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…

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has introduced ‘Balik Ginhawa’, an alternative three-month loan moratorium. This new programme is specifically designed to help government employees cope with rising living costs. Announced on 1 April 2026, the initiative is a response to the financial strain caused by surging global oil prices and their subsequent impact on food and energy expenses. Rather than pausing loan payments, the GSIS will continue regular deductions. However, participants will receive a single lump-sum refund equal to their loan amortisations for the period between December 2025 and February 2026. The funds will be credited directly to members’…

Fintech Alliance.PH has introduced its 2026 Board of Trustees, aiming to drive financial inclusion and digital transformation within the Philippine financial sector. The organisation, which comprises over 150 corporate members, accounts for more than 95% of the country’s retail digital financial transaction volume. Lito Villanueva, the Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer of RCBC, will remain as the alliance’s Chairman. Under his guidance, the group continues to support the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ financial inclusion and digitisation agenda. The newly elected board includes executives from various sectors such as banking, digital lending, and payments. Notable members include…

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the Philippines has extended the availability of reduced corporate registration fees for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) until 31 December 2026. This extension was formalised through SEC Memorandum Circular No. 13, Series of 2026, issued on 26 March. Under this directive, eligible MSMEs will continue to receive a 20% discount on their corporate registration costs. The SEC reported that these reduced rates, originally implemented on 16 July 2025, have already saved registering businesses approximately P54.77 million. SEC Chairperson Francis Lim noted that these financial savings help local entrepreneurs gain legal recognition and…

UnionBank of the Philippines has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Social Security System (SSS) to roll out a fully digital lending programme known as SSS LoanLite. This initiative aims to provide consumers with an accessible financial tool to manage their daily expenses. Under this new programme, active SSS members who are also UnionBank customers can apply for short-term credit. The facility offers loan amounts ranging from PHP 1,000 up to PHP 20,000 and provides borrowers with repayment terms that span between 15 and 90 days. UnionBank hosts the entire application process on its mobile app to streamline the…

If the startup world is one big pizza party, female founders are still only walking away with a single slice. Despite a recovering market, only 12% of deal funding is going to women. Where is the rest of the capital going, and why is the system structurally built to ignore female ambition? In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Lim (Investment Partner, OSK Ventures) and Rejina Rahim (Founder, Wahine Capital) to uncover the hard truths of the Venture Capital ecosystem in Southeast Asia. We move past the surface-level “diversity” buzzwords to address the real roadblocks: from the staggering lack…

GCash has expanded its technical integration with Lawson convenience stores across more than 200 nationwide branches. The project pushes the local retail sector’s digitalisation forward by making payment and cash-in services more efficient. The upgraded checkout system runs directly on GCash for Business – EasyPOS. It allows customers to easily complete transactions using QR codes, cards, or contactless tap methods Additionally, all Lawson locations now operate as physical over-the-counter cash-in hubs. These branches enable users to fund their digital wallets directly at the store. Such dual functionality actively connects physical cash with the digital economy. The integration represents a crucial…

In 2025, fintech remained the most active startup category in the Philippines, accounting for the largest share of deal volume, according to the 2026 Philippine Private Capital Report by Foxmont Capital Partners. This dominance underscores the industry’s pivotal role in the country’s digital economy and reflects sustained confidence from the investment community. Fintech adoption surges in the Philippines Core fintech verticals including digital payments, digital lending, and online trading continue to demonstrate robust growth and market traction. In 2024, digital payments accounted for 59% of the total transaction value in the Philippines, representing a nearly threefold increase from 20% in…

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) and the Philippine Social Security System (SSS) have partnered to launch the SSS Loan Lite programme. The initiative allows eligible SSS members to apply for short-term credit digitally through the RCBC DiskarTech application. This move aims to offer a formal alternative to informal, high-interest lending practices. The service was officially introduced during a financial education campaign at the SSS Diliman office in Quezon City on 26 March 2026. As part of the rollout, RCBC is establishing physical help desks within select SSS branches. These touchpoints actively guide members, especially those without bank accounts, through the…

Salmon Finance has collaborated with motorcycle dealership Suerte Motoplaza in the Philippines to introduce fully digital, in-store motorcycle loans. This move expands upon the digital motorcycle financing service Salmon initially launched through its mobile application in 2025. The in-store financing option is currently available at selected Suerte Motoplaza locations across Metro Manila, with plans for a nationwide rollout in the future. The partnership allows buyers to apply for credit directly at the dealership without filling out physical paperwork. According to the company, applicants can receive credit decisions in as little as 60 seconds. Following approval, the entire repayment process is…

UNO Digital Bank has reached an operating break-even point before provisions in February 2026. The four-year-old institution views this financial milestone as a shift from early-stage investment towards a sustainable operating model, with expectations to achieve full profit-and-loss break-even by the end of the year. The bank attributes its recent performance to a rapid expansion in lending, having disbursed PHP 15 billion in total loans. UNO aims to grow its active loan book to over PHP 10 billion by the end of 2026. To reach underserved demographics, the lender uses an underwriting engine that analyses alternative data, such as utility…

