CIMB Bank PH Head of Technology Delivery Dianne Sagaya (second from left), Head of Lending Products Jensen Putra (third from left), and Head of Mobile App Geraldine Austria (third from right) with representatives from The Asian Banker.

Manila, Philippines: CIMB Bank Philippines, widely regarded as the first institution to introduce the embedded finance model to the country in 2018, was recognized by leading banking and finance platform The Asian Banker as proponent of the Best Embedded Finance Initiative in the Philippines at the latter’s Philippine Awards 2026 event held last August 13, 2026.

The Bank’s QR code-enabled in-app payment instrument CIMB Pay was also named Best Digital Payments Initiative in the Philippines. These two accolades underscore CIMB’s leadership in transforming how Filipinos access financial services by bringing banking seamlessly into digital platforms and everyday experiences they already use.

According to The Asian Banker, these are proof that CIMB Bank PH is a leading example in the Philippines of how customer-centric innovation and strategic partnerships can accelerate digital banking adoption while delivering greater convenience, accessibility, and financial inclusion.

CIMB Bank PH led a groundbreaking shift in Philippine financial landscape by becoming the first to bring its services beyond the confines of a traditional banking app and into the digital platforms Filipinos use every day. Through strategic partnerships with GCash, DragonFi, Lazada, Atome, and Shopee, the Bank has folded in savings, credit, and payment solutions directly into customers’ everyday digital experiences, making banking more seamless and relevant to their needs. This model redefined how Filipinos can access financial services and blazed a trail for other local banks to follow.

CIMB Pay, on the other hand, makes daily digital payments more convenient for Filipinos, allowing customers to easily transfer funds, pay over 1 million merchants nationwide, and pay bills with zero fees using their preferred CIMB savings or REVI credit account. The Bank has also gone beyond just offering convenient cashless payments and has previously teamed up with well-loved brands like McDonald’s, Bench, and Shakey’s for special cashback promos whenever customers use CIMB Pay for their transactions.

“Since we started operating in the Philippines, every product and service that we offer Filipinos has been guided by our purpose of advancing customer and society,” said Vijay Manoharan, CEO of CIMB Bank PH. “We make a conscious effort to be present where our customers need us the most and challenge the norm of how banking has traditionally been done in the country. Through introducing offerings such as embedded banking and flexible digital payment solutions, we help Filipinos bank better so that we can keep moving them forward to achieve their life goals.”

The Asian Banker is a leading provider of strategic intelligence and community platforms for the financial services industry. Known for its rigorous benchmarking and awards programs, it recognizes excellence and innovation across the banking and financial services sector through ceremonies such as The Philippines Awards 2026.

To date, CIMB Bank PH has 170 international awards and counting, further strengthening its position as the most awarded digital-only commercial bank in the country – a testament to the Bank’s enduring commitment to innovate and better serve its customers.

To learn more about CIMB Bank PH, visit cimbbank.com.ph

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CIMB Bank PH lauded for pioneering embedded finance in the country