Digital Banks Still Take the Lead in Forbes’ 2026 Best Banks in the PH

(SPOT.ph) Digital banks are no longer the new kids on the block. We're all familiar with the convenience of banking from our couches, so it might come as no surprise that the 2026 Forbes World’s Best Banks list continues to favor digital-first players.

In the latest rankings, MariBank and GoTyme took the top two spots in the Philippines this year, edging out some of the country’s biggest traditional names.

The local list narrowed to eight banks from the Philippines this year, down from nine in 2025. MariBank (formerly SeaBank) surged from the bottom of last year’s list to the top spot, while GoTyme held its ground at second place. Meanwhile, Maya Bank slipped from the first spot to fifth, while UNO Digital Bank dropped off the list completely.

The local roster is slightly shorter, with eight Philippine banks making the cut in 2026, down from nine last year. MariBank (formerly SeaBank) made the biggest jump, climbing from last place in 2025 to No. 1. GoTyme held steady at second, while Maya Bank dropped from the top spot to fifth. UNO Digital Bank, which appeared in last year’s ranking, is no longer on the list.

According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, a digital bank is defined as one that “offers financial products and services that are processed end-to-end through a digital platform…with no physical branch.” Forbes notes that this rise in digital-only banks, also called “neobanks,” is a global phenomenon that is reshaping the industry as more people turn to digital tools.

Despite digital banks rising to the top, traditional players like Bank of the Philippine Islands, UnionBank of the Philippines, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company, Land Bank of the Philippines, and Philippine National Bank are still very much in the mix.

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The official rankings of the Philippine banks on this year’s Forbes list are as follows: 

1. MariBank Philippines

2. GoTyme Bank

3. Bank of the Philippine Islands

4. Union Bank (Philippines)

5. Maya Bank

6. Metropolitan Bank & Trust

7. Land Bank of the Philippines

8. Philippine National Bank

Unlike traditional rankings, the Forbes World’s Best Banks list is all about consumer sentiment and experience. To determine the winners, Forbes collaborated with market research firm Statista to survey more than 54,000 people across 34 countries from October to November 2025. The ranking is country-specific, focusing on banks that offer checking or savings accounts.

Customers rated their banks on five criteria: trustworthiness, terms and conditions (like fees and rates), customer service, digital services, and the quality of financial advice.

“Among participants across all countries, trustworthiness was deemed the most important aspect of a bank (as was the case last year), followed by digital services and customer service respectively,” Forbes said.

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