AS DIGITAL finance moves more decisions into real time, financial institutions need to match that speed with disciplined risk management—from credit assessment and identity verification to fraud detection and ongoing monitoring, Maya said at the World Financial Innovation Series (WFIS) Philippines 2026.
The message came as Julie Reyes, Maya chief risk and compliance officer, was named Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Advocate of the Year at the WFIS Philippines Awards 2026. This is her second win in the category, after receiving the same recognition in 2024.
“Digital finance should be fast, but speed has to be matched by sound judgment, clear guardrails and accountability,” Reyes said. “Risk and compliance should help the business make better decisions as products and services are developed—not appear only at the end.”
Reyes was cited for championing the One Maya Governance Framework, an innovative approach that aligns risk standards, controls, escalation paths, and oversight across Maya’s banking and payments businesses. Maya Bank and Maya Philippines remain separately governed, with their respective licenses, board accountabilities, and regulatory and compliance responsibilities.
Under the framework, risk and compliance work with business, technology, and operations as decisions are made. It also allows risk expertise to inform credit assessment, fraud
management and customer protection across the ecosystem, while the respective accountabilities of each regulated entity remain clear.
For fraud and financial crime, Maya uses real-time and AI-assisted capabilities to detect suspicious patterns and support investigations. Controls extend throughout the customer relationship, covering onboarding, authentication, account recovery, profile changes and transaction monitoring.
Speaking on a WFIS panel, Reyes cited increasingly sophisticated forms of impersonation and identity fraud, including deepfakes, as an emerging concern across the financial sector. She said financial institutions need layered, risk-based controls throughout the customer relationship, along with closer coordination among financial institutions, telecommunications companies, technology platforms, and authorities.
The discussion came as the financial sector continues to implement the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act and related Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas rules, including Circular No. 1213, which strengthened requirements for fraud monitoring, authentication, and account protection.
“Strong risk management is a shared responsibility,” Reyes said. “This recognition reflects the work of teams across Maya who make careful decisions every day and continue strengthening how we protect customers and support responsible growth.”
The GRC Advocate of the Year award recognizes professionals for their contributions to governance, risk, and compliance while helping their organizations pursue secure and responsible growth.
Organized by Tradepass, the World Financial Innovation Series Philippines brings together financial institutions, regulators, technology providers, and industry leaders to discuss developments shaping banking and financial services. Its annual awards recognize excellence, innovation, and leadership across the financial sector.
