Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) recorded steady financial performance and profits in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, supported by a growing loan portfolio. BusinessWorld highlighted this, reporting a 12% rise in net income to PHP 2.7 billion for the period. An analysis of the bank’s consolidated balance sheet shows total assets reached PHP 1.52 trillion by the end of March. The Q1 profits made by RCBC in 2026 were underpinned by robust credit expansion, with the gross total loan portfolio hitting PHP 786.89 billion. Meanwhile, deposit liabilities stood at PHP 972.03 billion, providing a stable funding base for the…

The Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is shifting its regulatory approach to address emerging structural risks in the digital lending and credit market. The regulator is advancing a preventive regulatory model through proposed guidelines for online lending platforms. The new framework aims to establish structured market entry, strengthen platform-level oversight, and enforce rules on data governance. Speaking at the 44th National Credit Congress in Pasay City, SEC Commissioner Javey Paul D. Francisco noted a sharp rise in consumer complaints related to the Philippines lending sector. These complaints primarily involve unregistered platforms, unfair debt collection practices, high interest rates, and…

UnionBank of the Philippines reported a net income of PHP 3.8 billion for the first quarter of 2026, marking a 167% increase from the same period last year. The surge in UnionBank Philippines Q1 profits was primarily driven by strong loan growth and higher digital transaction volumes. Net revenues reached PHP 21.7 billion, representing an 11.8% year-on-year increase. The bank also expanded its total customer base by 7.6% to reach 18.9 million users. Consumer lending, which makes up 60% of the bank’s total loan portfolio, saw unsecured products grow by 19.2% to PHP 153.1 billion. Institutional loans also expanded by…

Philippine National Bank (PNB) reported a net profits of PHP 6.37 billion for the first quarter, marking a 5% increase from the same period last year. According to a statement released by the bank, higher loan volumes and disciplined expense management drove the growth. A review of the 2026 data from the Philippine National Bank profits shows that net interest income rose by 6% to PHP 13.46 billion. Net service fees and commission income also grew by 6% to reach PHP 1.51 billion. The bank expanded its total loan portfolio by 15% year on year to PHP 755.87 billion, reflecting…

UnionBank of the Philippines has launched a fully digital onboarding feature for the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) on its mobile app. Developed in collaboration with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and ATRAM Trust Corporation, the feature allows users to open a voluntary retirement fund without submitting physical documents. The digital rollout addresses the need for supplementary retirement funds beyond mandatory state pension programmes like the Government Service Insurance System and the Social Security System. The new feature aims to boost UnionBank Philippines PERA savings by providing a secure and accessible platform for early financial planning. “By fully digitising…

Atome has partnered with payment aggregator Bayad to enable in-app bill payments for its users in the Philippines. The integration allows customers to settle essential expenses (including water, electricity, internet, and government contributions) directly within the Atome app. The move aims to streamline financial management by reducing the need to switch between multiple payment platforms. Users who process an Atome Philippines bill payment will also earn rewards points for their transactions. “Bayad is committed to democratising bill payment access across the Philippines,” said Lawrence Ferrer, President and CEO, Bayad. “This deep collaboration exemplifies how fintech innovation can really drive financial…

The Philippines and Indonesia have agreed to strengthen cross-border economic cooperation, focusing heavily on trade and financial connectivity. The commitment was made during the eighth Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation meeting in Jakarta, as reported by the Philippine News Agency. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono co-chaired the discussions. While the talks covered multiple diplomatic fronts, advancing digital financial integration emerged as a mutual priority. To support growing regional trade, the nations plan to improve the infrastructure for Philippines-Indonesia payments transactions. This move aligns with ongoing ASEAN initiatives aimed at linking domestic real-time payment…

The Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued advisories against eight unregistered cryptocurrency trading platforms for soliciting investments without the necessary licenses. Issued on 31 March 2026, the warnings cover Vest, Ostium, Deriv, Pacifica, Aevo, Orderly Network, dYdX, and gTrade. The regulator stated that these illegal crypto platforms allow investors in the Philippines to open accounts and trade digital assets and derivative instruments. However, the SEC noted that none of the eight operators is a registered corporation in the country. They also lack the authority to act as brokers or dealers under Section 28 of the Securities Regulation Code.…

GCash has blocked over 4,900 merchant accounts suspected of using a tactic known as “quishing” to steal payments and user data. Quishing, or QR phishing, involves fraudsters using manipulated QR codes to redirect consumers to malicious payment gateways. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas recently flagged the scheme as a growing threat in the digital payments sector. GCash noted that fraudsters in the Philippines carry out these scams by embedding fake QR codes into posters and receipts. Scanning these QR codes directs users to fake login pages that mimic official e-wallet or banking sites, potentially leading to unauthorised transfers or malware…

Metrobank has increased its daily transfer limit for InstaPay transactions to PHP 100,000, effective 22 April 2026. The adjustment doubles the previous daily cap of PHP 50,000. Customers can now complete higher-value transfers within a single day without needing to spread payments across multiple dates. While the daily aggregate cap has increased, the per-transaction limit remains at PHP 50,000. This setup allows users to make multiple transfers throughout the day to reach the new maximum. The bank noted that the Metrobank Philippines InstaPay limit adjustment aims to support customers managing urgent expenses, allowances, and small business payments. In addition to…

