Philippines credit card startup Zed has raised US$16.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Accel, the venture capital firm known for backing global tech giants like Facebook, Spotify, and Slack. This fresh capital brings Zed’s total funding to US$22.5 million. The investment marks a significant milestone for the local fintech sector, signalling growing confidence from top-tier Silicon Valley investors in Philippine-founded financial technology. Founded by Danielle Cojuangco-Abraham and Steve Abraham, Zed targets young Filipino professionals who are often overlooked by traditional banks. Instead of relying solely on outdated credit scores, the company utilises artificial intelligence (AI) to…

MoneyHero Limited has formed a strategic partnership with InsureMO to enhance digital insurance distribution in the Philippines through its local platform, Moneymax. The collaboration will see Moneymax integrate InsureMO’s API-based middleware system. This technology allows insurers to connect directly with Moneymax’s online distribution channels, facilitating real-time product comparison and seamless purchasing for the platform’s 5.5 million registered users. The initiative aims to address the low insurance penetration rate in the Philippines, which currently stands at 2% of GDP, lagging behind the regional average of 4–5%. The company also noted a gap in motor insurance, reporting that only one in three…

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has partnered with G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), the operator of GCash, to expedite travel tax refunds for Filipino travellers. Formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on 9 December 2025 in Makati City, the agreement enables TIEZA to use GCash’s Funds Disbursement Service. This system allows approved refunds to be credited directly to passengers’ digital wallets in real time, at no cost to either the agency or the traveller. The initiative supports Executive Order No. 170, which mandates the adoption of digital payments in government, and the Tourism Act of 2009, which…

Travel platform Klook and finance app GCash have announced the launch of a co-branded travel debit card designed to simplify international payments for Filipino travellers. Supported by the Visa network, the card works in over 200 countries and opens for orders in December. The collaboration integrates Klook’s travel service inventory with the GCash financial ecosystem. GCash executive Barbara Dapul explained that the card enables travellers to make purchases abroad. Crucially, it allows them to do so without relying on physical cash or a mobile signal. Key financial features include zero foreign exchange service fees and competitive forex rates. The card…

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) has launched a new automated payroll account opening solution as part of its strategy to reach a customer base of 20 million by 2026. The bank’s Zero-Touch Onboarding system aims to streamline the payroll process by removing manual intervention from Human Resources (HR) departments. According to UnionBank, the solution cuts the standard account opening turnaround time from up to two weeks to under 24 hours. Employees can scan a QR code via the bank’s portal and complete the setup through the UnionBank Online app in minutes, allowing for salary crediting the following day. Erika…

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have formalised a data-sharing partnership regarding the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA). In a press release issued on Wednesday, the BSP announced that the two agencies signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on 3 December 2025. The deal governs the access to and use of information from the Personal Equity and Retirement Account System (PERASys), the central database for all PERA contributors managed by the central bank. The data sharing agreement between the BSP and SEC aims to ensure that data related to PERA contributors is…

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued stricter guidelines on interest rates and fees for financing and lending companies to enhance consumer protection. Released on 10 December via Memorandum Circular No. 14, Series of 2025, the new policy lowers the cap on the effective interest rate (EIR) to 12% per month, or roughly 0.40% per day. This represents a decrease from the previous 15% monthly ceiling set by the Monetary Board. The regulator also capped the nominal interest rate at 6% per month. The recalibrated rates apply specifically to unsecured, general-purpose loans of PHP 10,000 or less, with repayment…

Netbank has selected global payments processor Thredd to power its new Cards-as-a-Service (CaaS) solution. The partnership aims to enable fintechs, e-wallets, and banks in the region to deploy card issuing services for both consumer and commercial segments. The CaaS solution leverages Thredd’s issuing platform to support the creation of both virtual and physical cards. Key features of the service include advanced spend controls, real-time card creation APIs, a card management system, and integration with Google Pay. The collaboration targets a market experiencing sustained expansion in digital transactions. Data cited in the announcement projects that digital payments in the Philippines will grow…

BPI Direct BanKo (BanKo), the microfinance arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), has announced a partnership with ACI Worldwide to modernise its payment infrastructure. Under the agreement, BanKo will implement ACI’s issuing and acquiring platform to manage its transaction processing. The new platform aims to replace the bank’s existing switch, enabling real-time processing across multiple channels, including ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, and mobile devices. According to the announcement, the system utilises a modular architecture designed to support the rapid rollout of new features while ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory standards. BanKo expects to launch the project by…

Billease has announced an expansion of its in-app shopping feature, Billease Deals, following a strengthened partnership with InsurTech provider ProTech Devices. The update broadens the platform’s catalogue beyond its initial mobile phone offering to include a wider range of electronics. Announced in Manila on 10 December 2025, the expansion allows users to purchase laptops, tablets, and audio devices directly through the app using Billease’s instalment plans. The new inventory features major brands such as Acer, Apple, Asus, Lenovo, Samsung, JBL, and Harman Kardon. Kurt Molina, Head of POS Product at Billease, stated that the move was driven by user feedback.…

