Visa and UMSI advance financial inclusion with new payment innovation for Filipino SMEs

UMSI has launched U Accept, an innovation powered by Visa that transforms a smartphone into a digital payment acceptance tool, enabling micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines to receive card and other contactless payment methods

Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, and USSC Money Services, Inc. (UMSI), one of the largest one-stop shops for financial services in the Philippines, are ushering in a new era of payments digitalization with the launch of U Accept, an innovative payment solution that empowers micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to securely accept contactless card payments using an eligible smartphone.

The Top Things Filipinos Are Saving For—and Why They Matter

When people talk about saving money, they usually talk about numbers: how much they've managed to set aside, how much interest they're earning, how much more they need before they reach their goal. But behind every savings account is usually something much bigger: a long-awaited trip, a child's education, a first home, an emergency fund, or simply the peace of mind that comes from knowing you're financially prepared.

A look at anonymized and aggregated savings data from Maya, the country's leading financial services platform, shows that while financial priorities differ across stages of life, many of the reasons people save are surprisingly universal.  Across generations, they aren't simply putting money away—they're building toward the lives they want.

InLife bags twin awards at Insurance Asia Awards

InLife Executive Chairperson Nina D. Aguas and Vice Chairperson Luis C. la Ò hold the trophies from Insurance Asia Awards. With them are the members of the InLife Board of Trustees (From left): President and CEO Raoul Antonio E. Littaua, Atty. Victor P. Lazatin, Mona Lisa B. dela Cruz, Marietta C. Gorrez, Maria Noemi G. Azura, Gemilo J. San Pedro, and Justo A. Ortiz.

First and largest Filipino life insurer InLife received two awards at the Insurance Asia Awards in Singapore: its 10th Domestic Life Insurer of the Year – Philippines recognition and the Brand Transformation – Philippines award, affirming its commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and purposeful growth.

EastWest Priority puts deeper client relationships at the heart of wealth management

In wealth management, success for both client and bank is built through everyday conversations, advice shaped around real client needs, and relationships grounded in trust, understanding, and long-term stewardship.

For EastWest Priority, the wealth management segment of EastWest, this client-first approach has earned recognition from regional and global award-giving bodies. These distinctions reflect its efforts to make priority banking more personal, insight-led, and accessible for today’s affluent Filipinos.

EastWest Priority has received consecutive recognition for its client experience and banking proposition. It was named Outstanding Client Experience in Wealth Management at the Global Private Banking Innovation Awards in both 2025 and 2026, Best Priority Banking Experience at the International Finance Magazine Awards for three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025, and Best Private Bank by Global Finance in 2024 and 2025. Most recently, EastWest Priority was named Best Private Bank – Domestic at the FinanceAsia Awards 2026.

Security Bank and Pays0 partner to help businesses accept payments and move money more efficiently

Seated from left to right: Franco Tristan Corral, SAVP and Commercial Banking Deposit Team Head; Leslie Cham, EVP and Branch Banking Group Segment Head; Jing Luo, Founder and CEO of Pays0 Inc.; and Atty. Timothy Francis T. Yee, Director of Pays0 Inc, at the Memorandum of Agreement signing ceremony.

From accepting online payments to paying suppliers and employees, businesses need money to move quickly and reliably. Security Bank and Pays0 Inc., a licensed Electronic Money Issuer (EMI) and payment solutions provider, have partnered to help businesses do exactly that. 

Double the Win: Two-for-One Money Habits That Grow Your Wealth Without Feeling Like a Sacrifice

Forget strict self-denial. Being "good with money" no longer means resisting the urge to ‘add to cart’ and having to choose between spending, saving, or investing. Today’s smartest financial habits are about making one decision that accomplishes two goals at once.

Two-fold financial habits create simple, intentional routines in which every financial move sparks another win – like treating yourself to a long-awaited purchase while automatically funding your future. In fact, saving and investing don't just pay off in the long run. They can also turn every deposit into an instant thrill today. Have PHP 1,000 to save? What if it could win you a brand-new motorcycle or laptop?

If you want to make your money work twice as hard and score epic prizes while doing it, here are habits to help you spend smarter, grow your wealth, and even get rewarded along the way:

EastWest launches ECHO, AI-powered chatbot for business owners

Helping entrepreneurs access cash management solutions with greater ease and confidence

As more Filipino entrepreneurs turn to digital channels to manage and grow their businesses, they increasingly need quick, reliable access to information and solutions that can help them manage day-to-day financial operations efficiently. To support this, East West Banking Corporation (EastWest) launched ECHO (EastWest CMS Help Officer), an AI-powered chatbot designed to help business owners better understand and access the Bank’s Cash Management Services.

MSMEs continue to make up the vast majority of businesses in the Philippines, while recent business registration data points to a clear shift toward digital channels, with more entrepreneurs choosing to register and renew their businesses online for faster, more convenient transactions.