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and mobile wallet provider GCash have partnered to enable digital membership fee payments for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The GCash payment channel allows OFWs to maintain active welfare memberships from abroad using the app’s billing feature. An active membership provides access to emergency repatriation services, healthcare, legal assistance, and livelihood programmes. The payment option launched on 16 April 2026. GCash has waived transaction fees for the service for three months until 16 July 2026. To process a renewal, users navigate to the government biller section within the app, select OWWA, and enter their reference…

Netbank has secured Series B funding led by Altara Ventures to expand its licensed banking-as-a-service (BaaS) platform in the Philippines. The undisclosed round included full participation from existing investors BeeNext, Kaya Founders, January Capital, Oak Drive Ventures, and Boleh Ventures. Netbank operates an embedded finance platform under a full banking licence, providing accounts, payments, cards, and lending products to fintechs and digital platforms on a white-label basis. The funding follows a strong year for the company. Netbank reported an 88 percent year-on-year increase in revenue in FY2025. It also achieved profitability, launched card issuing, expanded its accounts-as-a-service business, and grew…

Malaysia is a global leader in Islamic finance. But are Islamic banks delivering the kind of digital experience customers now expect? In this Fintech News Network roundtable, senior leaders across Malaysia’s banking and fintech ecosystem debate the digital maturity of Islamic banking, the gaps that still remain, and where the biggest opportunities for innovation lie. The discussion covers UX, ethical banking, Sharia compliance, personalization, Islamic wealth management, financial literacy, cloud migration, legacy infrastructure, and what it will take to move from compliance to genuinely better customer experiences. Speakers featured: Dafinah Ahmed Hilmi, CEO, HLB Islamic Aizuddin Danian, Chief Personal Banking…

Philippines’ Salmon Group has raised US$100 million in funding through equity and bonds to strengthen its banking unit and expand lending, according to DealStreetAsia. The package includes US$60 million in equity and a US$40 million public bond under Salmon’s Nordic bond programme, priced at a 13.7% yield. Spice Expeditions anchored the equity round, with Washington University Investment Management Company, Moore Strategic Ventures, FJ Labs and existing investors also taking part. The equity proceeds will support product expansion, broader distribution and added capital at its banking business, while the bond proceeds are earmarked for lending growth. The bank said in March…

Ant International, International Finance Corp. (IFC), and GCash are developing a Sustainability Impact Scorecard. The GCash MSME sustainability scorecard will make it easier for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to track their environmental and social impact, easily adopt sustainability practices in business operations, and align with global standards. The scorecard aims to provide Filipino MSMEs with trusted, clear, and accessible pathways to measure sustainability performance, strengthen credibility, and unlock opportunities aligned with global ESG standards. By leveraging the GCash ecosystem and metrics curated towards the Philippine market, the MSME sustainability impact scorecard aims to empower local MSMEs with insights…

GoTyme Bank has launched PH Stocks, an in-app feature that lets its customers invest in companies listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) without going from one platform to another, according to the Daily Tribune. GoTyme Bank PH Stocks aims to help skip the need for multiple accounts and complex processes. It allows users to use a single platform to oversee their finances and investments. The feature works through DragonFi Securities, a licensed brokerage that is a PSE Trading Participant and also a member of the Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines, PDTC, and SIPF. PH Stocks will support long-term…

Skyro has expanded its payment network through a partnership with ECPay, allowing customers to settle their loans using only their mobile numbers. The integration connects Skyro customers to ECPay’s network of over 462,000 over-the-counter locations, 90 digital touchpoints, and 16,000 kiosks across the country. Borrowers can now process a Skyro payment via ECPay partners, which include digital wallets like GCash and PalawanPay, as well as 7-Eleven’s CLiQQ service. Customers can also make over-the-counter payments at pawnshops, remittance centres, and retail outlets including Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Express, Prince Retail, and LCC. “We hope that this partnership will make everyday transactions simpler,…

Igloo has outlined its 2026 strategy for the Philippines under newly appointed Country Head Ramjit Lahiri. The company said it will expand beyond embedded insurance distribution to position itself as a full-stack technology infrastructure provider for digital platforms and financial institutions in the market. The Philippines is one of Igloo’s fastest-growing markets. Since entering the country, it has partnered with more than 40 digital platforms and launched over 55 insurance products. A recent partnership with motorcycle ride-hailing platform Angkas provides personal accident insurance benefit of PHP 650,000 and medical coverage of PHP 200,000 to over 20,000 riders, for a minimum…

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is extending relief measures to supervised financial institutions and their clients following the declaration of a State of National Energy Emergency on 24 March 2026. Approved under Monetary Board Resolution No. 296, the BSP relief package aims to sustain lending and support borrower recovery. Previously reserved for states of calamity, these measures will remain available for one year from the emergency declaration date. Banks may now grant six-month grace periods for loan payments, while agricultural borrowers are eligible for deferments of up to one year. To maintain financial stability, these loans can be excluded…

Global insurtech Cover Genius has partnered with online travel agency Tongcheng Travel to launch embedded travel insurance in the Philippines and Malaysia. The deployment allows Tongcheng Travel to offer protection products directly within the booking journey for its international customers. The integration operates through Cover Genius’s digital distribution platform, XCover, which connects the two companies via a single API. For travel platforms expanding across borders, managing multiple regional insurers and varying regulatory frameworks presents an operational hurdle. This technical approach allows travel brands to add financial products without managing individual local relationships. It provides a scalable foundation for Tongcheng Travel…