Many Filipinos mean to save but find it hard to keep up in reality. Rising daily costs, small incomes, and limited access to banking often make setting aside money feel like a privilege rather than a necessity. And even when they do manage to put away a little at a time, low interest rates or hidden fees can sap the motivation to keep going.
Digital banking is changing that story. By stripping away the barriers of traditional banking and bringing savings tools directly into your phone, a good digibank will make the process not just easier, but more rewarding. With features designed for accessibility and growth, you don’t need to wait for the “perfect time” to start building financial security. You can simply open a savings account at a digital bank Philippine consumers trust and let the top-tier tools at your disposal do the rest.
Maya, one of the country’s best digital banks for individuals starting out their digital banking journeys, is at the forefront of this shift. Our aim is to help more Filipinos turn good intentions into real savings habits. Here’s how a shift from traditional banking to commercial bank digital banking may just help kickstart the savings journey for you:
Start Saving with Just a Few Pesos
The idea of saving often feels out of reach because people assume it requires large amounts of money to get started. Traditional accounts can come with high opening deposits or minimum balance requirements, which discourage those who only have a small amount to set aside. This creates a cycle where saving feels like something only the financially comfortable can do.
Maya lowers the barrier by making savings accessible to everyone. With Maya Savings, you can open an account with just PHP 1 and already earn a base interest of 3.5% per annum. It’s an inclusive savings solution that sets your money up to grow right away, so you can take the first step whenever you’re ready, no matter how small the starting amount.
Give Your Savings a Clear Purpose
A common reason people abandon their savings is the lack of direction. When funds are sitting in a general account with no clear use, it’s tempting to dip into them whenever you feel like buying something you may not necessarily need. Saving becomes easier to sustain when tied to concrete goals, like a travel fund, school tuition, or a rainy-day reserve.
Maya Personal Goals makes it even easier to save toward your financial objectives. You can create specific savings targets directly in the app, then move money toward them at your own pace. This means you’re connecting each peso to something that matters personally, which can help motivate you and make it less tempting to use the funds for something else. With Maya Personal Goals, each goal account earns up to 8% p.a. on balances of up to PHP 100,000, with tiered interest rates that start at 4% for the first PHP 20,000 and gradually increase up to 8% for amounts above PHP 80,000.
Build Discipline through Daily Use
Consistency is the hardest part of saving, and willpower alone often isn’t enough. What helps is finding ways to build saving into habits you already practice daily, like paying bills, topping up load, or shopping online. Linking savings growth to these routine actions creates a built-in system of discipline without requiring constant conscious effort.
When you keep your funds in Maya Savings, you’re giving yourself the opportunity to grow your money through routine, everyday transactions. Using Maya to pay bills, buy load, or shop with your Maya Card lets you boost your interest rate from the base 3.5% per annum up to as high as 15%. In other words, the spending you’re already doing helps reinforce your saving habit and turns discipline into a by-product of your lifestyle.
Earn More with Flexible Options
It’s hard to stick with saving when your money doesn’t seem to grow. A barely-there interest rate can leave you feeling like the effort isn’t worth it. It’s ultimately more effective to choose savings products that fit your needs—quick access for short-term goals, or higher returns for funds you can set aside longer. The additional flexibility keeps you motivated and allows your savings to really pull their weight.
Maya provides different ways to grow your money depending on your priorities. If what you need is a readily accessible deposit account with a competitive interest rate, Maya Savings has you covered. But if you’re ready to commit funds for a longer period, Time Deposit Plus lets you lock in money for set terms at even higher rates. The range of options available ensures that whatever your situation, there’s a path for your savings to grow more meaningfully.
See Your Progress Instantly
If you can’t see the results of your effort, a savings habit can be harder to maintain. Real-time updates and clear tracking allow you to see your progress, which helps reinforce positive financial behavior. The comprehensive visibility also allows you to set clear savings milestones if you want to, as well as adjust your saving approach whenever your circumstances change.
The Maya app makes it easy to track savings growth in real time. From your dashboard, you can instantly see how much you’ve set aside and how your interest is accumulating. We prize transparency because it helps turn abstract goals into something tangible, and we understand how valuable that is as a source of motivation to keep moving forward.
Save with Confidence and Security
Trust is a non-negotiable when it comes to banking. Many Filipinos hesitate to put money into savings accounts because they’re unsure whether the institution is secure or if their funds are protected. On the other hand, the knowledge that your money is safe gives you the peace of mind to leave it untouched and let it grow. Maya addresses these concerns directly as a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas–supervised financial institution and a member of the PDIC, which insures deposits up to the legal limit.
The hardest part of saving is often just getting started, but small, consistent steps can create lasting change. Open an account with Maya today and turn every peso you set aside into a stronger financial future.
