UnionDigital Bank Honors Two Years of Contributing to Nation-Building via Community Support and Financial Inclusion

“At UnionDigital, each anniversary is not just a time for celebration but an opportunity to give back to the community. This year, we are kicking it off with our UD Cares initiative, focusing on critical social development pillars to support those in need. This initiative perfectly captures the essence of our mission—to empower every Filipino across the nation. By investing in our communities through UD Cares, we are reaffirming our commitment to nation-building and financial inclusion, making meaningful and lasting impacts in the lives of those we serve.” ~Lanie Santos, Chief Human Resource Officer at UnionDigital Bank

UnionDigital Bank Celebrates Two Years of Nation-Building Through Financial Inclusion and Community Support

UnionDigital Bank, the digital banking division of Union Bank of the Philippines, is showcasing its dedication to financial inclusion and community support as it marks its second anniversary by making contributions to nation-building. UnionDigital was founded with the goal of helping the underprivileged by giving financial opportunities to people who have historically been shut out of the banking system.

UnionDigital launched its UD Cares program at San Pedro Elementary School in Laguna this year to celebrate its anniversary. This marked the start of a comprehensive community engagement strategy that includes livelihood, health, and education. 

As part of its commitment to San Pedro Elementary School's Brigada Eskwela program, UnionDigital has been actively involved in classroom painting and has donated school supplies and paint in advance of the 2024 school year. These initiatives demonstrate its unwavering commitment to education as the basis for sustainable development.

In keeping with its objective, UnionDigital has been able to assist people who were having trouble obtaining loans through conventional banking channels. These extra cash have assisted these clients in paying for much-needed home repairs, handling unforeseen emergencies, and investing in their family's future by using the loan for schooling.

"UD Loans provided the financial support I needed to cover my urgent medical procedure. While other banks turned me away, UnionDigital stepped in to help, and for that, I am deeply grateful. My treatment is still ongoing, and I remain hopeful.” ~Julie dela Vega, UD Loans Customer

UnionDigital’s efforts go beyond financial transactions and profitability; they are about creating a ripple effect of opportunities and positive change across communities. As the bank celebrates its second year; it remains deeply committed to its core advocacy of driving financial inclusion. 

"Our journey over the past two years has been about more than just business growth and profitability; it has been about making a real impact in the lives of our customers and the communities we serve – giving them a chance to live better lives. While others hesitated, we led the way, aware of the challenges that come to champion financial inclusion. We are now armed with valuable insights from our experiences, prepared to extend our influence and intensify our impact to create a future where financial services are accessible to every Filipino." ~Mike Singh, Chief Commercial and Revenue Officer at UnionDigital Bank

Looking forward, UnionDigital is poised to continue initiatives that support both economic and social development. 

About UnionDigital Bank: 

UnionDigital Bank is a digital bank entity wholly owned by UnionBank of the Philippines. We are a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) licensed digital bank committed to financial inclusion and creating positive impact on the lives of every Filipino, everywhere. As part of the larger Aboitiz Group, we harness our ecosystem, leverage on its expertise, and work collaboratively to achieve our dream of a financially inclusive Philippines. 

 

Our mission is clear - we strive to provide accessible and personalized banking services, products, and financial knowledge to every Filipino, no matter where they are in the world. As a fully digital bank, we aim to empower our customers with the tools and resources they need to achieve their financial goals and truly uplift their lives. 

Learn more at www.uniondigitalbank.io.  

Keep the FLAMES burning this Valentine’s Day and protect yourself from scammers

“No one can really predict when and how a scammer attacks. We must always be careful not to fall for their schemes. This Valentine’s Day, everyone must be vigilant. Remember, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility.” ~Jonathan John B. Paz, BPI Enterprise Information Security Officer and Data Protection Officer

Recall the 90s game known as FLAMES, which stood for Friends, Lovers, Anger, Marriage, Engagement (or Enemy for some), Soulmates. This popular pen and paper activity was widely enjoyed by young teenagers who would use the letters of their crush's name to "predict" their future.

Fast forward to this day and age, “FLAMES” can guide adults and teens alike. But this time on a more serious note.

