Aayush Singhania is Chief Product Officer at Tazapay, a Singapore-based cross-border payments platform that onboards customers across 70-plus countries and recently raised $36M to expand its stablecoin and agentic payments infrastructure. He joins Vincent Fong to explain why the SaaS subscription model breaks the moment AI agents become the customers, what replaces it, and how stablecoins connect two of fintech’s biggest open questions: how money moves across borders, and how software gets paid for in a world where AI agents are the buyers. In this episode: Why $30 trillion sits frozen in correspondent banking accounts How stablecoins disappear into the…

Security Bank has announced another major reshuffle of its top finance leadership team, as it has appointed John David Yap as the new CFO effective 13 June, as reported by Insider PH. Yap replaces Allen Reyes, who served in the executive position for barely 10 months. A recent stock exchange filing revealed that Reyes resigned for personal reasons, after assuming the finance chief role in August last year. His brief stint followed the retirement of longtime executive Eduardo Olbes, who served the lender for 15 years. Olbes played a significant role in shaping the transformation strategy of the company before his…

Netbank announced that fintechs and global payments platforms can now off-ramp stablecoins directly into local fiat currency across the Philippines. This new infrastructure specifically targets financial technology firms looking to optimise their international funding routes. Clients can now fund their local accounts using popular digital assets such as USDC or USDT via Netbank’s Partner Regulated Exchanges. The system utilises pre-agreed over-the-counter foreign exchange rates to eliminate unexpected slippage costs. Company representatives stated that this direct conversion process completely bypasses traditional banking delays. The infrastructure removes the need for standard international wire transfers and tedious nostro pre-funding requirements. Netbank currently processes these…

Coins.ph has officially introduced a new payment feature integrating digital assets with the national merchant network, which allows users to pay using either local currency or crypto at any terminal that accepts QRPh. This integration removes the usual friction of manually converting digital assets into cash before making a purchase. Consumers can simply scan the merchant code and use their digital balance to pay for items directly through the app. For the initial rollout, the platform supports stablecoin payments using Tether. Company representatives explain that this dollar-pegged asset provides transaction speed while minimising price volatility. This stability makes the digital…

Skyro has launched a new online portal to simplify the partner application process for local businesses, aiming to expand access to flexible payment options (Buy Now Pay Later) for merchants across the Philippines. According to InsiderPH, this digital lending company wants to bring more businesses into the instalment economy. The new Merchant Portal allows partners to offer product loans both in-store and online. Company representatives state that flexible payments can significantly boost merchant sales and drive repeat customer visits. Skyro noted that businesses offering these flexible options could see sales increase by up to 25%. Michael Tabaday, Head of SME…

The Philippine central bank (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) is considering another policy adjustment ahead of its scheduled meeting on 18 June. According to the Business Times, Governor Eli Remolona stated that policymakers might not wait for the regular review session. Remolona noted that the quarter-point interest rate increase that the Philippines implemented in April did not seem sufficient. He explained that the monetary authority currently faces a substantial and persistent supply shock. The governor described the decision between calling an off-cycle meeting and waiting for the scheduled date as a toss-up. The central bank previously raised its key policy benchmark…

Landbank has partnered with the Philippine Sports Commission to improve financial inclusion and banking services within the local sports sector, as the state-owned institution will now allow any young athlete to open a personal Visa debit account. This new banking arrangement specifically supports national competitors who are currently under the age of eighteen. Landbank President and Chief Executive Officer Lynette V Ortiz formalised the agreement alongside sports officials on 11 May 2026. Ortiz stated that the financial institution remains committed to providing secure products that properly enable local competitors. The initiative ensures that these minors can receive their training allowances…

FinTech Alliance.PH and the Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC) have signed a MoU to strengthen digital economy ties between the two countries. FinTech Alliance.PH Founding Chairman Lito Villanueva and APBC President Rafael Toda formalised the agreement on May 21, 2026, in Melbourne. It outlines a framework for collaboration across digital banking, AI, cybersecurity, blockchain, and financial inclusion. Both organisations plan to facilitate knowledge exchange, trade missions, and business delegations to connect stakeholders from both markets. APBC will support the Manila Tech Summit 2026, scheduled to take place in Manila from July 28 to 29, as part of the arrangement. “The…

In this exclusive roundtable jointly hosted by Fintech News Network and Alteryx, senior banking leaders in Singapore shared how their institutions are deploying AI today, debated where human accountability still sits, and asked whether traditional banks will still exist in 10 years. The conversation moved through: How leading banks are deploying AI today, from chatbots and fraud detection to internal coding assistants and agentic workflows The rise of citizen coding when “the coding language is now English”, and what it means when non-technical staff start building The leap in compute power that has outpaced traditional planning models, and one banker’s…

Philippine banks delivered a record financial performance and profits during Q1 of 2026, as reported by Inquirer.net. The local financial sector achieved massive income growth driven primarily by wider profit margins. According to central bank data, the industry booked a combined net income of PHP 104.82 billion. This figure marks an increase of nearly 3% compared to the same period last year. The results represent the strongest first-quarter profits for the sector since records began in 2008. Net interest income climbed 12.44% to reach PHP 310.59 billion as borrowing costs remained high. Meanwhile, non-interest income remained relatively steady at PHP…

