April 2026 | Southeast Asia Fintech & Banking News – Netbank has secured fresh capital in its Series B funding round, led by Altara Ventures, as it doubles down on building scalable financial infrastructure in the Philippines.
While the company has not disclosed the funding amount, the round also saw continued participation from existing investors, including:
- BeeNext
- Kaya Founders
- January Capital
- Oak Drive Ventures
- Boleh Ventures
Focus on Banking Infrastructure Over Consumer Apps
Unlike many fintech startups that prioritize user-facing applications, Netbank is focused on building regulated, backend banking infrastructure.
The company believes the future of fintech in the Philippines will be driven by:
- Strong banking systems
- Seamless integrations
- Reliable financial rails
This approach addresses a key challenge faced by fintech companies—scaling efficiently within regulatory frameworks.
Expanding Payment Rails & Lending Capabilities
With the new funding, Netbank plans to:
- Expand payment infrastructure and rails
- Introduce flexible lending configurations
- Enable partners to deliver financial services without complex integrations
Gus Poston, Founder of Netbank, emphasized that many fintech platforms eventually require a banking partner that can operate at startup speed.
He highlighted that the company’s goal is to make financial services:
- Invisible
- Instant
- Accessible
Investor Confidence in Infrastructure-Led Fintech
Dave Ng noted that Southeast Asia continues to face a shortage of reliable financial infrastructure.
He added that Netbank stands out due to its:
- Modular and embeddable banking solutions
- Compliance-first approach
- Strong execution discipline
The continued participation of existing investors reflects confidence in Netbank’s long-term growth potential.
About Netbank
Founded in 2019 by Gus Poston, Netbank operates as a regulated rural bank in the Philippines, offering modern banking services.
Key Highlights:
- First new bank of its kind in over 250 years in the Philippines
- Focus on embedded finance and banking-as-a-service (BaaS)
- Enables fintechs and platforms to build financial products seamlessly
The company aims to simplify banking access and drive financial inclusion across the Philippines.
Market Outlook: Infrastructure is the Future of Fintech
Southeast Asia’s fintech ecosystem is evolving rapidly, with increasing focus on:
- Banking-as-a-service (BaaS)
- Embedded finance solutions
- Regulatory-compliant financial systems
Startups like Netbank are positioning themselves at the core of this shift by building the infrastructure layer powering next-generation fintech platforms.
Ruchi Kumar is the associate editor at Entrepreneur News Network and TVW News India, where she leads editorial strategy, brand storytelling, and startup ecosystem coverage. With a strong focus on innovation, business, and marketing insights, he curates impactful narratives that spotlight India’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape. She has written extensively on fintech, AI and emerging startups.