastercard, have expressed interest in the Philippine Automated Fare Collection System concession. The Department of Transportation plans to bid out the project by the end of the year, as first reported by the Inquirer. The proposed concession aims to unify fare collection across the national rail network. This infrastructure will connect major lines such as MRT 3, LRT 1, LRT 2, and eventually the Metro Manila Subway. Firms including Siemens Mobility, Hitachi Asia, LG CNS, and Cubic Transportation Systems also participated in a market sounding event in Singapore last month. “It must…

GCash has implemented a temporary fee waiver for international remittance or money transfers directed toward several Middle East nations. Valid until 30 April 2026, the programme applies to funds sent from the Philippines to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman. During this promotional period, users can utilise the GCash International Transfers feature to send money to these specific countries without incurring standard transaction charges. Furthermore, the platform has removed minimum transfer requirements for these corridors, allowing for greater flexibility in the amount sent. The move is designed to assist domestic users in providing financial aid to family…

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has introduced a PHP 4 billion loan programme designed to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Launched in Makati City by Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, the MSME Business Fund aims to help local businesses manage the economic effects of the current Middle East conflict and fund their operational expansion. Through the DTI’s lending arm, the Small Business Corporation, eligible MSMEs can borrow up to PHP 20 million. Loans of up to PHP 5 million are available without requiring collateral. Borrowers benefit from a five-year repayment schedule. It includes a one-year grace…

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is proposing a new regulatory framework in the Philippines to offer more flexible repayment terms for salary-based personal loans. The proposed initiative aims to alleviate the financial strain of debt servicing for borrowers across the country while maintaining prudent credit standards. According to a recently released draft circular, the Philippine central bank plans to transition towards a principles-based strategy. Such a shift empowers financial institutions to determine loan durations based on an individual’s creditworthiness rather than adhering to rigid, pre-set regulatory timeframes. Highlighting the goal of the draft, the BSP stated: “Consistent with this…

Grab has introduced a new cash loan service for its consumers, which is already available in the Philippines before an anticipated expansion to Thailand and Malaysia by mid-2026. The initiative targets the substantial population of underbanked individuals across Southeast Asia who lack credit cards or documented credit histories. While Grab previously offered financial solutions to its merchants and drivers using their platform earnings data, everyday users were excluded from these services. The new consumer loan aims to bridge this gap. Because traditional credit metrics are unavailable for many informal sector workers, Grab has developed an alternative system to assess eligibility.…