BPI’s ‘FLAMES’ reminder consists of simple cybersecurity tips that account holders can do to keep their accounts safe and secure especially this Valentine’s Day:

• F-riends? Family? It is better to keep confidential details like your PINs and passwords a secret (even) from them.
• L-ove to share your latest updates online? This is okay but be sure to set boundaries. Avoid oversharing, especially on social media, for your and your loved ones’ safety. 
• A-nger, excitement, and curiosity are some of the most common emotional trigger's scammers latch on to for their social engineering scams. Too much of these feelings can also be used as bait to manipulate you. 
• M-arriage between online and offline cybersecurity practices is a good habit to develop. It is not enough to be careful with your actions online only but not offline, and vice-versa.
• E-ngage only with trusted accounts. When planning to use e-commerce, do background checks first and read reviews about the sellers or product. Legitimate Facebook pages have the blue verified badges on them.
• S-oulmate? One-True Pair. Just like them, take care of your One-Time PINs (OTPs) as well by never sharing them with anyone.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) presents a ‘FLAMES’ way—of protecting against scammers. 

CitySavings and UnionDigital have new leaders announced by UnionBank

“These leadership appointments are key to taking both CitySavings and UnionDigital to the next level of digitally-driven growth and scale, towards our aspiration to be a Great Retail Bank.” ~Edwin R. Bautista, UnionBank President and CEO

According to City Savings Bank (CitySavings), Ana Aboitiz Delgado has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Board of the thrift bank subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank).

Delgado is the Chief Customer Experience Officer, Chief Digital Channels Officer, and Senior Executive Vice President of UnionBank at the same time. Delgado was the driving force behind UnionBank's transformation and redesign of its branches into the Ark, which enhanced the customer experience in real-world locations. He also made significant progress in expanding UnionBank's digital customer base through the company's UB Online mobile app. She also helped negotiate UnionBank and Citibank N.A.'s historic acquisition. Lorenzo T. Ocampo was named vice chairman and CEO of CitySavings alongside Delgado, and Manuel G. Santiago Jr. was named president and CEO of the thrift bank.

Ramon Vicente De Vera will be replaced as President and Chief Executive Officer of UnionDigital by Henry R. Aguda, formerly Chairman of CitySavings, Chief Technology and Operations Officer, and Chief Transformation Officer of UnionBank. The Bank's new role in market expansion will be led by De Vera.

Aguda led UnionBank's pioneering digital transformation as Chief Technology and Transformation Officer. During his tenure as Chairman, CitySavings expanded its reach into mass and underserved markets by utilizing data science credit scoring and acquisition models. As a result, the company was able to expedite the approval of loans for motorcycles and teachers.

With BPI and Lazada, you can shop and bank all in one place

“We envision our partnership with Lazada as a stepping stone in BPI’s strategy – extend the Bank’s reach and presence, and provide access to our products and services to more Filipinos. We started with the core products of the Bank: #SaveUp, credit cards, and auto, housing, and personal loans, but we intend to expand both the BPI products available in our Lazada Flagship Store and our distribution partnerships, be it physical or digital.” ~Jose Teodoro K. Limcaoco, BPI President and CEO

BPI and Lazada Philippines Communications Teams

In partnership with Lazada, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) opens the official BPI Flagship Store in LazMall, blazing yet another trail in Philippine banking.

The most sought-after BPI products are made available through the platform as a result of the first-of-its-kind partnership between the oldest bank in the Philippines and one of Southeast Asia's largest e-commerce companies. Filipinos can now apply for credit cards, deposit accounts, auto, home, and personal loans from any location thanks to this initiative.

BPI President and CEO TG Limcaoco; Lazada CEO Carlos Barrera; BPI Agency Banking Head, Rally Jereza

Because the BPI Flagship Store follows the platform's standard purchasing procedure, banking and shopping there feel natural. In Lazada, Filipinos can now “add to cart” BPI products and buy them like they would a new pair of shoes or a new supply of their essentials. Once applications are either approved or booked, the five-step application process for these products is also accompanied by rewards in the form of Lazada gift cards.

