Digital banking has revolutionised Southeast Asian saving behaviour. With no need for relying on the traditional banks which have a huge number of branches, the number of people switching to licensed digital banks with their interest rates, the benefits of mobile banking and the security of deposit protection provided by the government are increasing by the million.
Several digital banks have come up with higher savings rates than traditional banks that will help savers gain from inflation without taking risk to their money. Most of these platforms offer high returns and feature clear regulations, making them some of the most popular banking options in 2026, though their promotional rates and requirements will differ.
1. Maya Bank (Philippines)
Maya Bank has maintained its market dominance in the Philippine mobile banking sector with its high-yield savings platform, and is poised for continued growth. The bank’s base savings rate is approximately 3.5% per year, but the customer sees promotional rates that can easily reach 7% per year and then up to 14% to 15% per year, depending on the promotion, by performing the appropriate eligible spending within Maya app.
There are several reasons to admire Maya’s returns; it runs with a digital banking license granted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). An extra security is given to the account holders as the deposit made is insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) and can be covered only up to ₱500,000 per depositor.
2. GoTyme Bank (Philippines)
GoTyme Bank has quickly become one of the most user-friendly online banks in the nation. While many savings platforms have multiple spending missions and unlock higher rates only after a while, there is no longer any such thing for GoTyme, where Go Save accounts earn an average of 4 to 5 percent annually at arbitrary rates depending on current promotions.
The Bank is managed by the Gokongwei Group and the TymeGroup, and fully monitored by BSP. Users who are looking for simplicity and good returns also love this because it is also PDIC insured up to ₱500,000.
3. SeaBank (Indonesia & Philippines)
Sea Group, the parent company of SeaBank, also owns Shopee, one of the biggest technology ecosystems in Southeast Asia, and is integrated in the digital banking space. The interest payout on savings can be around 4.50% to 6.00% annually with the interest paid out on the daily basis, thereby allowing the savings to compound more often.
The bank is subject to a different set of regulations by country. It is regulated in Indonesia by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS) protects deposits. The SeaBank in the Philippines is licensed by the BSP and is insured by the PDIC.
4. MariBank (Singapore)
Savers can trust the one of the safest banking options in the region at MariBank. Its standard savings account typically gives promotional interest between 2.5% and 2.88% yearly, but the people wary of low returns can get better interest ranging 3.5% to 4% which is dependent on the overall performance of the market from which they are getting the returns, for this they can avail the service of Mari Invest.
MariBank is also licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) with Singapore’s robust financial regulation. The Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC) provides insurance coverage of S$100,000 on eligible deposits.
5. Boost Bank (Malaysia)
Boost Bank is a joint venture between Axiata Group and the RHB banking group, which is representative of Malaysia’s emerging digital banking industry. This base savings rate of around 2.5% per annum can be boosted to around 3% to 4% per annum through the use of both a “Savings Jars” and a “BoostUP Jars” scheme depending on how much the customer uses the accounts.
The bank is regulated by a digital banking license granted by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and deposits are insured by Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia (PIDM) up to RM250,000.
How to Choose the Right Digital Bank?
The best digital bank isn’t the bank with the best interest rate that you’ve seen advertised; it’s the bank that’s best for your financial objectives. There are banks that reward regular spending and bill payments, and others that offer competitive rates automatically, even if you don’t make additional transactions.
Do read the terms of promotion before opening an account. Oftentimes, high headline rates are only offered with a particular savings balance and/or monthly activations. When you know these conditions, you can expect what you’re going to get.
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Tips to Keep Your Savings Safe
One of the largest perks of licensed digital banks is deposit insurance by the Government. To ensure the protection, do not put your total cash savings into one financial institution beyond the insured amount from that financial institution. If you have bigger savings, you can distribute your money over a number of banks which give licenses to you as well.
Just check the rate of interest as well. Daily interest-paying banks provide a more rapid compounding of your savings, and automates the process of compounding.
FAQs
What is the highest interest rate provided by a digital bank in South-East Asia?
The best promotions at this moment are offered by Maya Bank in the list of banks. While this can be done for 7% per annum or more, the premiums depend on certain promotional criteria, so please consult with your broker.
Is it okay to make use of digital banks?
Yes. The digital banks take up a variety of different configurations and are regulated by the national financial authorities of different countries and are usually subject to government-backed deposit insurance schemes subject to applicable limits.
Are foreign nationals eligible to open a digital bank account in Southeast Asian countries?
Eligibility is subject to each bank’s policies and local regulations. Some digital banks will require you to be located in the country or have a national ID while others will allow foreigners with valid work or residency permits.
