Banking made easier: EastWest sets the bar for digital innovation with purpose

EastWest continues to purposefully shape the future of digital banking by delivering smart, intuitive solutions designed to make life easier.

From seamless mobile experiences to AI-powered support, every innovation is built to go Further for You, making banking not just smarter, but simpler, more human, and easier to navigate.

“It’s not about flashy features, but about being intentional,” said Efren dela Cruz, Head of EastWest’s Innovation Center of Excellence. “What we’re building are not one-off features but ecosystems that do the work for customers, for employees, and for the Bank.”

EasyWay and EasyBiz: Everyday Banking Made Simpler

To mark its 30th anniversary, EastWest launched EasyWay, a modern mobile app that simplifies the banking experience with an intuitive design and advanced security features, including biometric authentication, real-time transaction alerts, and in-app customer service. For affluent clients, the app offers a dedicated EastWest Priority version, complete with personalized services and premium access.

Entrepreneurs and SMEs, meanwhile, can rely on EasyBiz, a business banking platform that allows users to manage cash flow, fund transfers, transaction tracking and collections all in one secure, streamlined space.

Komo by EastWest: Straightforward Banking with ease 

Komo, under EastWest Rural Bank, offers users access to their savings account with a clean, no-fuss interface. Users can manage their money with ease, from transfers and bill payments, to fund monitoring. Recent enhancements now allow over 95,000 EWRB account holders, many of them DepEd teachers, to access their savings accounts online for the first time. Komo has also introduced in-app salary loan applications for teachers, which brings financial empowerment closer to where it matters. These innovations show how EastWest makes banking more accessible by keeping things simple, mobile, and grounded in real needs.

EW Pay: Pay easier with Southeast Asia’s First Tap-to-Pay App

EastWest’s EW Pay app now holds the highest Google Play rating among local banks which points to how well it meets user needs in both design and performance. With built-in Near Field Communications (NFC) or contactless payments, EW Pay is the first and only mobile banking app in Southeast Asia that lets users tap to pay directly from their phones, no separate e-wallet needed. Customers can transfer funds, pay bills, and monitor accounts, all in just a few taps.

ESTA and GenAI: Smart Support, Simplified

ESTA, or EastWest System Tech Assistant, delivers 24/7 credit card support through a friendly, chat-based interface on Facebook Messenger. Customers can apply for a card, activate it, convert transactions, track balances, generate statements, book installments, redeem rewards, and request assistance, exceeding most chatbot functionalities in the region all in one easy thread.

In 2025, EastWest also became the first local bank to launch GenAI technology for internal support, helping employees deliver faster, more consistent service across channels.

“Our north star has always been meaningful customer experience,” shared Harvey Libarnes, EastWest’s Chief Digital Officer. “Whether you’re banking from home or at work, our goal is to make things easier and more empowering, for everyone.”

International recognition for Digital Excellence

EastWest’s customer-first efforts continue to gain international acclaim, with recent awards including:

• Most Customer-Centric Bank: ASEAN Fintech Forum Awards 2025 (for its digital channels)
• Mobile Banking & Payment Initiative of the Year: Asian Banking & Finance Awards 2024 (for ESTA)
• Outstanding Digital CX in Banking App Platform: Digital Banker CX Awards 2024 (for Komo)
• Most Innovative Smart Banking Services Provider: International Finance Awards 2023 (for Komo)

Innovation with a Human Touch

Across all its digital platforms, EastWest continues to build a digital ecosystem that’s easy to use, powerful behind the scenes, and always designed with intention around what matters most: you.

“Banking should never feel complicated,” added Libarnes. “Our role is to make it easier, so our customers can focus on the life they’re building, not the steps it takes to manage it.”