EastWest Bank is dropping its ₱10 InstaPay transfer fee. Starting July 15, 2026, its customers can send money to other banks for free through the bank's EasyWay and Komo apps. PESONet transfers, which were already free, stay that way. The move makes EastWest the newest lender to join the Philippine banking industry's push to zero-out digital transfer fees, joining bigger names like BPI, BDO, Metrobank, UnionBank, Security Bank, PNB, and LandBank that removed their charges in the same stretch of early July.
Key Takeaways
- EastWest will waive its ₱10 InstaPay transfer fee on the EasyWay and Komo apps starting July 15, 2026.
- PESONet transfers were already free for EastWest clients and stay free.
- The change follows a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP, the country's central bank) circular pushing banks toward fairer, market-based transfer pricing.
- EastWest joins nearly a dozen banks that scrapped fund-transfer fees in early July 2026.
- Only the sending fee changes; the free transfer covers InstaPay (instant, real-time) and PESONet (batch, same-day) rails.
What EastWest is changing
Until now, EastWest charged ₱10 for each InstaPay transfer sent through EasyWay, its mobile banking app, and Komo, its digital-only bank. InstaPay is the instant, real-time rail used for quick, everyday sending; the bank's app caps it at ₱50,000 per transaction and ₱200,000 per day.
PESONet, the slower batch rail that clears on the same day (subject to a cut-off), was already free at EastWest, with a limit of up to ₱250,000 per day. Transfers between EastWest and Komo accounts were also already free and real-time. So the real change on July 15 is the removal of that ₱10 InstaPay charge, which brings both interbank rails to zero cost for individual clients.
"At EastWest, we want banking to feel easier and more useful in our clients' everyday lives," EastWest CEO Jerry G. Ngo said in a statement on Thursday. "Through EasyWay and Komo, we are giving individual clients more ways to move money safely and more conveniently."
Why the fees are disappearing
EastWest said the move supports the BSP's drive for wider use of inclusive digital payments. The wave of fee cuts follows a BSP circular that encourages banks to adopt reasonable, market-based pricing for person-to-person electronic fund transfers. In plain terms, the regulator wants sending small amounts of money between accounts to be cheap or free, so more Filipinos use safe digital channels instead of cash. This is the same regulatory push that prompted more banks to waive InstaPay fees earlier this year.
How EastWest compares to other banks
EastWest is arriving a little later than its peers, and with a slightly later start date. Several banks flipped their fees to zero within the first days of July, and EastWest's July 15 date rounds out the group.
| Bank / e-wallet | InstaPay transfer fee | Effective |
|---|
| EastWest | Free (was ₱10) | July 15, 2026 |
| Chinabank | Free | July 9, 2026 |
| PNB | Free | July 10, 2026 |
| BPI, BDO, Metrobank, UnionBank, Security Bank, LandBank | Free | Rolled out in early July 2026 |
Not everyone has gone to zero, though. Major e-wallets GCash and Maya kept a ₱10 InstaPay fee even as banks like BPI and RCBC scrapped theirs. That gap is worth watching, since the two wallets handle a large share of everyday small transfers in the country. For a look at how one of the early movers structured its own permanent waiver, see BPI's removal of InstaPay and PESONet fees from July 1.
Why It Matters for PH users
For most EastWest customers, the change is small per transaction but adds up. Someone who sends money to another bank a few times a week was paying ₱10 each time; over a month that is real money saved, especially for gig workers, small sellers, and families splitting bills across different banks. It also removes a common reason people fell back on cash or in-app wallets. With PESONet already free and InstaPay now joining it, EastWest clients can pick the rail that fits the transfer, instant for urgent sends, batch for larger same-day amounts, without a fee deciding for them. The broader signal is that free interbank transfers are quickly becoming a basic feature in Philippine banking rather than a perk.
What to do and when it starts
There is nothing to sign up for. The free InstaPay transfers take effect automatically on July 15, 2026 for individual clients using EasyWay and Komo. PESONet stays free as before, and internal EastWest and Komo transfers remain free and real-time.
FAQ
When do EastWest's free InstaPay transfers start?
July 15, 2026. Before that date, the ₱10 InstaPay fee still applies.
Which apps does this cover?
EasyWay, EastWest's mobile banking app, and Komo, its digital-only bank. Both are covered for individual clients.
Was PESONet already free?
Yes. PESONet transfers were already free for EastWest clients, so the July 15 change mainly removes the InstaPay charge.
Do I need to enroll or apply?
No. The fee waiver applies automatically from July 15, 2026 for eligible individual clients.
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