Philippine National Bank (PNB) has enabled Google Pay for its Mastercard credit cards to facilitate contactless mobile payments, according to a press release from the company. The integration allows Android and Wear OS device owners to link their physical payment cards directly to the Google Wallet application. Customers can use this feature to tap and pay at any point of sale terminal that accepts near field communication transactions. The service also streamlines online shopping by allowing quick checkouts on supported digital platforms and e-commerce applications. The payment system uses tokenisation (a global standard that replaces sensitive account numbers with temporary…

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission will maintain its discounted filing fee programme to encourage micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to raise funds through the capital market. Regulatory officials confirmed the extension in an official press release outlining SEC Memorandum Circular Number 19. Eligible MSME applicants will continue receiving a 50% discount on their securities registration fees until 31 December 2026. The cost reduction applies to corporate public offerings and includes streamlined processes for power utilities, real estate developers, hospitals, and agricultural firms. Regulators have disbursed approximately PHP 139.6 million in financial relief since they first introduced the reduced…

Skyro has launched an AI chatbot to automate its initial line of customer support. The automated system handles inquiries in English and local dialects to assist users with their financial accounts. Customers use the chatbot to register requests, record payment commitments, cancel insurance services, and close credit contracts. Skyro developed the virtual assistant to scale its operations as executives project a 250% growth in the corporate user base this year. The technical integration reduced support costs per customer by 66% while processing over 200,000 application conversations every month. “The chatbot experience will always reflect the quality of customer care behind…

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has introduced new regulations to reduce digital transfer fees across the Philippines market while guaranteeing zero fee payments for small merchants, as reported by GMA News Online. Central bank officials issued Memorandum 2026-025 on June 17, 2026, lifting a long-standing pricing moratorium on the InstaPay and PESONet networks. Circular 1238 provisions within this policy shift dictate that financial institutions cannot charge small merchants for receiving electronic payments. Regulators aim to accelerate cashless transaction adoption among domestic businesses by removing these processing overheads completely. Financial institutions must now base interbank transaction charges on actual processing costs…

Interpol has issued a global red notice against Maria Francesca Tan as the authorities suspect her of orchestrating large-scale investment scams. Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission officials formally requested this international alert. Regulators intend to bring the executive before local courts to face these allegations. Global law enforcement agencies must now locate the MFT Group of Companies’ chief executive officer. Officers will provisionally arrest her while preparing for formal extradition proceedings. Tan currently faces an active arrest warrant from the Taguig City Regional Trial Court. Most of it is for suspected violations of the Securities Regulation Code and the Cybercrime…

Philippine insurtech firm RuralNet has processed more than PHP 400 million in digital microinsurance claims, covering 33,000 payouts across the country. The milestone precedes a scheduled expansion into natural calamity protection by the third quarter of 2026, which aims to shield underserved communities from climate volatility. The upcoming rollout responds to an advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration regarding the onset of El Niño conditions. RuralNet operates an API driven platform that currently protects over 6 million Filipinos through distribution partnerships with rural banks, cooperatives, and microfinance institutions. The company has established a presence in 81…

K2 Investments has provided new capital to Tonik Digital Bank as part of an ongoing pre-Series C funding round, according to a report by DealStreetAsia. The companies did not disclose the exact financial details or structure of the transaction. Former CVC Capital Partners executive Krzysztof Krawczyk managed the investment vehicle and has now joined the digital bank board of directors. Krawczyk previously spent over two decades at CVC Capital Partners, where he managed major investments across Central and Eastern Europe. The fresh funding arrives as Tonik Digital Bank prepares for its next growth phase after reporting cash flow profitability in…

UnionDigital Bank has partnered with Chubb to launch a complimentary insurance protection programme for its digital loan customers. The initiative aims to address financial risks and improve financial inclusion in a market where almost half of all Filipinos remain uninsured, according to a company press release. Eligible borrowers receive automatic coverage upon loan approval without any additional fees or extra enrolment steps. The UD Loan Protect programme covers up to 100% of the principal loan amount if a user suffers an accidental death. Chubb will also settle outstanding balances for customers who experience permanent disablement while the loan remains active.…

PNB Securities has partnered with Manulife Investment Management and Trust Corporation to expand its investment trust fund offerings, as reported by BusinessWorld. The collaboration allows the brokerage arm of the Philippine National Bank to offer its clients a wider range of financial products. Users can now access global and local market opportunities through the newly integrated unit investment trust fund options. The integration targets retail investors looking to diversify their wealth portfolios across different asset classes and geographic regions. Manulife will serve as the fund manager for the new products available directly on the digital trading platforms of the bank.…

BPI Direct BanKo and Jollibee Group Foundation have launched a targeted microfinance loan programme to support Filipino onion farmers with accessible credit. As first reported by Jollibee Group, the initiative operates under the Farmer Financing Program of the microfinance arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands. It aims to help agricultural workers secure capital for seeds, fertilisers, and farming equipment without relying on informal lenders who often charge high interest rates. Eligible applicants must first be between 23 and 67 years old. They should also own a mobile phone and possess a clear credit bureau record. Farmers can use…

