Cebuana Lhuillier and digital bank Maya have partnered to introduce ‘Easy Loan,’ a flexible 30-day credit line designed to provide Filipinos with access to funds of up to PHP 30,000. The product combines Cebuana Lhuillier’s nationwide branch network with Maya’s digital platform. ‘Easy Loan’ functions as a revolving, multipurpose credit line, giving users repeat access to funds for daily needs, bills, or unexpected expenses. The collaboration aims to bridge traditional microfinance with digital banking to improve access to financial services. “Through Easy Loan, we’re making it simpler and faster for Filipinos to access much-needed funds, whether for daily essentials or…

Across Southeast Asia, SMEs make up over 97% of all businesses and drive the majority of employment. Yet access to credit remains a challenge, particularly for smaller and non-collateral borrowers. For lenders, the opportunity is huge — but only if they can scale operations quickly, manage risk effectively, and deliver services efficiently. Esquire Financing Inc., one of the Philippines’ largest non-bank financial institutions, faced exactly this challenge. Serving over 27,000 entrepreneurs with flexible, non-collateral business loans, Esquire had the market demand but was held back by operational bottlenecks, slow loan approvals, and aging, siloed technology. Choosing a Partner for Scalable…

Global cross-border payments platform Wise has now fully integrated with the Philippines’ online payment systems, gaining access to the PESONet gateway. This follows its previous integration with the real-time transfer service InstaPay and direct settlement through the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) PhilPaSS Plus system. Wise is integrating with PESONet to remove limits and delays when its customers send large sums of money for purposes such as overseas tuition or remittances. Wise stated that its direct connections with local payment systems have reduced fund transfer costs, with fees for a PHP 50,000 transfer to a US dollar account dropping by…

The Philippines has been officially removed from the European Union’s (EU) list of countries considered to have a high risk for money laundering and terrorism financing. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has vowed to continue strengthening safeguards against financial crimes following the decision. The country has now made its third major exit from an international watchlist this year. The move was made official when the corresponding EU regulation took effect on August 5. It follows the Philippines’ removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “grey list” in February and the United Kingdom’s high-risk list in March. The country…

E-commerce platform Shopee has announced the launch of a new accelerator programme designed to help high-potential Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) scale their online businesses. The company is expanding its existing Shopee Tatak Pinoy programme with this initiative, which it is launching as part of its 10th anniversary in the Philippines. The Shopee Tatak Pinoy: Sibol Accelerator Program (SAP) is a structured, six-month growth initiative that will provide selected sellers with personalised mentorship, access to Shopee experts, and targeted support. The pilot cohort, which begins in the fourth quarter of 2025, will be by invitation only and will…

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued an advisory warning the public against investing in GAINEXPRESS, an entity soliciting investments online under the direction of an individual named Geronimo Servande. The commission has identified the operation as an unauthorised investment scheme. According to the SEC, GAINEXPRESS offers several investment plans through online platforms, promising returns as high as 8% daily profit or up to 270% in 24 days, with minimum investments as low as PHP 500. The SEC has classified these plans as investment contracts, which are a form of security. Companies must register these securities with the commission…

GCash has officially launched its new ‘Tap to Pay’ feature at a “GCash Spotlight” event in Taguig City. The new service allows users to complete transactions by tapping their device or card, without the need for a signature or PIN. The feature utilises near-field communication (NFC) technology, which allows users to pay at Mastercard-enabled terminals. GCash’s partnerships with Alipay+ and Mastercard enable this capability both in the Philippines and overseas. Ferdie Perez, Product Innovation Head at GCash operator G-Xchange Inc., said the Tap to Pay feature aims to provide users with more convenient payment options. The programme featured interactive segments…

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a statement to clarify the enforcement of its new Rules on Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASP Rules), which took effect on 5 July 2025. The advisory reiterates that the rules apply to all entities, both local and foreign, that offer crypto-asset services to people in the Philippines. The SEC clarified that the CASP Rules do not prohibit cryptocurrency trading or investment. Instead, the regulations require platforms to obtain the appropriate registration and licences before offering their services in the country. According to the commission, these rules are to protect investors, uphold…

While the Philippines has made progress in financial inclusion, a significant portion of the population remains underserved. According to the World Bank’s 2025 Global Findex, only 50.2% of Filipino adults had a financial account in 2024. Fintech AI company Trusting Social is addressing this gap by providing alternative credit scoring to help lenders reach the country’s underbanked population. The Vietnam-based company utilises an AI-driven platform that analyses masked, anonymised, and aggregated telco data to assess an individual’s creditworthiness. Filipinos who lack a formal banking history, including those in remote provinces, can now access formal credit. Lenders are able to offer…

Maya has announced it will comply with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) directive to remove in-app links that connect users to online gambling applications. The move follows a similar announcement from GCash, as the central bank takes action to delink payment apps from gaming websites. In an advisory, Maya stated that it will disable access to gaming sites and apps through the “Games feature” on its app, effective from 8 PM on Saturday, August 16. Until that deadline, customers can withdraw any remaining funds from their linked gaming accounts back to their Maya Wallet using the in-app Games feature.…