BPI CEO and President, Teodoro Limcaoco

Lazada Philippines CEO Carlos Barrera

BPI's promise to reach more Filipinos with its products and services includes this initiative. Partnering with platforms like Lazada expands the Bank's reach and provides additional access points for Filipinos to obtain banking products and services. This is done in addition to the Bank's more than 750 branches, over 2,000 ATMs, and the rapid development of mobile banking technology.

By integrating banking into Filipinos' day-to-day lives through new channels, BPI hopes to change the way Filipinos bank through its Agency Banking Group. BPI will ultimately redefine the standard for convenience and accessibility in banking by adding established agent stores that are convenient stops for Filipinos to its traditional brick-and-mortar branches and robust online channels.

"We trust that, through the Agency Banking model, Filipinos will be able to bank the way they want to, wherever they are, giving them their channel of choice. Banking will be naturally integrated in their daily lives – from buying medicine in the nearest drugstore to online shopping in Lazada, BPI will be there.” ~Rally Jereza, Head of BPI Agency Banking

Mr. Rally Jereza, Head of BPI Agency Banking

By bringing together shopping and banking in a single location, the ground-breaking partnership between BPI and Lazada aims to provide value to customers of both companies.

With more groundbreaking partnerships to look forward to, BPI Agency Banking’s battle cry rings loudly:

“May BPI dito! May BPI kahit saan!”

BPI shares six ways to do a digital clean up

“Doing so will protect you from identity theft, loss of funds, even damage to your reputation by the use of stolen personal data. Your digital footprint might be there to stay, but you can limit your vulnerability to scammers and fraudsters. Consider these tips to keep your personal information safe from their craftiness that grow by the year. Make digital clean-up a habit today.” ~Jonathan John B. Paz, BPI Enterprise Information Security Officer and Data Privacy Officer

Sharing personal data may be inevitable when we do various online transactions. However, it is best if we make it a habit to wipe clean the digital trail we create as we use gadgets and applications 24/7. 

To protect your privacy and avoid being a fraud victim, here are six ways to do a digital clean up:

1. Delete your personal data from old devices before disposing, reselling, or donating them. For computers, use a disk cleaning software to permanently delete information. For smartphones and tablets, do a factory reset. For other devices, in addition to doing a hard reset, remove hard drives and memory cards, if any. 
2. Secure your smartphones by uninstalling apps that you do not need because they not only waste energy but could also be exploited to leak information. Clear storage space of files and remove duplicates—check for downloads, media files, and messages that you do not need anymore. 
3. Deactivate or close the accounts you registered in the apps before uninstalling them. Purging those that you no longer use is a good way to minimize your digital footprint and lessen the likelihood of data leakage. Think twice before installing an app and creating an account, and ask yourself if it will serve your purpose. Do not reuse passwords across online services, especially passwords that you use for online banking.
4. Do a digital clean up of your computers to prevent data from loosely lying around. Delete all files that you no longer need and organize those you will keep. Uninstall unused programs. Uninstall unimportant web browser extensions that you might have inadvertently enabled. Clear your cache to delete personal information you may have used in answering online forms.
5. Organize your email inbox by categories: promotions, chat message notifications, social media notifications, past events or announcements, etc. Be cautious in sharing your email address and make a note to whom you do. Unsubscribe from newsletters that no longer serve your purposes. Reply to new emails at once so they don’t pile up.
6. Use your social media accounts wisely to prevent scammers from harvesting your personal information. Review your privacy settings and enable multi-factor authentication wherever available. Delete old and unused accounts. Delete posts that reveal too much of yourself or are not relevant anymore. Do not overshare. Be cautious of what or with whom you engage online.

