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.…

Why do so many AI pilots fail in banking even when the technology itself works? In this episode, Vincent Fong, Fintech News Network, speaks with Cynthia Siantar, Head of Investor Relations and General Manager for Singapore at DynaAI, about why banks often struggle to move from AI experimentation to real execution. The conversation explores: why AI pilots get stuck inside large organisations the build vs buy dilemma facing banks what separates banks that get measurable ROI from those that do not how one collections use case created a clear business case for AI where agentic AI and internal copilots may…

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is advising the public to remain vigilant against ‘quishing’, a rising digital payment scam that exploits QR codes, the Philippine Information Agency reported. During a recent briefing in Bohol, BSP Banking Officer V Dr. Gregorio Baccay III detailed how fraudsters use manipulated QR codes to compromise personal data and steal funds. “Quishing is a scam where scammers use malicious QR codes to trick people into visiting fake websites, downloading harmful content, or sending cash,” Baccay explained. Because QR codes mask the underlying web address, users often cannot easily spot a malicious link. The financial…

Maya has partnered with the non-profit organisation SPARK! Philippines to support female micro-entrepreneurs. The collaboration aims to combine Maya’s financial technology with SPARK!’s community-based training and mentorship programmes. According to the Department of Trade and Industry, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) make up 99.5% of formal businesses in the Philippines. While women own more than half of these small enterprises, a 2023 Asian Development Bank study revealed a significant digital divide. Only 28% of women-led MSMEs utilise digital financial services, compared to 44% of male-led businesses. Toff Rada, Head of Corporate Affairs at Maya, highlighted the need to assist…

Maya has rolled out a rebate initiative to support Philippine households receiving remittances from the Middle East. Running from 23 March to 10 April 2026, the scheme aims to reduce transaction costs for families navigating rising expenses and ongoing regional tensions. The programme applies specifically to remittances sent from select Middle Eastern nations. Eligible transfers include those originating from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan. The Middle East remains a crucial financial corridor for the Philippines, hosting an estimated 2.4 million Filipino workers. To access these financial benefits, users must receive a…

UAE-based digital wallet du Pay has signed a memorandum of understanding with Philippines financial platform GCash to facilitate faster remittances for Filipino expatriates. The collaboration enables overseas Filipino workers in the UAE to send funds directly to GCash wallets within minutes. Rather than relying on traditional bank transfers or physical remittance centres, this wallet-to-wallet integration allows recipients to immediately access the funds. Once the money lands in their GCash accounts, users in the Philippines can instantly allocate the funds for daily expenses such as bill payments, school fees, mobile top-ups, and online shopping. The companies noted they specifically designed the…