GCash has announced it will fully comply with a new Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) directive mandating the suspension of in-app access to gaming services. The e-wallet operator will implement the necessary changes within 48 hours. It is in line with BSP Memorandum No. M-2025-029, which applies to all BSP-supervised institutions. The primary change for users will be the suspension of access to gaming platforms through GLife. GLife is a marketplace feature within the GCash app. This will take effect after 8 PM on Saturday, August 16. GCash has advised users on how to manage their funds in light of…

The Philippine crypto platform Coins.ph has officially integrated Polkadot Asset Hub to enable faster and more cost-effective stablecoin transfers for its users. The move allows users to send, receive, and transfer stablecoins such as USDT and USDC with lower fees and quicker transaction times compared to traditional blockchain networks. Coins.ph is integrating the Polkadot Asset Hub to improve transaction efficiency and provide users with access to the growing Polkadot Web3 ecosystem. The hub is a specialised blockchain that its creators built specifically for stablecoins and other fungible assets. “At Coins.ph, we’re committed to making crypto more practical for everyday use,”…

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has ordered e-wallets, payment applications, and other supervised financial institutions to remove all in-app links and icons that redirect to online gambling platforms. Financial companies have 48 hours to comply with the new directive, which BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan announced during a Senate hearing today, August 14. The move comes amid growing concerns over the social costs of online gambling and as the Senate begins deliberations on several bills that propose to either ban or more strictly regulate the industry. The integration of online gambling into popular e-wallets has facilitated its rapid growth. In…

Digital bank Maya and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) have partnered to launch the “Championing the Pinoy Athlete” programme, an initiative designed to modernise and support the local sports community. The collaboration aims to digitalise several of the PSC’s core processes. A key feature of the partnership is the automation of allowance disbursements to athletes and coaches through Maya’s platform. The programme will also establish a transparent digital system for National Sports Associations that aims to improve governance and accountability within the sports community. Beyond operational changes, the initiative will promote financial wellness for athletes, coaches, and PSC employees. Maya…

The Palawan Group of Companies recently marked its 40th anniversary with a two-day event in Quezon City to honour its key business partners, suppliers, and stakeholders. During the celebration, the company announced the rebranding of its business-to-business (B2B) arm and unveiled several upcoming financial service innovations. The company’s B2B unit has been officially rebranded as Palawan for Business. Looking ahead, President and CEO Karlo M. Castro introduced new initiatives for the company’s next phase of transformation. “We are proud to introduce Pera Padala Abroad, Project Voyager, and VISA Direct, solutions designed to integrate the digital and physical, and respond to…

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) and Capital A’s AirAsia rewards have partnered to launch the new AirAsia Platinum Credit Card, offering a range of travel-focused benefits. The launch also includes enhancements to the partnership’s existing classic credit card variant. The new platinum card provides travel insurance coverage of up to PHP 5 million for incidents such as accidents, trip disruptions, and baggage delays. Cardholders are also entitled to a preferential foreign exchange conversion fee of 1.85% on international purchases, both in-store and online. Other benefits include free access for the principal cardholder to the PAGSS International Lounge at NAIA Terminal…

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have launched a new web-based credit scoring system to help banks and other lenders better evaluate the creditworthiness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The BSP and JICA developed the Credit Risk Database Philippines (CRDPh) System, an automated online platform, using anonymised financial and non-financial data that 33 pioneer financial institutions submitted. Using statistical models, it generates a probability of default and a credit score for SME borrowers. This initiative is the second phase of a BSP-JICA project that began in 2020 and is the first adoption…

Filipino traders work around a simple reality. Prices move at different speeds across the day, costs stack up in small ways, and stable tools matter more than flashy features. A clean setup, clear records, and calm execution usually beat noise. What a Platform Actually Does A platform shows prices, accepts orders, and records what happened. Charts, order tickets, and account reports are the core. When people say forex trading platform, they usually mean software that makes those three jobs easy to do at the exact times they trade. Everything else is secondary. Local Rhythm and Timing Philippine time sits with…

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has appointed career central banker Lyn Javier as the new Deputy Governor for its Financial Supervision Sector (FSS). BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. administered her oath of office on August 11. Javier succeeds Chuchi Fonacier, who retired earlier in the month. As head of the FSS, Javier will now oversee the regulation and supervision of banks, financial technology firms, and other financial institutions under the central bank’s jurisdiction. In a statement, the BSP said that “Deputy Governor Javier will lead the BSP in supervising banks and other financial institutions under its jurisdiction, in line…

For the first time, the Philippine government’s Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs) have been made available on an e-wallet platform. The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) has partnered with GCash to offer its 31st RTB issuance to small investors through the GBonds feature within the GCash app. The five-year RTB 31 has a coupon rate of 6%. Following strong investor demand during its rate-setting auction, the BTr ultimately sold PHP 210 billion of the securities, up from an initial plan to issue PHP 30 billion. Through the GBonds feature, GCash users can invest a minimum of PHP 5,000 with no extra…