BPI enables easy way to send donations digitally

“The goal of the donation facility is to make helping and caring for more people more convenient and accessible. We are helping empower our clients to support charities and advocacies they believe in by providing them a centralized online portal to send financial support safely, easily, and free of charge. With this new digital service, we hope to further spark the bayanihan spirit of our kababayans and inspire them to be socially conscious and to give back to communities, particularly those devasted by typhoons, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and other catastrophes. We are also launching this in time for the ‘ber months’ – the widely known start of the holiday season in the country, which is indeed a time for caring and sharing. The donation facility provides our clients an easy and error-free option to send help without the need to enroll the beneficiary or key in an account number.” ~Noel Santiago, BPI Chief Digital Officer

For Filipinos, the stormy season has become equivalent to disasters like hurricanes, serious flooding, and avalanches. A single super hurricane - like Odette in December 2021 - can prompt the passings of many individuals, the dislodging of thousands, and the far reaching obliteration of structures and fundamental framework across urban communities and regions in the Philippines. Situated along the ring of fire, the nation is additionally defenseless against destruction unleashing volcanic ejections and quakes.

Hence, when everything goes awry, individuals should have the option to meet up to rapidly help those out of luck. Tending to this worry, this September, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has made it simpler for anybody to in a split second give help to the people who need it the most at the time they need it. Another element on BPI On the web and the BPI Versatile application called eDonate currently allows clients to give carefully to noble cause and establishments that can uphold huge number of underestimated Filipinos.

At this point, clients can send cash for gifts to 10 magnanimous associations through BPI's eDonate administration. These incorporate the Asian World Place for Missions, Ayala Establishment, Inc., Caritas Manila, CBN Asia, Companions of Trust, Jesuit Correspondence Establishment, Activity Favors Establishment, Save The Kids, television Maria Establishment, and WWF-Philippines.

More charities and foundations are in the pipeline, according to Santiago. 

Send donations conveniently

All clients with BPI Online credentials can use the new digital service simply by going to the BPI Mobile app, swiping up, tapping “BPI eDonate,” and following the steps indicated in sending a donation. Likewise, the service can be accessed directly by visiting https://bpiedonate.com/.

Once a transaction is completed, eDonate gives donors the option to request an official receipt of donation. The user can simply send a request to the charity or foundation using the email address provided in the email confirmation. 

For more information, you may visit  www.bpi.com.ph. 

ABOUT BPI

The 170-year-old Bank of the Philippine Islands is the first bank in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. We are licensed as a universal bank by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to provide a diverse range of financial services: deposit taking and cash management, payments, lending and leasing, asset management, bancassurance, investment banking, securities brokerage, and foreign exchange and capital markets. BPI has significant financial strength, with robust Tier 1 capital adequacy ratios and profitability, underpinned by a stringent compliance and risk management regimes. E-mail: Media: mjsilvestre@bpi.com.ph Investors: Investorrelations@bpi.com.ph. Bank of the Philippine Islands l Ayala North Exchange Tower 1, Ayala Avenue corner Salcedo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229 PH l +632 8246 6364l www.bpi.com.ph

Marie Alexis Sy, 31st SEA Games silver medalist and BPI Unibanker receives warm welcome from BPI family

“We are immensely proud of Alexis for bringing glory to our country and to BPI. She works a full-time banking job, helping large corporations grow, and at the same time, excels in a sport that requires discipline, strength and mental focus. Alexis earned our respect, and we will continue to support her.” ~TG Limcaoco, CEO and BPI President

The 31st SEA Games silver medalist and BPI Unibanker Marie Alexis Sy was welcomed with warm cheers as she paid a courtesy visit recently to BPI President and CEO TG Limcaoco at the company’s head office in Makati City.

“The full support of BPI and Ayala Corporation has been really overwhelming. That is why I make sure to find a balance between work and sport to show them that even though I am an athlete, I can still do well at work. I want to give back to the company and my workmates because they supported my bowling career. We want to make you all proud that we are Filipinos. What we have accomplished is not just ours but it’s for the whole country.” ~Marie Alexis Sy, 31st SEA Games silver medalist and BPI Unibanker

Limcaoco said BPI takes pride in Sy’s relentless effort and perseverance in effectively managing her responsibilities as an athlete and as a BPI Unibanker.

Sy is currently a Cebu-based marketing associate under BPI’s Corporate Banking group. 

