MariBank Philippines Inc. has formally secured a digital banking license from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), marking the completion of its evolution from a rural bank to an officially designated digital bank.
The regulatory shift was finalized via BSP Circular Letter No. 2026-035 following the Monetary Board’s first-quarter decision to approve the institution’s conversion application. With this development, MariBank secures the seventh digital banking license granted by the central bank, leaving just three slots open under the BSP’s current cap.
In a Thursday statement on July 23, the institution framed the license shift as “a major step forward in the bank’s continued growth and commitment to serving Filipinos through digital-first banking.”
Subsequent to the central bank’s clearance, the Securities and Exchange Commission endorsed MariBank’s updated articles of incorporation and by-laws on June 16. The financial institution officially kicked off operations under its new digital status on July 18.
MariBank reassured the public that its core mission remains steadfast despite the updated regulatory standing.
“Our goal has always been to build a bank that actually works for Filipinos by being simple, reliable, and rewarding. That doesn’t change,” MariBank President Siew Ghee Kung Lim said, adding that the new license “reflects the trust our customers have placed in us from the very start.”
BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan, who oversees the Payments and Currency Management Sector, praised the milestone while pointing out MariBank’s consistent backing of the central bank’s digital payment drives.
“I am confident that MariBank will deliver an even stronger value proposition—driving innovation and competition while benefiting both consumers and the broader banking industry,” Tangonan said.
The digital bank confirmed that current account holders do not need to take any action regarding the license reclassification. Operations will remain under strict BSP oversight, and account deposits continue to be insured up to ₱1 million by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC).
The milestone follows MariBank’s recognition earlier this year, when Forbes named it the top bank in the country on its 2026 World’s Best Banks list.