TransUnion Philippines has launched a new credit education initiative in response to a rapidly expanding group of local borrowers, helping them to improve their financial literacy. The data analytics company aims to deepen understanding of financial reports and promote the responsible use of borrowing information. According to a company press release, 56% of local consumers plan to apply for new financing this year. TransUnion Philippines aims to advance credit education through its new Credit Engage initiative. This programme provides financial institutions with deeper insight into scoring metrics and the key factors that influence them. The initiative uses an engaging workshop…

GoTyme Bank has launched a new ownership initiative that invites all 2000 global employees to become company shareholders. This broad share scheme aims to deepen staff participation in the long-term financial success of the company. The programme arrives as the financial technology firm prepares for a potential stock market listing within three to four years. Chief Executive Officer, Cheslyn Jacobs, stated that the initiative encourages the workforce to behave like true business owners. Jacobs noted that the enterprise currently remains in a hyper-growth phase, and the share scheme could make a meaningful difference to employees. Management commenced internal education sessions…

Digital assets are gaining real traction among regulated institutions, but security risks are rising just as quickly. As adoption accelerates, scrutiny around custody controls, transaction integrity and compliance oversight is becoming more intense. Banks, exchanges and financial intermediaries are no longer running isolated pilots. Digital asset workflows are being integrated into day-to-day operations, which makes security architecture and governance core requirements rather than secondary considerations. The institutions that move ahead will be those that can scale digital asset activity without compromising control, resilience or regulatory standards. What C-level leaders should consider when building a digital asset security blueprint How regulatory…

EzyRemit Worldwide has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, aiming to optimise financial corridors to improve Philippines-Australia cross-border transactions. According to a social media announcement by the company, the agreement was finalised at the Austrade office in Sydney on 18 May 2026. The collaboration accelerates regional expansion and strengthens ties with key stakeholders like Austrade. Representatives stated that integrating deeper into Southeast Asia directly addresses shifting demands within the financial technology landscape. This alliance provides the global Filipino community with access to cost-efficient and real-time financial services. The partnership marks a foundational step toward building a…

Mynt, the operator of GCash, has doubled its income earnings during the first three months of the year. This strong financial performance arrives at a critical time as the digital wallet operator prepares for a major stock market debut. The parent company of the GCash platform is reportedly seeking a valuation of at least USD 8 billion for its upcoming domestic public listing. Mynt aims to raise around USD 1 billion later this year, making these robust quarterly earnings crucial for bolstering investor confidence. Income attributable to major shareholder Globe Telecom surged to PHP 1.9 billion for the quarter ending…

The United States and the Philippines are accelerating plans to build a massive 4,000-acre AI technology hub zone in New Clark City, according to a report by Bloomberg. This facility will serve as the first industrial acceleration zone under a major international technology alliance. The Southeast Asian nation recently became the thirteenth member of the United States-led Pax Silica initiative. This global coalition aims to secure resilient supply chains for artificial intelligence and advanced semiconductors. The proposed industrial zone will operate entirely under local laws, according to government representatives. United States Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg recently…

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported mixed economic signals in the Philippines as remittance growth slowed while the bad loan ratio fell. According to a report on credit quality by The Inquirer and a separate update on inbound transfers by the same publication, the financial sector remains resilient. The share of bad debts in the total lending portfolio fell to 3.29% in March, marking a three-month low. Total bank lending rose 10.7% from a year earlier, which represents the fastest pace of expansion in seven months. Financial institutions pared their buffers against unpaid debt but maintained a robust coverage ratio…

UnionBank of the Philippines has partnered with ECPay to enable cash deposits at more than 2,100 kiosks nationwide. This initiative aims to bring banking services closer to homes, workplaces and daily routines outside of traditional branch hours. The service targets small business owners, freelancers and individuals who handle physical currency regularly. Customers can access the new cash deposit kiosks at convenience stores, malls, groceries and community centres. Partner locations currently include Alfamart, Puregold, Lawson O Save and Puremart. Albert Raymond Cuadrante, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer at UnionBank, stated that the bank continues to design services around how customers live…

According to a report by Reuters, GCash operator Mynt aims to achieve a valuation of at least US$8 billion during its upcoming IPO. The operator of the top digital wallet in the country is planning to file for a domestic public listing as early as July. It intends to raise around US$1 billion when the listing takes place later this year. If completed at this size, the transaction would rival the previous record set in 2021 as the largest stock market debut in the Philippines. The company operates a prominent digital payment system that currently serves 94 million citizens across the…

The BSP is developing a new financial education strategy to improve the economic health of consumers across the Philippines. The proposed framework envisions a society where individuals possess the knowledge and confidence to make sound economic decisions. Regulators target releasing the completed strategy later this year, following ongoing consultations with industry stakeholders. The central bank recently convened government agencies and private sector partners at its head office in Manila. Civil society organisations and development institutions also joined the consultation to help refine the draft framework. Bernadette Romulo Puyat, Deputy Governor of the central bank, stated that consultations matter because research…