Double the fun this summer with BPI promo and discounts

“This may be the first ‘almost normal’ summer since the start of the pandemic. And as traveling and outdoor activities are permitted under Alert Level 1, we expect more purchases and online transactions. And what better way to reward our clients than to give them a fun summer with prizes, discounts, and cash backs. With the BPI Online credentials as passport, clients get to experience the Bank’s expansive digital ecosystem and linkages that go over and beyond banking – from shopping and lifestyle to P2P transfers to government payments to transportation and utilities, and now even for making donations via the newly introduced BPI eDonate.” ~Noel Santiago, BPI Chief Digital Officer

Double the fun this summer with BPI promo and discounts

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is launching its Summer Essentials Promo, which will run from April 18 to May 31, aiming to give its clients a chance to win shopping credits and vouchers, and avail of exclusive discounts and cash backs. 

Exclusively offered to all BPI account holders enrolled in BPI Online, exciting prizes and huge savings await them when paying or cashing in using their BPI Online credentials on partner apps and websites to participate in the summer promo. 

For their summer outfit needs, they can get a chance to win shopping credits with every cash in to ShopeePay and purchase at ZALORA. GrabFood is also raffling GrabFood vouchers for their next food trip at home. Discounts are offered at GoGulong PH, one of the premier online tire marketplace in the Philippines, which can be availed multiple times within the promo period. Coffee lovers can also enjoy discounts on purchases made at Everyday Coffee, an online coffee store, by simply using the promo code BPISummer2022 upon checkout. For much-needed medical tests, they can enjoy money off for services booked using the AIDE app, the first home care platform in the Philippines, especially RT-PCR tests and other select laboratory packages. For the sports buffs, they can pay less for a single purchase of activewear from OutPerformer. For BPI accountholders who have a MegaPay account, cashbacks and bonus credits are available when using the MegaPay app. Gamers can enjoy credits and vouchers when using UniPin, the leading digital entertainment enabler. 

BPI clients are in for a much more exciting summer after a long while. Whether on a relaxing staycation, a thrilling adventure outdoors, or a simple get-together with family and friends, they are assured there’s an online account they can rely on for purchases and experiences, and with perks this season to double the fun.

For BPI Family Savings Bank (BFSB) accountholders, they may continue using their existing BFSB account details to avail of promos. 

For more information, visit https://www.bpi.com.ph/onebpi.

BPI donates 94 computers to public schools in Muntinlupa

“One of BPI's key business priorities for 2022 and beyond is to champion sustainability. We believe that doing well by doing good is key to building a sustainable and better Philippines. This donation is also our way of supporting our public school teachers and students by providing them additional access to online learning amid these trying times.” ~Owen Cammayo, BPI Foundation Executive Director

For the first leg, 26 desktops and two laptops were turned over to Poblacion Elementary School, which has 144 faculty members and more than 5,000 students, with most of them from relocated families. 

Aligned with its sustainability push, BPI, through its social development arm, BPI Foundation, committed to donating 94 used but functional computer units to four public schools in Muntinlupa City.

Meanwhile, the remaining computer units will be distributed to Itaas Elementary School, Muntinlupa National High School, and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa in the coming weeks.

Owen Cammayo, BPI Foundation Executive Director

Dr. Dominic Idanan, the Muntinlupa Schools Division Superintendent

Dr. Dominic Idanan, the Muntinlupa Schools Division Superintendent noted that technology has become an important platform for learning during this time of the pandemic.

“These gadgets can help a lot and contribute to the quality education of our students.” ~Dr. Dominic Idanan, the Muntinlupa Schools Division Superintendent

Photo shows, from left: BPI Director Ignacio “Toting” Bunye, BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo, Poblacion Elementary School (POBES) Principal IV Dr. Raul T. Felix, Muntinlupa Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Dominico Idanan CESO V, POBES GPTA President Jackelyn Inople, and POBES Faculty President Milagros Barroga during the turnover of computer units in Poblacion Elementary School, Muntinlupa City.

Meanwhile, the remaining computer units will be distributed to Itaas Elementary School, Muntinlupa National High School, and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa in the coming weeks. 

To know more about BPI Foundation, follow its Facebook and Instagram pages and visit www.bpifoundation.org.  