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has launched the RCBC Airmiles Visa Signature credit card in the Philippines. The new product targets frequent flyers by offering a 1:1 conversion rate for airline mileage programmes and a 1.5% foreign exchange fee for international transactions. Furthermore, cardholders are provided with unlimited access to airport lounges globally, alongside travel insurance coverage of up to PHP 20 million. For added financial flexibility, users can convert their purchases into payment terms of up to 36 monthly instalments using the RCBC Pulz application. The card’s release is the result of a partnership between the Philippine bank and…

The Palawan Group of Companies (PGC) and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) have launched PalaSave, a digital savings feature integrated directly into the PalawanPay e-wallet. Since its introduction, the service has registered 60,000 accounts and accumulated approximately PHP 50 million in deposits. PGC aims to reach one million users and PHP 1 billion in total savings within its first 12 months, the Manila Times reported. Regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as a basic deposit account, PalaSave offers a 4% annual interest rate, zero maintaining balance, and a maximum balance limit of PHP 50,000. The product aims to provide…

Philippine-based Producers Savings Bank Corporation has committed to a major technology infrastructure upgrade. As part of this modernisation, the bank is adopting the latest version of the Finacle Core Banking Solution from Infosys Finacle. The thrift bank is looking to significantly expand its retail and small and medium enterprise (SME) lending operations. To support this continuous growth, it is also deploying the Finacle Origination Solution. The systems upgrade is intended to improve operational resilience and provide faster, more personalised services to customers. By utilising the new origination software, Producers Bank aims to scale its lending to priority groups, such as…

Philippine non-life insurer Malayan Insurance has introduced a 0% interest instalment payment option for its policyholders. Founded in 1930, the firm aims to make asset protection more accessible for consumers managing tight budgets by removing the burden of immediate expenses. The newly launched facility allows customers to split their annual premiums into three- or six-month terms. This alternative eliminates the need for a single lump-sum payment without adding hidden fees or financing charges. Initially, the service applies to specific products, namely the Home Protect and AutoMaster car insurance policies. Despite the staggered payment structure, clients receive full and immediate coverage…

Tookitaki has established a new satellite office at Ayala Triangle Tower One in Makati City, in Manila Philippines. The launch marks a formal expansion of the firm’s presence in the region, following a year of operating from a shared workspace to build its local network. The dedicated facility aims to provide on-the-ground support for Philippine financial institutions managing substantial daily transaction volumes. Currently, the technology firm supplies artificial intelligence systems to local platforms such as GCash, Maya, GoTyme, and PayMongo. These systems are designed to identify complex fraud patterns, uncover money mule networks, and enhance anti-money laundering (AML) protocols. Company…

Maya has partnered with Lydian to integrate crypto, among other digital asset payments, into everyday retail transactions across the Philippines. The collaboration aims to provide a compliant and secure framework for widespread cryptocurrency use. Businesses utilising Maya will soon be equipped to accept digital assets. This new capability is powered by Lydian’s global infrastructure, which was developed alongside Tether and Cantor Fitzgerald. Customers will have the option to pay for their purchases using stablecoins. Shoppers can easily complete these transactions through standard checkout methods, such as scanning a QR code or selecting a digital payment link online. Accepting cryptocurrency typically…

Ana Aboitiz Delgado, the current Chief Executive Officer and President of UnionBank, has been named the new President of the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) for the 2026 to 2027 term. This appointment marks a significant milestone, as she becomes the first female leader in the organisation’s nearly 80-year existence. Delgado takes on this role during a pivotal time for the banking industry. Currently, the sector is actively navigating rapid digitalisation, the growing use of artificial intelligence, and interconnected operational risks. Prior to becoming UnionBank’s CEO in January 2025, she spent over two decades working at the institution. During…

Atome Philippines has secured a one-year agreement with Jollibee Foods Corporation to facilitate the acceptance of the Atome Card across more than 1,300 of the restaurant chain’s locations nationwide. The collaboration allows patrons to utilise flexible payment methods when dining at the fast-food network. According to Reynaldo P. Gabunada Jr., Jollibee Philippines’ Head of Regional Business Unit and National Key Accounts Group, the alliance supports the company’s commitment to convenience by providing customers with more flexible payment options across its store network. Currently, Atome has issued upwards of two million cards within the Philippines. The company notes that approximately 80%…

GCash has suspended 3,200 merchants found to be facilitating illegal online gambling in the Philippines. The crackdown was executed in collaboration with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG). Reiterating its strict stance against illicit betting, the financial platform urged users to adopt stringent security measures to avoid falling victim to associated scams. Customers must never share sensitive information, such as their One-Time Passwords (OTP) or Mobile Personal Identification Numbers (MPIN). The company also advised the public to exercise caution when dealing with QR codes. Users should avoid scanning random codes received…