Maya recognized for driving digital inclusion and reshaping Philippine banking
Maya, the country’s leading all-in-one finance platform, has been named “Apex Company of the Year” at the just concluded 2025 Asia CEO Awards, cementing its position as one of the most influential players in Southeast Asia’s rapidly evolving fintech landscape.
The prestigious honor, which recognizes organizations that deliver both economic value and social impact, was awarded to Maya for its role in redefining how Filipinos access payments and banking through technology.
The Maya Group’s leadership team — including executives from data governance, technology, engineering, corporate affairs, and infrastructure — accepted the award during a ceremony that gathered top industry leaders and innovators across Asia.
The company also earned a Circle of Excellence citation for Technology Company of the Year, following its 2023 recognition as Most Innovative Company of the Year — marking the third consecutive year the company has been acknowledged at the Asia CEO Awards.
Maya: Rebuilding banking for a digital generation
For decades, traditional banking in the Philippines relied heavily on branch networks and paper-based systems, leaving millions of Filipinos — particularly younger, digital-first consumers — outside the formal financial system.
The digital bank has set out to change that.
Through the seamless integration of Maya Bank and Maya Philippines, the company offers a unified ecosystem where users can deposit, borrow, invest, and make payments — all in one digital platform.
The Maya app serves individual users, while Maya Business and Maya Business Manager cater to small enterprises and large corporations, respectively. Together, these platforms are built on the company’s proprietary technology and AI-driven decision engine, enabling instant credit evaluation, personalized offers, and faster transaction processing.
Photo shows Maya Group execs (from left): Melecio Valerio, Vice President – Data Governance; Beverly Dolor, Maya Bank Chief Technology Officer; Gian Carlo Ebao, Vice President – Engineering; Kristoffer Rada, Head of Corporate Affairs; Alfred Lo, Group Chief Technology Officer; Jackielyn Diola, ESG Officer; Eric Jose Tiongson, Principal Enterprise Architect; and Sajal Dutta, Vice President – Infrastructure Systems & Service Engineering after receiving their Asia CEO Awards trophies.
“Our mission has always been to reimagine how banking works for Filipinos,” said Shailesh Baidwan, Maya Group President and Co-Founder of Maya Bank. “This recognition affirms how technology, when done right, can drive both economic value and meaningful social impact.”
Technology as a core advantage
At the heart of the digital bank’s success lies its AI-first architecture — a system designed to learn, adapt, and respond in real time to customer needs.
“We build technology that can see, learn, and respond,” said Alfred Lo, Maya Group Chief Technology Officer. “That’s how we make financial services faster, safer, and more personal.”
Maya has one of the largest fintech data and engineering teams in the country, maintaining a unified infrastructure that supports payments, lending, and banking on a cloud-first, mobile-first foundation.
This structure allows the company to roll out innovations rapidly while keeping risk management and regulatory compliance tightly integrated — a key strength in an industry where speed and security must coexist.
Driving financial inclusion and national impact
Beyond financial technology, Maya’s mission extends to nation-building.
Its programs for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) enable small business owners to accept digital payments, access credit, and use data-driven business tools — helping them thrive in an increasingly cashless economy.
The company also collaborates with government agencies, schools, and private institutions to promote financial literacy and digital readiness. Among its notable initiatives are:
- Financial education programs for students and teachers, developed with the Department of Education (DepEd);
- Partnerships with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to support national athletes through financial empowerment; and
- Collaborations with various government agencies to modernize payment systems and improve public service delivery.
These efforts, company leaders said, are part of the company’s broader vision to create a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem — one where every Filipino, regardless of background, has access to smart, secure, and affordable financial tools.
A model for the region
Industry observers view the digital bank’s recognition at the Asia CEO Awards as a sign of the Philippines’ growing influence in fintech innovation.
By blending cutting-edge technology with an inclusive approach to finance, Maya has not only transformed how Filipinos manage money but also set a benchmark for digital banking in emerging markets.
As Baidwan summed it up: “We’re proud to represent the Philippines on this global stage — and even prouder to show how technology can be a force for good.”