UBX revenues balloon 5x in 2021, aims to ride growth momentum this year

“The year 2021 was a real inflection point for us – it is when we achieved traction. Our goal is to continue to ride on this growth momentum in 2022 through constant innovation and the development of solutions that will further democratize access to financial services. We're connecting people to the financial systems of the country, we're doing it in a way that's more affordable and providing more opportunity and access to everybody, and we believe that improves lives. We believe in a future where financial services are embedded into the everyday experiences and activities that matter to businesses and people. We will continue to introduce more digital financial solutions this year to complement and support the open finance policy framework of the central bank.” ~John Januszczak, UBX President and CEO

UBX Logo

With the demand for digital financial solutions growing at rapid paces due to the pandemic, UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, recorded remarkable growth in 2021 with revenues ballooning by 5x, a momentum that the fintech innovator aims to ride on in 2022. UBX served over 200,000 business to business customers, partnered with more than 2,000 independent banking agents and 250 financial institutions, and recorded an annual gross transaction value of P20 billion.

Backed by Asia’s top digital bank UnionBank of the Philippines, UBX is the leading open finance platform in the country, enabling interoperability among different financial institutions by making data more accessible and portable. 

UBX offers a spectrum of financial services, providing technology that allows them to be embedded into digital platforms and business ecosystems. 

Over the last three years, UBX invested in building and developing various financial services that create more value for both consumers and businesses. Among its solutions are i2i, SeekCap, Bux, and Sentro. 

A banking-as-a-service solution, i2i brings financial services to underserved communities through its network of financial services providers. 

SeekCap, meanwhile, is the Philippines’ first same-day approval, digital lending marketplace developed for micro, small, medium sized enterprises who need access to credit to run and scale their businesses. 

Bux, on the other hand, is an end-to-end payment gateway for businesses of all sizes. It allows businesses to accept payments from their customers through over 50,000+ of over-the-counter locations, including 7-Eleven and LBC, debit and credit card payments as well as wallet payments via GrabPay and GCash. 

UBX is committed to continue developing new financial solutions this year, as it sees a huge opportunity in the industry with the rollout of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) policy framework for open finance. 

For more information about the company and this article, please visit www.ubx.ph. For inquiries, email us at hello@ubx.ph.

About UBX

UBX is the Philippines’ leading open finance platform, a fintech spun out of UnionBank of the Philippines. UBX is predicated on a future where financial services are invisible: seamlessly embedded into the experiences and activities that truly matter to businesses and people. 

UnionBank at 40: Future Forward, a leap to enduring greatness

“This acquisition further cements our position as a leading bank in the Philippines, as well as fast-tracks our growth aspirations in the retail banking segment.” ~Erramon Isidro M. Aboitiz, UnionBank Chairman

AR 2000 Championing e-commerce

Today as it ushers in its 40th year, UnionBank is globally-recognized by International Banker magazine as “already an unequivocal digital trailblazer in both the Philippines and Southeast Asia”, named ‘Asia Trailblazer Institution of the Year’ by Retail Banker International, and ‘Best Bank for Customer Experience in Southeast Asia’ from Global Brands Magazine, among many other international recognitions.

Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) is widely-known to have been trailblazing many firsts in the country since it began operations forty years ago. UnionBank has always been among the first to embrace technological innovations to empower its customers into the future of banking. The Bank’s 40-year journey began with a simple vision: to become one of the top three universal banks in the country with respect to market capitalization, profits, and customer coverage.

UnionBank began building the foundations for its operations in 1981, and in just a year, became a commercial bank on January 19, 1982. A decade after, in 1992, the Bank debuted at the Manila and Makati Stock Exchanges in June of that year, and was granted a Universal Banking License the month after.

In 1994, UnionBank acquired the International Corporate Bank, which marked the first of a series of acquisitions that would strengthen UnionBank's capabilities to deliver banking services tailored to the unique needs of Filipino customers.

In 2006, UnionBank purchased 98 percent of one of the top 20 largest banks in the country International Exchange Bank (iBank), making it the 7th largest private domestic commercial bank in the Philippines.

