Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

Tonik is a digital bank disruptor that’s aiming to earn its stripes among the unbanked population in the Philippines. As digitally-savvy younger generations take steps towards adulting, they're turning to online services that build trust through transparency and make their benefits crystal clear.

Ad agency MullenLowe created an ad campaign for Axe (Philippines) that features a series of online and on-ground classes dedicated to understanding, and expanding, the interests of Filipino males. The move comes as people look to brands to go beyond stereotypical, gender-based marketing.

The pandemic has given hygiene-friendly peer-to-peer solutions a boost – and they’re ushering in a whole new era of banking. Owned by Jack Dorsey’s Square, Cash App is a one-stop digital banking solution that’s attracting increasingly bitcoin-savvy investors, rappers included.

Digital wallets were gaining ground well before COVID-19 struck, but the pandemic accelerated their uptake as people prioritized contactless transactions. As well as offering a more hygienic way to make purchases, how might these tools enable Americans to make the most of their money?