Finance
EastWest Bank recognized at Asian Banking and Finance Awards 2024
For an innovative service that uses Facebook Messenger
EastWest Bank was recognized and awarded at the Asian Banking and Finance Awards 2024 for an innovative digital banking service that utilizes Facebook Messenger. The Philippines-based bank took home the Mobile Banking and Payment Initiative of the Year honor for its EastWest System Tech Assistant (ESTA).
This service was launched in 2020, and has since redefined the digital banking experience specifically for credit cardholders. The award ceremony took place last July 4, 2024 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center in Singapore.
Award-winning innovation
EastWest Bank’s ESTA leverages the power of Facebook Messenger, offering its credit card clients a platform to effortlessly perform a variety of services. While most businesses use Messenger only for basic customer service functions and inquiries, EastWest Bank’s innovation is the first of its kind in the Philippines. It offers full-service functionality tantamount to a mobile app or even a web portal.
Among ESTA’s key features are:
- real-time transaction and balance displays
- viewing of unbilled, current, and historical transactions
- limit increase requests
- supplementary cards
- points redemption
Additionally, customers may lock and unlock accounts in real-time for security purposes. They may likewise fulfill installment conversions immediately and update customer information on the spot.
Lastly, the platform allows for promotions search and display, submission of customer service support tickets, and querying of EastWest credit card product features and other information through ChatGPT.
ESTA’s effectiveness has garnered it a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 60 for credit card servicing and an impressive NPS of 81 for application onboarding. Its importance was highlighted further during the COVID-19 pandemic season, as it kept the bank’s credit card business ongoing.
Looking ahead, EastWest Bank is working on adapting more digital processes and services for the present age. Transitioning with improvements, upgrades, and updates will enhance the bank’s digital capabilities.
GCash is future-proofing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with new customer-first payment innovations. This, as the Philippines continues to become a digital payments nation.
The app expanded its suite of solutions to make digital payments more accessible, convenient, and secure for merchants.
Rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, GCash has payment devices designed for different business sizes and ways of operating.
One is the GCash EasyPOS, an all-in-one terminal for medium and even large enterprises. This accepts QRPh, Visa, and Mastercard payments and also supports features like digital receipts, refunds, settlements, and transaction monitoring.
Meanwhile, GCash SoundPay Plus is designed for micro and small merchants, specially in the retail and F&B sectors. It combines QR payments, card acceptance, and instant voice confirmation so merchants can immediately check when a payment pushes through.
The rollout of these two solutions builds on earlier solutions GCash introduced, including PocketPay and SoundPay.
PocketPay is designed for MSMEs, bazaar or pop-up merchants, and mobile sellers who take their products and services wherever their customers are.
It turns an NFC-enabled Android smartphone into a contactless card terminal. This makes payments easy and affordable — without investing in additional hardware.
SoundPay, meanwhile, is a portable QR payment device that provides instant voice confirmation for every transaction.
According to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), 57.4% of retail payment transactions by volume were made digitally in 2024.
The central bank is targeting a digital payment share of 60% to 70% by 2028, with businesses increasingly expected to support cashless transactions.
Finance
GoTyme Bank grows to 10 million users in the Philippines
Over US$ 859.4 million in customer deposits
GoTyme Bank has reached the 10 million-user milestone in the Philippines, one of its key markets.
A joint venture between the parent Tyme Group and the the local Gokongwei Group, the digital bank has officially grown to 10 million strong, its latest accomplishment after debuting in the country three years ago.
The milestone is backed by over PhP 53 billion (~859.4 million) in customer deposits and sustained engagement across the GoTyme Bank ecosystem.
A core driver of the bank’s rapid growth is its integration into users’ daily financial habits. GoTyme was the Most Used Visa Debit Card in the Philippines, based on Visa debit active usage data in 2025.
The bank has also offered free InstaPay transfers from the start (capped at 20 transactions a month) for greater flexibility. There are also more than 160 billers on the app.
Complementing the digital-first infrastructure is an extensive physical network. There are now more than 600 kiosks in major malls nationwide.
Customers can also conveniently deposit and withdraw cash through more than 2,500 Robinsons Retail store lanes. Cash deposit is also allowed through more than 4,500 7-Eleven stores nationwide.
Among GoTyme’s recent offerings is MoreTyme, a flexible, transparent, and easy-to-understand credit solution.
Through Visa, GoTyme also took part in FIFA World Cup 2026 campaigns, with raffle winners being flown to watch the matches live.
Finance
UnionDigital Bank, Chubb partner for accessible insurance protection
Chubb insurance products now integrated into UD app
UnionDigital Bank and Chubb Philippines have partnered to bring accessible insurance protection to Filipinos.
The strategic partnership integrates Chubb’s insurance solutions directly on the UD app. These comprehensive solutions will be seen among UD’s suite of financial products. That way, insurance protection becomes more accessible for consumers.
The two key insurance products in the initial rollout are Loan Protect Insurance and Kaya Protect Insurance.
The first product is automatically included for eligible UD loan borrowers at no additional cost for the first three months once the loan is approved.
In the event of accidental death, permanent disability, temporary disability, or death due to illness, Loan Protect Insurance pays up to the original loan amount to cover 100% of the customer’s outstanding loan balance.
Any remaining balance is released to beneficiaries. Loan Protect Insurance is currently available for loans up to PhP 30,000 with short-term repayment periods.
Meanwhile, Kaya Protect Insurance will be available soon. This provides personal accident and accidental death coverage up to PhP 150,000 and is activated automatically by maintaining a low minimum balance of PhP 100 in the insured’s savings account.
The partnership between UnionDigital Bank and Chubb aims to address the protection gap, as according to a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) survey, 48% of adult Filipinos are currently uninsured.
-
Hands-On2 weeks agoHands-on: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Flip8, Ultra
-
Gaming2 weeks agoNBA 2K27 cover athletes unveiled: Wemby, Clark, DRose
-
Cameras2 weeks agoSony announces new FX5 full-frame camera
-
Gaming2 weeks agoFINAL FANTASY X | X-2 HD Remaster launches on Nintendo Switch 2
-
Accessories2 weeks agoCASETiFY revives Spider-Man collection for Brand New Day
-
Automotive2 days agoVinFast debuts two-wheeler models, opens 21 e-motorcycle showrooms
-
Computers2 weeks agoAORUS MASTER 16 Gen 2 2026 AI gaming laptop launches
-
Computers6 days agoAMD launches Radeon RX 9050 graphics card