In 2013, in line with a renewed thrust to enable financial inclusion in the country, UnionBank acquired thrift bank City Savings Bank. The acquisition enabled the Bank to expand its customer franchise and achieve its goal of financial inclusion that is also driven by sustainability.

AR 99 Financial Portal

In its thrust to promote sustainable financial inclusion, the Bank entered into its first venture into rural banking and micro-financing by acquiring a majority stake in the Cebu-based First-Agro Industrial Bank (FairBank) in 2016.

In the same year, UnionBank embarked on its radical digital transformation journey, favoring expansion through digital channels over the traditional opening of more branches, while reinforcing its commitment to deliver superior customer experience and making a promise that ‘no one gets left behind’ to promote inclusive prosperity in the Philippines.

The rest, as they say, is history as UnionBank went full throttle on its journey and continued to achieve numerous industry-firsts, gaining the reputation as the country's most innovative bank even before the Filipino mass adoption of the internet. 

UnionBank was the first Philippine bank to introduce mobile banking through wireless application protocol-enabled cellphones, the first Philippine Bank to launch a banking website, first to use an online payment card through EON, first to use a chat bot (Talk to Rafa), first to launch its own stablecoin (PHX), first to introduce mobile check deposit through its award-winning app UnionBank Online, opened The ARK—the first fully digital bank branch in the country, launched UBX—the Bank’s fintech and corporate venture capital arm, leveraging ecosystems and data to explore new possibilities to make financial services more instinctive and accessible, the first Philippine bank to go fully on the cloud, and launched UnionDigital becoming the first publicly listed Philippine bank with a digital banking license.

Capping off the year 2021, UnionBank surprised the country with the announcement of a game-changing deal to acquire the consumer banking business of American banking giant Citi in the Philippines.  Seen as the largest transaction in the local banking community in recent years.

“Our success today has been a product of looking ahead into the future and preparing for the evolution of banking. We will continue to help ‘tech up’ customers, partners, institutions in line with our ‘Tech Up, Pilipinas’ aspiration, empowering all of us to weather this pandemic and emerge more resilient than ever. Together, we can be future forward and leap to being a bank of enduring greatness.” ~Edwin R. Bautista, UnionBank President and CEO

Today as it ushers in its 40th year, UnionBank is globally-recognized by International Banker magazine as “already an unequivocal digital trailblazer in both the Philippines and Southeast Asia”, named ‘Asia Trailblazer Institution of the Year’ by Retail Banker International, and ‘Best Bank for Customer Experience in Southeast Asia’ from Global Brands Magazine, among many other international recognitions.

UnionBank clients can now seamlessly do direct cash-in to their Shopee and Lazada wallets!

“These partnerships are timely especially now at a time when e-commerce and cashless transactions are exponentially rising. This ensures Filipinos can participate in the headwinds of innovation and a better, more seamless customer experience as a result.” ~Erika Denise Dizon, UnionBank FVP and Head of Fintech Business Group

UnionBank clients can now do their online shopping more conveniently through the country’s major e-commerce giants Shopee and Lazada -- by directly cashing-in their e-wallets. This new option opens another channel for Bank customers to do their online transactions seamlessly.

Surely, buying essentials online has never been this easy! Shopee and Lazada buyers can now easily cash-in, in real time from their UnionBank accounts. Customers also enjoy discounts and added benefits with their online purchases, for every top-up transaction.

This was made possible with the collaboration of tech savvy ShopeePay, Lazada Wallet and UnionBank, combining the power of three digital leaders. 

Here’s how it works. To cash-in your ShopeePay using UnionBank Online Banking, go to ShopeePay Wallet, select Cash-in, enter the amount, select online banking as the payment method, and choose UnionBank. You will then be directed to the Bank’s online banking to confirm the transaction.

For Lazada Wallet, click the wallet icon on the upper right portion of the homepage. Select the cash-in button, enter the amount, and select “Add UnionBank account” in the Cash-in Methods page. You will then be directed to the Bank’s online banking site for confirmation of the transaction. Then enjoy shopping!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year – Ender! Achievements, and Future Projects!

