EAST WEST Banking Corporation (EastWest) has launched EastWest PERA products designed to help more Filipinos start planning for long-term financial security with digital access, low entry requirements, and professionally managed investment options.
PERA, or the Personal Equity and Retirement Account, is a voluntary retirement savings program supported by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). It is designed to complement benefits from the Social Security System (SSS), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and employer-sponsored retirement plans, while giving contributors access to tax advantages, including a 5% tax credit subject to applicable rules.
With EastWest PERA products, the Bank is positioning retirement investing as more accessible to first-time savers and long-term investors alike. The product offerings start at a minimum initial investment of Php 2,000 and provide access to BSP-approved investment outlets.
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are also eligible to invest in PERA, with an annual investment limit of up to Php 400,000 per person, allowing them to build retirement savings while working abroad.
To support a more seamless customer experience, EastWest partnered with BSP-accredited and SEC-supervised digital PERA administrators such as DragonFi Securities Inc. Through these partnerships, clients can enjoy guided onboarding, access educational tools, and manage their PERA accounts online.
“Too many Filipinos put off retirement planning because it can seem complicated or out of reach,” said EastWest CEO Jerry G. Ngo. “With EastWest PERA products, we want to make retirement investing easier. By combining digital access through our partners, broad fund choice, and professional investment management, we are giving more people a practical way to begin building for retirement with greater confidence.”
The Eastwest PERA Funds are managed by the Banks’ award-winning Trust and Asset Management Group, which was recently recognized as the Philippines’ Best for Discretionary Portfolio Management at the 2026 Euromoney Private Banking Awards for the second consecutive year. The recognition reflects EastWest’s disciplined approach to portfolio management and reinforces the Bank’s position that retirement investors should have access not only to tax advantages and convenience, but also to professional stewardship across market cycles.
“Retirement planning works best when it is simple enough to start and strong enough to stay with for the long term,” Ngo added. “EastWest PERA is part of our broader commitment to make banking easier while helping more Filipinos take meaningful steps toward financial security.”
EastWest PERA at a glance
- Minimum initial investment: Php 2,000
- Maximum annual investment limit: Up to Php 200,000 per person or up to Php 400,000 for OFWs
- Minimum subsequent contributions: Php 1,000
- Tax‑free withdrawal: Available at age 55 and above, provided the account has been funded for at least five consecutive years (early withdrawals are subject to tax clawbacks, as provided under PERA regulations)
For more information about EastWest PERA, you may contact your EastWest relationship manager.
