Maya, the country’s leading fintech ecosystem and digital bank, on Wednesday announced the launch of the Maya Black Credit Card, a premium, AI-powered credit product designed to extend credit access to a broader segment of Filipinos—especially digital-first consumers historically underserved by traditional banks.
Powered by Maya’s proprietary data and AI-driven credit models, Maya Black marks a significant innovation in the Philippine credit card industry. It combines the prestige of a black-tier credit card with mobile-first features and inclusive eligibility, available directly through the Maya app.
“Credit cards have long symbolized financial freedom and status—but for most Filipinos, they’ve remained out of reach,” said Shailesh Baidwan, Maya Group president and Maya Bank co-founder. “With Maya Black, we’re making the most desirable card in the market—and democratizing access to it. This is a bold step in reshaping credit access—and a major leap in Maya’s journey as the leading provider of a full suite of financial products.”
The Maya Black Credit Card offers instant virtual card issuance upon approval, with a sleek numberless physical card delivered soon after. The entire experience—from application to spend tracking and support—is fully digital and accessible through the Maya app.
Unlike traditional cards, Maya Black evaluates users based on alternative and transactional data within the app, enabling approvals for applicants without a traditional credit score. A secured card pathway is also available for first-time borrowers, requiring no paperwork or reapplication.
“We designed Maya Black for a generation that expects instant, mobile-first banking,” said Angelo Madrid, Maya Bank president. “This isn’t the usual credit card—it’s a re-engineered experience.”
Maya Black cardholders enjoy a suite of premium benefits from day one, including:
- Real-time Maya Miles rewards on every transaction
- 3,000 bonus miles upon activation and ₱5,000 spend within 60 days
- Airline mile conversion, including to Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Miles
- DragonPass airport lounge access (PAGSS, Marhaba lounges at NAIA)
- Global acceptance at over 130 million merchants via Visa
- Advanced security controls with numberless cards, freeze/replace features in-app
The launch comes amid surging interest in credit cards. Credit now represents 38 percent of financial product searches in the Philippines, according to Google. Yet, access remains limited. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reports that 56 percent of Filipino adults find it difficult to qualify for a credit card, and as of Q4 2023, only 15 percent of adults held one, based on TransUnion data.
Maya Black directly addresses this market gap by using AI to unlock new credit pathways for millions. It follows the success of Maya’s Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card, which has issued nearly 200,000 cards to date.
