Maya, the leading digital bank app in the Philippines, has launched Maya Stocks, the first retail investing service in the Philippines integrated in a digital bank app.
In a statement, Maya said the app offers real-time transactions and instant earnings growth through its diverse wealth-building options.
Thus Filipinos can now invest in over 280 publicly listed companies in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) through the app and its local Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-licensed stockbroker partners.
This service enriches the already expansive and game-changing Maya app, which offers savings, borrowing, spending, insurance, crypto trading, and rewards.
By Dec. 15, Maya app users can start to buy, sell, and manage shares of publicly listed companies acquired anytime and from anywhere via the Maya Stocks marketplace through partner brokers Philstocks, and soon, 2TradeAsia, DragonFi and Seedbox.
It is the only digital bank app that offers investors their choice of broker and investment terms.
“We’re pioneering a new era of access to investments – making it simpler, faster, and more seamless,” said Maya Group President and Co-Founder of Maya Bank Shailesh Baidwan.
He added that, “with Maya Stocks, we are transforming the Philippine investment landscape with instant transactions and all-in-one digital banking experience, accelerating the nation’s journey towards broader investment ownership.”
“Congratulations to SEC for its progressive moves in driving capital development and financial literacy,” Baidwan noted.
SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said “the SEC is committed to providing Filipinos greater access to legitimate investments. To this end, we welcome innovations and, at the same time, remain vigilant and proactive in protecting the investing public.”
“The PSE welcomes and supports the launch of Maya Stocks, through Maya and its partners. Your partnership serves as a strong ally of both SEC and PSE not only in investor education, but more importantly, in providing a solution to potential retail investors,” said PSE President and CEO Ramon Monzon.
Baidwan anticipates that Maya Stocks will further deepen digital adoption, especially among bank customers who already engage two to four times more than those using only e-wallets.
Currently, only about one percent of adult Filipinos with investments place their money in stocks, bonds, UITFs, mutual funds, or other managed investment schemes.
A 2021 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas survey revealed Filipinos’ eagerness to invest but identified barriers such as resource constraints or difficulty in finding suitable products.
Maya addresses these challenges, simplifying the investment process and maximizing potential gains. Unlike traditional platforms requiring one to two days for transaction completion, Maya facilitates real-time cash-ins and withdrawals from stocks, enabling users to manage their investments instantaneously.
Moreover, earnings from Maya Stocks can be reinvested in other wealth-building building services such as Maya Save and Maya Funds, or used for daily financial needs like bill payments and shopping – all within the app. Frequent transactions also strengthen users' digital footprint, providing credit scores to unlock access to loans.
Maya Stocks aims to empower more Filipinos to start building their wealth earlier, thus contributing to the growth of retail investors in the stock market.
Philstocks Chief Revenue Officer Joseph Tarrobal noted that “partnering with Maya is a milestone. Together, we’re eliminating barriers and introducing new financial opportunities for Filipinos.”
“We’re happy to collaborate with Maya as we are able to craft smarter, more intuitive investing journey for Filipinos, democratizing access for everyone," said 2TradeAsia Executive Vice President Chase Yap.
DragonFi CEO John Carlo Lim said “with Maya, we are fulfilling our goal to build a technology-driven ecosystem of wealth-building tools that empower Filipinos to achieve their life goals,” said of.