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…

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…