On Wednesday, the board members of Mynt, the parent company of GCash, officially authorised the filing of a potential initial public offering (IPO) on the Philippine Stock Exchange, as first reported by The Business Times and InsiderPH. “The authorisation of our board and shareholders allows us to work towards a potential public listing as the next step in Mynt’s growth journey,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of Mynt. This corporate step paves the way for the firm to file an IPO prospectus, which reportedly could happen as early as this month. The terms of the offer will be equivalent…

Tendo has appointed former eTap Solutions President and CEO, Carlo Roberto Hernandez, as its new Head of Business Development, according to his personal LinkedIn profile. Hernandez stepped down from his position at kiosk network provider eTap Solutions on June 15 after an eight-year tenure. He initially joined the company as its twelfth employee and helped scale the physical fintech distribution network to over 1200 staff members. The incoming executive will work closely with the management team to expand corporate partnerships for the Tonik subsidiary. Tendo offers financial wellness products designed to help employers improve staff retention and overall workforce resilience.…

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has issued Memorandum No. M-2026-023 to outline strict due diligence expectations for crypto token listing and delisting activities. The regulation directs all virtual asset service providers to set up comprehensive accreditation processes before supported assets can be traded. BSP’s expectations are organised into six distinct evaluation pillars to align with international best practices. Under the first three pillars, virtual asset platforms must closely evaluate the corporate background of the issuer, total market capitalisation, and specific product use cases. Providers are also required to ensure project whitepapers remain readily accessible to retail consumers. The remaining pillars…

Malayan Insurance is expanding its digital distribution channels in the Philippines by embedding microinsurance products into lifestyle applications like GCash and Lazada. Premium production on Lazada grew by more than 300% as of April 2026 compared to the previous year. Customer reach on this e-commerce platform also exceeded full-year 2025 levels by over 20%. Malayan Insurance initially launched a death benefit and funeral expense product called Family Relief on both platforms in 2023. Management subsequently expanded the product lineup to include travel, medical, and personal protection policies between 2024 and 2025. Head of Affinity, Alfie Paulino, stated that this digital…

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) stated it has restored access to its online banking app following a prolonged service disruption. Local news outlet ABS CBN initially reported the system outage that began over the weekend. Management attributed the initial downtime to unexpected network connectivity issues that affected digital systems. The financial institution announced that mobile services became available again early Tuesday morning. However, some users are still facing problems as the bank warned of slower response times due to high transaction volumes. Technical teams are monitoring the platform to stabilise performance and progressively restore full online banking capabilities. Automated…

MariBank has officially launched its first credit card in the Philippines to offer users flexible payment options. Company President Siew Ghee Kung Lim announced the rollout on social media and noted that the product builds upon the existing debit offering of the rural bank. Customers can upgrade their existing debit accounts to a credit facility while retaining their original card number and security code. This integration effectively creates a single physical card that can switch seamlessly between debit and credit modes. The financial product retains the core benefits of the original debit version, including zero annual fees, a 1% base…

UnionBank recorded the highest volume of Visa payments in the Philippines for 2025 after reaching two million credit cards in circulation. This development reflects a shift among consumers toward digital credit transactions for everyday expenses. The recent growth in card distribution was driven by digital onboarding processes that expanded consumer access to credit. UnionBank Head of Cards and Loans Mukul Sukhani stated that the bank aims to support customers with practical transaction tools. “As more Filipinos become mindful on how they manage their budgets, this recognition highlights the growing importance of secure and flexible payment options in daily life,” he…

Maya has introduced a new feature called Mini Payments to allow credit card users to convert eligible purchases into a monthly instalment plan, as per InsiderPH. The financial service reflects growing consumer demand for greater flexibility when managing larger purchases and household budgets. Cardholders can split qualifying transactions into up to 12 monthly payments at a fixed 1% monthly interest rate. The new tool caters specifically to Maya Black Credit Card and Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card holders. Users can convert eligible posted purchases into a monthly payment plan directly within the mobile application. The feature enables consumers to decide…

Security Bank Corporation announced that its Wholesale Banking Head, John Cary Ong, has officially stepped down from his position, BusinessWorld reported. President and Chief Executive Officer Victor Lee Meng Teck thanked the executive for his meaningful contributions to the business franchise. Lee will temporarily oversee the segment alongside other senior executives to ensure business continuity across corporate operations. The interim leadership team includes Alliance Segment Head Hirofumi Umeno and Corporate Banking Head Yvonne Marcelo. Commercial Banking Head Jorge Lindley Ong and Capital Investment President Virgilio Chua will also support the transitional management structure. Lee emphasised that the corporate division remains…

Tonik announced two new board members appointments, including a key leadership role in the Philippines. Dan Pasko officially joins the main board of Tonik Financial Pte Ltd to provide strategic guidance. Pasko brings two decades of private equity experience to the financial technology firm. His capital discipline will support the digital bank as it scales its operations toward a future liquidity event. Meanwhile, Cristina Harea assumes the role of chairperson for the regulated Tonik bank subsidiary in the Philippines. Harea previously served as the deputy governor of the National Bank of Moldova. The appointment of a former central banker of…