GoTyme Bank has announced a new promotional campaign offering customers the chance to win a trip to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™. The promo, which runs from 12 December 2025 to 7 January 2026, is open to all eligible accountholders residing in the Philippines. To participate, users must transact using their GoTyme Visa Physical Debit Card or Virtual Card and formally opt in by submitting a completed consent form available on the bank’s official channels. The raffle mechanism rewards higher spending, particularly for international transactions. Users earn one raffle entry for every PHP 1,000 spent in a single-receipt…

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has introduced a new initiative allowing employees to donate their vacation leave credits to colleagues suffering from serious medical conditions. Launched in December 2025, the Leave Donation Program establishes a centralised pool managed by the bank’s Human Resources department. Employees diagnosed with any of the 14 specified “dread diseases”, which include cancer, stroke, renal failure, and major cardiac conditions, can apply for these credits. The aim is to support staff who require extended time off for treatment, hospitalisation, or recovery. Gina Eala, BPI Chief Human Resource Officer, stated that the initiative aims to…

Visa Philippines is accelerating the rollout of its tap-to-pay services in 7-Eleven stores nationwide, targeting availability in approximately 1,000 branches by the end of 2025. The payment solutions provider aims to cover the majority of the chain’s nearly 3,000 outlets by the first quarter of 2026. Currently, about 700 7-Eleven locations, primarily in Metro Manila, accept Visa card payments. This expansion follows a pilot run in 11 branches, signalling confidence in the system’s stability. Jeffrey Navarro, Visa Philippines Country Manager, stated that the goal is to reach substantial coverage by March 2026. “We’re trying to see if we can do…

Philippine insurer Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. has entered into a partnership agreement with Top Bank Philippines, Inc. to provide financial solutions to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), agri-entrepreneurs, and other professional groups. The agreement was signed on 17 December 2025 at the Makati Diamond Residences. Under the deal, Top Bank Philippines will integrate insurance products into its existing banking services, aiming to expand financial protection for its diverse client base. The collaboration brings together Sun Life Grepa’s insurance expertise and Top Bank’s community network. Sun Life Grepa President Richard Lim described the move as a response to the…

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has announced plans to consolidate its thrift banking operations by merging BPI Direct BanKo Inc. (BanKo) and Legazpi Savings Bank Inc., with BanKo serving as the surviving entity. In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Thursday, the Ayala-led lender confirmed that its board of directors had approved the proposal. The move is designed to streamline the group’s structure and enhance financial stability. “A merger between the two BPI subsidiaries will result in a stronger and more resilient capital structure for the combined entity, leading to a more efficient use of capital,” BPI…

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has collaborated with global risk intelligence firm TrustDecision to launch a new Fraud Risk Management and Anti Money Laundering platform. The partnership was officially unveiled on 16 December 2025 at the RCBC Collaboration Hub in Taguig City. As digital transactions become the norm in the Philippines, the bank aims to bolster its defences against the growing threats of cyber fraud and money laundering. Lito Villanueva, Executive Vice President and Chief Innovations and Inclusion Officer at RCBC, noted that the platform aligns with the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act of 2024 (AFASA). “This is why our collaboration…

Salmon Group has partnered with LenderLink, a Philippine-based credit data exchange platform, to enhance its lending capabilities through real-time data sharing. The collaboration marks one of the first integrations by a local fintech group into a secure, consent-based credit exchange system. Through this partnership, Salmon aims to utilise real-time data to support safer lending practices, particularly during peak spending periods. The integration, completed in four weeks using LenderLink’s API-first architecture, allows the company to manage default risks while helping consumers avoid over-indebtedness. Raffy Montemayor, Co-Founder of Salmon, stated that the move strengthens the company’s commitment to responsible lending. “Access to…

Passengers on the EDSA Busway can now pay their fares via QR codes following the official launch of the cashless transaction system by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and GCash today. DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez, who attended the event, emphasised that the initiative aims to enable faster and more seamless payment of fares. Under the new system, commuters simply need to open their GCash app and scan the QR codes displayed on the buses. The DOTr and GCash have posted instructional tarpaulins at various busway stations to assist first-time users. “This cashless payment is a major method so we…

Maya has collaborated with Dragonpass to integrate global airport lounge access directly into its app for Maya Black Credit Card holders. The partnership marks the first time a Philippine fintech platform has embedded such a feature via API. This integration allows users to enter participating lounges worldwide without downloading a separate application. To use the service, cardholders select the ‘Lounge Access’ tile within the Maya app to generate a QR code. This code is then used to grant entry to participating lounges. The benefit includes one complimentary lounge pass per quarter, valid at participating airports both in the Philippines and…

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has formalised changes to its intraday settlement facility, allowing banks to automatically access central bank funds to cover queued or expected outgoing payments. The move aims to ensure a smoother flow of liquidity through the domestic payment system. Memorandum M-2025-039 outlines amendments to the manual of regulations for payment systems. These updates give regulatory force to the automation of the Intraday Settlement Facility (ISF). The ISF is a liquidity mechanism that allows eligible participants to obtain funds from the BSP through a sale and repurchase (repo) agreement. This process prevents gridlocks caused by timing…

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has received approval from the Department of Finance (DOF) to simplify reporting requirements for micro-enterprises, allowing them to submit certified financial statements instead of audited ones. In a press release issued on 15 December 2025, the Commission announced that it released draft rules on 9 December for public comment regarding amendments to the Revised SRC Rule 68. The proposal seeks to raise the audit threshold, exempting stock and non-stock corporations with total assets or liabilities not exceeding PHP 3 million from the mandatory submission of audited financial statements. Currently, only corporations with assets or…

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…