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has partnered with TikTok to launch a public education initiative aimed at combating financial scams and investment fraud. The SEC and ByteDance Philippines Inc. formalised the collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 9 December 2025 in Taguig City. SEC Commissioner Rogelio Quevedo highlighted the platform’s ability to engage the public through video, noting that preventing fraud is essential to maintaining investor confidence. “The MOU establishes a structured framework to educate Filipinos about common financial and investment scams by detecting, preventing, and removing such content, while boosting awareness of associated risks,” Quevedo…

Not long ago, banking in Asia Pacific meant standing in line at a branch, filling out slips of paper, and waiting patiently for transactions to be processed. Fraud, when it occurred, was relatively visible and often easier to contain, counterfeit notes, forged signatures, or cheque tampering were the risks banks kept a close watch on. Those threats were tangible, localised, and limited in scale. Fast forward to today, and the contrast is striking. Payments move at the speed of a tap, digital wallets are used as readily as cash once was, cross-border transactions settle in seconds, and modern AI agents…

The Consumer Lending Association of the Philippines (CLAP) is preparing to collaborate with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to curb rising financial fraud in the lending industry. The initiative aims to operationalise the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA), which CLAP President Arianne Ferrer designated as the group’s “first action item for next year.” “Many of us already have real-time fraud management systems (FMS) in place. Where the rules are applicable to us, I would say we have a commitment and a promise to comply,” Ferrer said. While the industry employs sophisticated fraud…

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has formalised a strategic partnership with Digital Edge (Singapore) Holdings Pte. Ltd. to migrate its IT production site to the NARRA1 data centre. The agreement was signed on 9 December 2025 in Manila. The move to NARRA1 is a key component of RCBC’s 2026 digital roadmap. Digital Edge describes the facility as the Philippines’ largest operating carrier-neutral data centre. By making this move, the bank intends to boost operational resilience and manage the surge in digital transactions. These steps are necessary as the local financial sector increasingly embraces AI and hybrid cloud technologies. RCBC Chief…

The way we pay has changed more in the past five years than in the previous fifty. But as real-time payments become the global standard, the industry is entering a new phase. In this interview, Fintech News Network’s Vincent Fong sits down with Hasan Khan, Business Head for Cards & Unsecured Lending at Trust Bank, to unpack what The Next Chapter in Payments looks like. They discuss why the industry’s obsession with “speed” is shifting toward “strategic friction” to combat the $4 billion lost to scams in Singapore. Hasan also reveals how Trust Bank utilizes cloud-native infrastructure to achieve the…

BDO Unibank, Inc. has joined forces with impact organisation HOPE to introduce the BDO HOPE Mastercard. The co-branded instrument aims to provide funding for education and sustainability projects. Officially introduced on 3 December 2025, the card seeks to transform routine purchases into social impact. It directs financial support from daily spending toward the construction of public school classrooms in the Philippines. Under the partnership, BDO has committed to contributing directly to the cause. For every PHP 1,000 of qualified spending made by cardholders, the bank will donate PHP 5 to HOPE. Furthermore, BDO will allocate a portion of the card’s…

GoTyme Bank as introduced a new crypto investment feature for its users in the Philippines. The launch is facilitated through a partnership with Alpaca, a global brokerage infrastructure provider. The new service, GoTyme Crypto, allows customers to invest in 11 different cryptocurrencies. They include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL). Powered by Alpaca’s Broker API, the feature is integrated directly into the GoTyme Bank app. Users can fund their dedicated crypto accounts using their existing GoTyme Bank Everyday current accounts. Nate Clarke, President and CEO of GoTyme Bank, stated that the launch is a step towards empowering Filipinos to…

Despite strong growth in digital payments and fintech’s continued dominance in the Philippine startup ecosystem, many opportunities remain, especially in person-to-government (P2G) payments, micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) financial services, and remittances, according to a new report by Gobi Partners, an Asia-focused venture capital (VC) firm headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, says. The report, released in November, looks at the Philippines’ startup ecosystem, exploring recent developments, emerging trends, and growth areas. It builds on prior editions and draws on publicly available data from sources such as Pitchbook, Dealroom, and CB Insights, and press announcements, as well as results from a…

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is moving to bolster the Philippines’ Islamic capital market by releasing draft guidelines on the issuance and disclosure of sukuk. The proposed framework aims to provide a clear regulatory environment ensuring Shari’ah compliance and investor protection. It introduces enhanced disclosure standards and governance mechanisms aligned with international practices. Sukuk refers to certificates of equal value representing an undivided interest in underlying assets or projects. Crucially, these instruments are structured to ensure strict adherence to Islamic principles. Under the draft rules, any sukuk intended for public offering must first be registered with the SEC. Following…

eTap Solutions, a Philippine operator of self-service payment kiosks, has announced plans to expand its service offerings and regional presence in 2026. The move aims to improve financial accessibility, particularly for communities that rely heavily on cash transactions. Founded in 2023, the company currently operates over 4,000 machines nationwide. These kiosks will facilitate services including e-wallet cash-ins and bill payments. They will be located in partner stores such as DALI, Alfamart, and Julie’s Bakeshop,  As of December 2025, the company reported serving over 12 million unique users. For the upcoming year, eTap Solutions will introduce cash-out machines, allowing users to…