In a significant move to strengthen the digital financial ecosystem, EastWest Bank has announced a strategic alliance with leading fintech firm PayMongo. Announced on January 8, 2026, this partnership is designed to make digital transactions simpler and more cost-effective for businesses across the Philippines.
Driving Affordable Digital Commerce
The core of this collaboration allows EastWest Bank's business clients to integrate PayMongo's online payment gateway into their operations. Crucially, they will gain access to preferential merchant discount rates. This means Filipino entrepreneurs can accept a wide array of digital payments—from credit and debit cards to popular e-wallets—at more competitive prices, reducing their operational costs.
Leadership Vision for a Smoother Payment Experience
Jerry Ngo, Chief Executive Officer of EastWest Bank, emphasized that the tie-up is focused on delivering tangible benefits to merchants. He stated the partnership aims to provide faster settlement times and create a smoother, more efficient digital commerce experience for businesses of all sizes.
Echoing this sentiment, Jojo Malolos, CEO of PayMongo, highlighted the partnership's role in broadening financial inclusion. He noted that it will expand access to essential digital payment tools for entrepreneurs, thereby supporting the ongoing development of the Philippines' digital financial infrastructure.
Future Collaboration in a Competitive Fintech Landscape
This partnership arrives as competition within the Philippine fintech sector continues to intensify. Both companies indicated that this is just the beginning, with plans to explore deeper collaboration in the future. They will look into emerging fintech trends gaining traction in the country, such as open banking and the development of new payment rails, to further innovate their services.
The alliance between a established bank and a agile fintech player signals a strong push towards a more digitally integrated and accessible economic landscape for Filipino businesses.
