Grab Will Now Lend You Money And Then Some

JAKARTA — Regional superapp Grab has now expanded its already diverse feature set with a cash loan feature involving accessible credit and customizable repayment plans, which is currently a Philippines-first service. The Singapore-based tech company launched 13 new AI-powered features, including the Cash Loan option that uses automated underwriting for eligible users who are new to credit or have limited financial histories. It won't require any paperwork or wait time when your bills start piling up and the loan sharks circle you in funky waters.

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Who Is the New Country Head of Grab Philippines?

Grab CEO Anthony Tan at GrabX 2026

At the yearly GrabX Innovations Product Event held here on Wednesday, April 8, Grab Group Chief Executive Officer Anthony Tan said the new financial feature gives Grab users an avenue for reliable and safe credit when they feel like they're sinking. "It lets us extend safe and responsible credit lifelines to folks who previously had no other options but loan sharks," he said during his keynote speech at the event.

The Cash Loan option is currently only available in the Philippines and will soon be rolled out in Thailand and Malaysia by mid-next year.

Meanwhile, the GrabX event also saw the launch of the Group Ride feature that saves users up to 40 percent of a ride fare compared to riding solo if you're passing by similar routes in groups. The superapp's AI model arranges the trip automatically for what it deems to be the most efficient route and a fare calculated based on distance and traffic. A waiting room feature will also allow everyone in their respective Group Ride rooms to see who's ready to go and where their Grab driver is in real time. This does away with the tedious process of waiting for each friend to pay their share of the ride via other e-wallet apps, which often leads to that stingy friend taking their sweet time paying the fare back.

The leading superapp now also offers Grab More, which allows users to order from two separate restaurants without paying two delivery fees, or a minimum order amount. The AI aspect here is the automated arrangement of orders to arrive simultaneously.

Philippine users can also expect the all-new Grab AI Assistant to be ready to use by the end of the year. Think of this as a do-it-all assistant that understands habits and preferences tailored for specific needs. Users can even send photos, voice notes, or other files for the assistant to make custom bookings and deliveries.

GrabMaps for Consumers, meanwhile, will help plan trips via an analysis of activity history that will cover an estimated time of arrival, real-time parking availability, EV charger locations, and a custom voice for turn-by-turn directions. Think of this as another Waze within the Grab app.

Tap to Pay expands the payment option sphere to include GrabMerchant-enabled smartphones into contactless payment terminals to start accepting debit/credit cards and QR code payments within minutes, all on the app.

And last of the standout AI-centric Grab features, GrabStays acts as a hotel booking service in association with the AI-first hotel ecosystem Nuitee. Much like separate platforms like Klook, Booking.com, and Agoda, the superapp's own take lets you make last-minute, competitive hotel bookings straight from the app.

"We are living in a world where humans who don't embrace AI will very likely be displaced. This is not a dystopian future; it is a reality we must confront today," according to the Grab Group CEO.

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