[Finterest] Big purchases? BillEase lets you buy now, pay later at Maya checkouts

2 weeks ago 5

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[Finterest] Big purchases? BillEase lets you buy now, pay later at Maya checkouts

DEAL. Peter Thaddeaus Cruz (left), head of enterprise of Maya Philippines, and Kurt Molina, head of POS Product of BillEase, seal a deal on integrating BillEase's Buy Now, Pay Later Service into Maya's payment solutions in May 2025.

billease.ph

Whether you’re shopping online or in-store at a Maya-powered merchant, you can now scan a QR Ph code with your BillEase app and split your payment into installments — no credit card required.

MANILA, Philippines – Buy now, pay later (BNPL) service BillEase has partnered with digital bank and payments provider Maya to bring installment options directly to checkout.

Customers shopping at Maya-powered merchants, both online and in physical stores, can now open their BillEase app, scan the QRPh code at the payment gateway or point-of-sale terminal, and split their purchase into installments on the spot.

Eligible transactions up to P2,000 qualify for zero interest if paid within a month, while larger purchases can be spread out over longer terms.

“With this integration, retailers and merchants using Maya’s payment solutions can now offer our installment option, making purchases more affordable and accessible,” said Kurt Molina, head of POS product at BillEase. “By tapping into QRPh, we’re able to provide an open-loop BNPL solution that works across different banks and e-wallets, ensuring more Filipinos can access flexible payment options without requiring a credit card.”

For Maya, integrating BNPL directly into its payment ecosystem gives its merchants — be they sari-sari stores or major retailers — a way to offer credit at checkout. That’s especially useful for the country’s young, credit-hungry consumers. (READ: [DECODED] Are you a Gen Z worker with money problems? You’re not alone.)

“This partnership gives merchants and their customers a seamless and flexible way to pay,” said Pete Cruz, head of enterprise at Maya. “By adding the BillEase option into our payment channels and leveraging QRPh, we are helping businesses expand financial access and drive more sales through flexible payment options.”

Having another easy way to buy big purchases on credit is especially attractive in a market like the Philippines, where formal credit remains out of reach for many. Despite growing interest in credit cards, only 15% of Filipino adults held one in 2023, according to TransUnion. The majority, especially younger Filipinos, remain either new to credit or excluded from it altogether.

That’s where BNPL services can step in, and there’s a clear appetite for it. (READ: [Finterest] Gen Z wants credit but can’t get it. Banks need to step up their game.)

A TransUnion Q4 2024 Consumer Pulse Study found that 36% of Filipinos are interested in using BNPL services — surpassing interest in credit cards, which came in at 32%. Among Gen Z respondents, the numbers are even more striking: 68% said access to credit is essential to achieving their financial goals. Yet, Gen Z also reported the highest levels of feeling underserved by credit providers among all generations.

These gaps are what BillEase’s partnership with Maya, Home Credit’s iPhone installment plans, and Atome’s popular BNPL card are trying to address. Unlike traditional lenders, BNPL services don’t require applicants to have extensive credit history. Credit lines are typically approved within minutes based on a user’s app activity, prior payment behavior, or linked bank accounts. And once a user is onboarded, they can borrow within their credit limit as long as they make payments on time.

And this model appears to be working. BillEase more than doubled its revenue in 2023, reaching US$57million, according to a 2024 disclosure. The company also became profitable in 2023, reporting $7 million in net income.

“90% of our business is from repeat customers. These are customers we’ve onboarded even before 2023, and the longer they stay with us, the better our customers may become, so they have a bigger credit limit. And of course, their default rates are better,” said Garret Go, BillEase’s chief financial officer, according to a 2024 BusinessWorld report.

Maya, for its part, has also leaned into its role as a payments provider to boost its business. In 2024, Maya processed over P1 trillion in merchant payments, emerging as the market leader in digital transactions. It was also named the top acquirer for merchant transaction volume by Visa. In the first quarter of 2025, Maya announced that it had reached net income profitability — a key milestone that the company has long struggled to hit. – Rappler.com