From left: Chinabank Cards and Personal Loans Group Officer-in-Charge Niña May Reynoso, Cash Management Services & Operations Group Head Domingo Dayro Jr., Consumer Banking Segment Head Aloysius Alday Jr., Paywatch Group President & Co-Founder Alex Kim, Country Manager Rowell Del Fierro, and Managing Director Sandeep Mulajkar.
Chinabank has taken a significant leap forward in providing financial flexibility for the Filipino workforce. In partnership with regional fintech leader Paywatch, the bank has launched Earned Wage Access Plus (EWAP)—a transformative digital facility designed to give employees more control over their hard-earned money and potentially end reliance on “bale.”
‘Sangla ATM’ is an informal and high-risk lending practice in the Philippines where borrowers surrender their ATM card and PIN to a lender as collateral for a loan. At payroll crediting day, the lender withdraws the agreed-upon payment—principal plus interest—directly from the borrower’s salary. Because these ‘black market’ lenders often charge exorbitant rates, borrowers often find themselves with insufficient funds for basic needs, forcing them to take out even more loans, leading to a permanent state of borrowing.
“In the Philippines, most employees are paid their salaries twice a month, which typically aligns with their bills’ due dates and other financial obligations. However, it becomes a challenge when their payroll does not coincide with payment due dates, emergencies, or when unexpected expenses arise,” CBC Cash Management Services and Operations Group Head Domingo P. Dayro Jr. said.
EWAP allows eligible employees of qualified Chinabank Payroll Partner Companies to withdraw a portion of their salary as they earn it, rather than waiting for the traditional 15th or 30th of the month. This initiative marks a pivotal shift in how domestic banking can address the real-time needs of modern workers.
“Financial solutions should not be limiting. EWAP gives workers the confidence to budget week to week rather than scrambling paycheck to paycheck,” he noted.
The most critical distinction of EWAP is that it is strictly not a loan. Unlike traditional salary loans or informal lending schemes that can trap workers in a cycle of high interest, EWAP is a non-credit product.
Because employees are accessing funds for hours they have already worked, there are:
Financial emergencies—whether a sudden medical bill, an urgent home repair, or a looming utility deadline—do not always align with a corporate payroll calendar. EWAP bridges this gap by providing instant credit to an employee's Chinabank payroll account.
The facility is designed for maximum agility, allowing for multiple withdrawals within a single payroll period. This ensures that employees can manage their liquidity in smaller, more manageable increments as needs arise, rather than being forced to take out a large, interest-bearing loan for a small expense.
Through EWAP, Chinabank is providing its corporate partners with a powerful tool for talent retention and productivity. Financial stress is a leading cause of workplace distraction; by offering a ‘safety net’ that is safe, regulated, and bank-backed, employers can foster a more secure and focused workforce.
For the employee, EWAP offers more than just cash—it offers dignity and peace of mind. It eliminates the need to turn to ‘5-6’ lenders, replacing those stressful interactions with a private, seamless mobile experience.
The launch of EWAP, alongside recent digital milestones like the My CBC app and the CAI AI agent, underscores Chinabank’s ‘Focused on You’ commitment. By partnering with Paywatch—the region's first bank-backed EWA provider—Chinabank ensures that this facility meets the highest standards of security and regulatory compliance. As the Philippine economy continues to evolve, the bank remains committed to developing solutions that actively improve the daily lives of the people who power the nation.
Click to view the Frequently Asked Questions about EWAP.
