Eastwest continues to make banking easier as its EastWest Debit Card is now on Google Pay. This enables users to pay with just the tap of their phone.

The integration brings a globally accepted payment experience closer to home. With Google Pay now supporting EastWest Debit Cards, customers can add their card to Google Wallet to enjoy fast, seamless, and secure payments.

That’s whether for everyday purchases, online shopping, or even when traveling overseas. Specifically for Eastwest Priority clients who travel frequently, Visa Infinite Debit Cardholders can enjoy more benefits, like:

• Low foreign exchange fees of 1.7% (with no foreign exchange bank conversion fees promo until March 31)
• Waived interbank domestic withdrawal fees
• Up to 10 free international ATM withdrawals per year (with free and unlimited international ATM withdrawals promo until March 31)
• 24/7 access to Visa Infinite Concierge

From casual cafe purchases to grocery checkouts and even online purchases and international trips, having EastWest on Google Pay transforms the smartphone into a secure, all-in-one wallet.

As with other banks offering the same capabilities, users do not need to carry their physical card with them anymore. A simple tap with a compatible Android device or wearable completes the transaction.

EastWest’s Debit Cards are powered by Visa, and are accepted at millions of merchants worldwide.

Dreaming of a holiday abroad but worried about hidden costs eating into your budget?

This Christmas season, overseas vacations are always a great idea — whether it’s solo or a group trip with friends, or with loved ones and family.

Exploring new food, culture, and shopping abroad is the ultimate reward for a year’s hard work.

However, airfare, accommodation, and other expenses can quickly make such trips costly. Add to that extra charges, like transaction fees and fluctuating conversion rates.

Thankfully, there are several ways to make every peso count when traveling. Wise, a global technology company, offers smart tips to spend and manage money internationally better so you can make your trip more affordable and enjoyable.

Track your expenses

The simplest way to build up for a long-awaited holiday trip is to budget ahead and start saving as soon as you can.

You can start by tracking your daily expenses with budgeting apps. You’ll see how small purchases add up, giving you the awareness to budget more effectively.

For instance, daily spending habits like buying coffee outside can add up quickly. A PhP 200 coffee a day at a major chain equals PhP 6,000 a month, or even PhP 72,000 annually. That’s more than enough for a three-day family trip to your dream destination.

Outside of travel, that can become your funds for Christmas gifts, new clothes, and further treats for yourself.

Deposit travel savings into a separate account

Knowing that you will travel in the future, the next step is to decide where to keep it. You can transfer a portion of your 13th month pay or Christmas bonus to a separate account to grow your travel fund.

This is where Wise comes in handy. For travels, it holds money in more than 40 currencies. The Wise Jar feature also helps users organize money for different trips. It’s a great way to protect funds, stay consistent, and prevent overspending.

Once you’ve secured your travel fund, the next challenge is making sure you spend it wisely abroad.

Prioritize experiences over expenses

A simple mindset of valuing experiences and creating memories over material things like souvenirs can go a long way.

Sure, happiness looks different for everyone, but there are several budget-friendly activities abroad that offer the authentic experience. There are free walking tours and tourist pass bundles for a lower price.

And with just your smartphone or portable camera, those moments will stay with you long after the trip ends.

Be wise with payments

Moreover, it’s easily tempting to use a credit card and pay in pesos when buying goods or shopping internationally. However, while that sounds convenient at first, you could incur additional fees without even realizing it.

Traditional cards charge up to 3% in foreign transaction fees. Plus, conversion rates always fluctuate. Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) fees when paying via merchants’ POS or withdrawing cash at foreign ATMs also hurt as they’re usually marked up.

Fortunately, the Wise multi-currency card lets users hold and spend in 40+ currencies at the mid-market exchange rate, minus hidden fees. It allows you to spend like a local and bypass foreign transaction fees.

For instance, a smartwatch priced at US$ 85 could cost you PhP 5,100 if you pay in pesos. But if you pay in USD using Wise’s mid-market rate, you’d spend only around PhP 5,004.8. This allows you to save roughly PhP 100 on a single purchase.

Multiply that across meals, shopping, transport, and other daily expenses and you could save thousands in a single holiday.

Tap to pay when abroad

Lastly, and as mentioned above, the Wise card can be added to your Google Wallet. This makes it seamless for travelers to pay abroad.

Not only can you pay in over 40 currencies at the real exchange rate without extra fees, but you don’t have to carry a physical card either. You just need an Android phone or smartwatch to pay.

To add a Wise card to Google Wallet and pay with Google Pay, customers can:

1. Open the Wise app
2. Tap the Card tab to view all available cards
3. Select their card to add, then tap “Add to Google Pay.”

Ready to travel smart this holiday season? Download Wise now and make your dream trip happen — without hidden costs.

All-in-one digital bank Maya is urging Filipinos to make their bonus work smarter, grow faster, and set them up strong for 2026.

As it is already the Christmas season, most Filipino professionals have just received or will be receiving their 13th month pay. But before that disappears into holiday hauls, Maya has tips so users be on top of their finances.

Give your extra money an assignment

Bonuses aren’t a windfall; it’s a strategy. Before anything else, Filipinos should give every peso a purpose.

A simple split could look like this:

• 50% bills and responsibilities
• 30% for fun
• 20% for savings and investments

For payments, it makes sense to use Maya. This holiday season, the banking app has a TWINYONARYOS promo wherein a user and a chosen referral can both win PhP 1 million each.

Park money for the future

Those who already have a Maya account can also take advantage of Maya Savings, where money can grow with up to 15% p.a. interest credited daily.

Then, build structure with Maya Personal Goals. Users can create five different goal accounts on the app, each earning 4% base interest. The rate also increases every PhP 20,000 added.

But for those who wants bonus to grow steadily and predictably, Time Deposit Plus comes in handy. Lock money for 3, 6, or 12 months with guaranteed rates of up to 6% p.a. on deposits up to PhP 1 million per TDP account.

Build a buffer for life’s curveballs

Lastly, users can boost their emergency fund using Maya Savings or set up a dedicated Personal Goal just for emergencies.

Maya Easy Credit also gives instant access to funds with no paperwork or collateral so you don’t have to touch your hard-earned savings when things get tough.