Sea's MariBank eyes regional digital banking hub, expanding from Singapore to the Philippines
MariBank, the digital bank owned by Sea, plans to use its Singapore base to launch a broader regional banking group, starting with a full-service digital bank in the Philippines.
One-third of Singapore’s small-business owners continue to use personal bank accounts, a habit driven by high transaction fees, according to a MariBank survey. To address this, the Sea-owned digital bank is rolling out a zero-fee business account that can be toggled with personal banking in a single mobile app. Under CEO Natalia Goh, who took over in 2024, MariBank positions itself as a natural extension of Sea’s Shopee marketplace and Monee payments platform.
Despite posting a S$55.6 million loss in 2025, the bank secured a S$75 million injection from its parent and is expanding into under-banked markets, notably the Philippines where it recently received a full digital-bank licence and is testing cash-in/out partnerships. Goh sees Singapore’s sophisticated banking environment as the strategic hub for a regional digital banking group, with future growth plans still under consideration. The initiative aims to simplify banking for consumers while capitalising on Sea’s data assets for credit underwriting.
Why it matters
The move could reshape digital banking competition and financial inclusion across Southeast Asia.
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