"The pandemic created this shift to digital, which we now refer to as the “new digital normal”. We changed the way we live, the way we travel, the way we interact with one another, and basically we've changed forever in terms of how we transact in the financial sector. But even before the pandemic, UnionBank already had this forward-looking view that digital is the way for us to move forward, and when the pandemic hit, not only did we survive, but I'm happy to say that the Bank actually thrived," ~Henry Aguda, UnionBank Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Operations Officer, and Chief Transformation Officer

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

In celebration of its numerous accomplishments and milestones this past year, and to give a small preview of what its customers can expect in 2022, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) held another iteration of its long-running virtual media roundtable series E-TalkTales last December 15. In celebration of its numerous accomplishments and milestones this past year, and to give a small preview of what its customers can expect in 2022.

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

Arvie de Vera, Co-Founder and CEO of UnionBank's digital-native banking arm UnionDigital, and Henry Aguda, UnionBank Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Operations Officer, and Chief Transformation Officer

During the virtual event, UnionBank Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Operations Officer, and Chief Transformation Officer Henry Aguda talked about some of the Bank's achievements for the year, while the Co-Founder and CEO of UnionBank's digital-native banking arm UnionDigital, Arvie de Vera, talked about the role that the newly formed digital bank will play in UnionBank's digital transformation journey going forward.

Henry Aguda, UnionBank Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Operations Officer, and Chief Transformation Officer.

Aguda began the discussion by recounting how UnionBank's digital transformation journey has enabled it to brave 2020 and the equally challenging 2021. 

Aguda, then highlighted the top 10 most notable achievements of UnionBank in 2021. These include being the only publicly listed Philippine bank to be granted a license to operate a digital-native bank; the successful groundbreaking of the UnionBank Innovation Campus, the country's first-ever learning institution focused on digital innovation; and having 21 patents for its innovative offers already approved and 18 more on the way. 

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

Other notable achievements include the integration of Instapay 2.0 into its digital banking platform; the successful launch of the UnionBank SME Banking App; the launch of wealth management educational campaigns including the NextGen Academy; significant user growths for UBX’s platforms SeekCap, Bux, and Sentro; and the significant increase in its customer base to almost 10 million to date, from just nearly 7 million as of end-2020.

Meanwhile, de Vera provided a quick introduction to UnionDigital. UnionDigital is one of only six financial institutions in the Philippines that have officially been granted digital banking licenses by the Bangko Central ng Pilipinas to date. 

Arvie de Vera, Co-Founder and CEO of UnionBank's digital-native banking arm UnionDigital

"While UnionDigital aims to empower the country's digital economy, we also aim to elevate it by bringing trust and governance into the space. We embrace innovation like a fintech, but offer all the powers, experience, and track record of a fully regulated bank. At the heart of our work will always be the desire to provide our customers with what they want and what they need, while ensuring that they have what they need in terms of security, compliance with regulation, and proper governance.” ~Arvie de Vera, Co-Founder and CEO of UnionBank's digital-native banking arm UnionDigital

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

As UnionBank's digital banking arm, UnionDigital will focus on delivering banking and financial services to underserved sectors which the parent bank is not able to optimally cater to. 

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

In terms of what customers can expect from the Bank and its subsidiaries in 2022, some of the things that Aguda and de Vera gave a sneak preview of were the Bank's possible foray into non-fungible tokens (NFTs), several new solutions aimed at helping workers in the thriving gig economy through EON, and participating in the growing interest and opportunities relating to the metaverse, just to name a few. 

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

"UnionBank’s goal is not just to help people survive, but to actually enable them to thrive in this new environment through the latest financial technologies; staying true to our commitment to “Tech-up Pilipinas! I hope you are as eager as I am to welcome 2022. What I can promise you is that what you heard today is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a lot more exciting news you can look forward to from UnionBank." ~Albert Cuadrante, UnionBank Chief Marketing Officer

Albert Cuadrante, UnionBank Chief Marketing Officer

 

UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) 13th E-Talk Tales & 2021 Year!

UnionBank Chief Marketing Officer Albert Cuadrante capped off the event with a promise that the Bank will continue to do even better in 2022 in terms of delivering great customer experience across channels and platforms.