Maya (formerly PayMaya) is one of the Philippines' biggest financial apps — a digital wallet and a licensed digital bank rolled into one. This 2026 guide explains what Maya is and whether it's safe, the savings interest rates, how to open an account, Maya Credit loans, cash in/out and sending money via QR Ph, Maya Crypto, the fees and the customer-care hotlines.
What is Maya?
Maya (formerly PayMaya) is a Philippine financial-services and digital-payments brand that operates through two entities: Maya Philippines, Inc. (the Maya Wallet) and Maya Bank, Inc. (digital banking — savings and loans). Maya Bank is one of the six digital banks licensed and regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and deposits are PDIC-insured up to PHP 1 million per depositor. So Maya is both a wallet for everyday payments and a regulated, insured bank for saving and borrowing.
Maya Savings and interest rates
Maya is known for high savings rates. From 1 May 2026, the regular base interest rate is 3% p.a. (an alternative 3.5% p.a. is also cited), and this can be boosted up to 15% p.a. on your first PHP 100,000 by completing "missions" — such as paying bills, depositing funds, or using your Maya Card/QR for purchases. Maya also offers:
- Personal Goals: up to 8% p.a.;
- Time Deposit Plus: up to 6.0% p.a.
The boosted 15% is among the highest savings rates in the Philippines, though it applies only to the first PHP 100,000 and requires completing the monthly missions.
How to open a Maya account
Getting started is quick:
- Download the Maya app and register using your mobile number;
- To upgrade and unlock Savings, verify your identity — provide your personal details, upload a clear photo of a valid government-issued ID, and take a selfie;
- Once upgraded, tap "Savings" then "Start Maya Savings".
Upgrading is also what lets you cash out and access higher limits.
Maya Credit: loans
Maya Bank offers three main consumer loan types: Pay in 4 (split a purchase into four), Flexi Loan, and Personal Loan. For businesses, Maya Business offers a Flexi Loan of up to PHP 2 million within 3 months. Loan eligibility and limits are based on your activity with Maya. Specific interest rates vary by product and borrower, so check the exact rate shown in the app before accepting — and, as with any credit, borrow only what you can repay on schedule.
Cash in, cash out and sending money
Maya connects to the wider Philippine payments system:
- Cash in at Maya Centers: minimum PHP 100, with a 1% to 2% convenience fee;
- Cash out (upgraded accounts) at Maya Centers: 1.5% fee;
- Send/receive via QR Ph: the national EMV-based standard lets you pay and receive across different Philippine banks and e-wallets without separate apps;
- Bank transfers and ATM withdrawals: fees of about PHP 50 to PHP 100 usually apply after you exceed 5 free transactions per month.
QR Ph is the cheapest way to move money between Maya and other banks or wallets, and the 5 free monthly transactions cover most users.
Maya Crypto
Operating under a BSP VASP (Virtual Asset Service Provider) license, Maya Crypto lets you buy and sell over 50 cryptocurrencies directly in the app. In March 2026 it added 18 new tokens — including AAVE, ENS and INJ — alongside major assets like BTC, ETH and SOL. Crypto is volatile and not a deposit, so treat it as a high-risk investment separate from your insured savings.
Maya customer care
For Maya App concerns, call the hotline (+632) 8845-7788, domestic toll-free 1-800-1084-57788, or *788 for free using Smart. For Maya Center issues, the hotline is (+632) 8845-7777, toll-free 1-800-1084-57777 via PLDT, or *15177 for free using Smart, Sun and TNT. Never share your MPIN, OTP or password with anyone claiming to be from Maya — they will never ask for them.
Tips and common questions
A few practical points: to earn the 15% savings rate, complete your monthly missions (bills, deposits, Maya Card/QR spend) — without them you get the base 3%. To avoid transfer fees, use QR Ph and stay within the 5 free transactions a month. If you can't access Savings or cash out, complete the full ID upgrade (government ID + selfie). For larger savings, remember the boosted rate only covers the first PHP 100,000 — beyond that, consider Time Deposit Plus or Personal Goals. And keep crypto money separate from your emergency savings, since only deposits are PDIC-insured.
Maya vs GCash
Maya and GCash are the two dominant e-wallets in the Philippines, and many Filipinos use both. The key difference is that Maya is itself a BSP-licensed digital bank (Maya Bank), so its savings sit directly in a PDIC-insured bank account with rates up to 15%, and it offers crypto under its own VASP license. GCash is primarily a wallet that partners with a separate bank (CIMB) for its savings feature. For high-yield savings, in-app loans and crypto in one place, Maya has the edge; GCash is often slightly more widely accepted by small merchants. Because both support QR Ph, you can send money between them instantly, so holding both gives you the widest acceptance plus Maya's banking features.
Is Maya worth using in 2026?
Maya is one of the most complete financial apps in the Philippines: a BSP-licensed digital bank with PDIC-insured deposits, savings rates up to 15%, loans, QR Ph payments and crypto — all in one place. The main things to manage are the savings missions (needed for the top rate), the cash-in/out and transfer fees, and keeping crypto separate from insured savings. For everyday payments plus a high-yield, insured place to save, Maya is hard to beat — just complete your missions, use QR Ph for transfers, and protect your MPIN.