UnionBank and Jobstreet Tech-ing Up Talent Acquisition for MSMEs

In a bid to enable growth and new opportunities for Filipino entrepreneurs, UnionBank GlobalLinker, the digital platform of Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), recently inked a partnership with online employment marketplace JobStreet by SEEK to help UnionBank GlobalLinker members attract the right talent for their business.

UnionBank GlobalLinker and Jobstreet signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the partnership wherein UnionBank GlobalLinker members can exclusively avail of two job postings for free on Jobstreet. Members must be new to JobStreet to avail of the offer.

JobStreet Philippines Country Manager Dannah Majarocon and UnionBank Senior Vice President and Institutional Segment Marketing Head Dino Velasco joined the ceremony as signatories.

With this new initiative, UnionBank GlobalLinker creates more value for its members. Aside from helping them establish an online presence to be competitive in the digital age, and allowing them to connect with potential customers, financiers, suppliers, partners, and service provides through its network of more than 350,000 members, the platform can now also give them a head start when looking for prospective employees.

Your UnionBank Mastercard may be the key to a brand-new BMW

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) Mastercard credit cardholders, this is for you! UnionBank has teamed up with BMW for a Mastercard-exclusive raffle that is sure to enhance your credit card usage.

Through this UnionBank Mastercard promo, cardholders can get a chance to drive home a brand-new 2023 BMW X1 simply by using their UnionBank Mastercard credit card!

Every P20,000 accumulated spend (from straight local or forex retail, bills payment, and installment transactions) earns five (5) raffle entries for a chance to win a brand-new 2023 BMW X1. Also, card transactions for grocery, gas, pharmacy, and utility bills have never been more rewarding, as cardholders can also win exciting eGCs through the promo’s official scratch game. Simply using their UnionBank Mastercard for every straight local or forex retail, bills payment, and installment transaction with a minimum amount spend of P200, gets cardholders an electronic scratch card for this game.

Moneybees Expands OTC Crypto Services through Tivoli Money Exchange’s New Branch at One Ayala

Aimed at making crypto buying and selling more accessible to Filipinos, Moneybees, leading over-the-counter cryptocurrency exchange platform, has reinforced efforts with its long-standing partnership with Tivoli Money Exchange through its recently opened branch at One Ayala.

Located at the corner of Ayala Avenue and EDSA in Makati, the new intermodal transportation hub is now home to Tivoli’s latest store. Tivoli One Ayala houses Moneybees’ competitive crypto services to cater to digital currency users of all backgrounds within the vicinity.

“Expanding our services to the new branch of Tivoli at One Ayala attempts to meet the increasing demand for convenient and reliable crypto exchange services in the country. Moneybees remains dedicated to offering transparent rates and expert support for a seamless and rewarding crypto trading experience as customer satisfaction and safety are at the core of our operations,” said Jay Villarante, Chairman and CEO of Moneybees Forex Corporation.

UnionBank voted "Most Recommended Retail Bank" anew

On the heels of bagging the top award of “Best Retail Bank in the Philippines” in Hanoi, Vietnam earlier this year, UnionBank was once again recognized for its excellence in retail financial services at the recently concluded The Asian Banker: Excellence in Retail Financial Services and Technology Innovation Philippines Awards 2023, held at Fairmont Makati in Makati City, Philippines, that also had UnionBank’s digital banking arm UnionDigital winning the "Best Digital-Only Bank" award.

UnionBank achieved this accolade through a comprehensive survey conducted between January and February 2023, which garnered feedback from over 1000 online consumers in the Philippines regarding their experiences and satisfaction levels with retail financial institutions.

UnionBank emerged as the standout fueled by an impressive BankQuality Consumer Score of 67%, the highest among all commercial banks, clinching the title of Most Recommended Retail Bank in the country. 

Security Bank empowers workforce with Darwinbox's mobile-first HR solution

Security Bank Corporation (PSE:SECB), a leading universal bank in the Philippines, has recently launched HeRO, powered by Darwinbox, as its Human Capital Management (HCM) platform. This elevates the employee experience of the Bank’s more than 7,000-strong workforce. The Bank has integrated its systems into one end-to-end HCM platform covering the entire employee lifecycle from hiring to retirement. Security Bank’s goal with the partnership is to provide employees with a mobile-first HR solution that is simple, progressive, and serves as a one-stop-shop tool for HCM data and service needs.

Need an additional P100k for school expenses? Here’s how to raise it

As some schools gear up to reopen, this means a fresh new year for students and an influx of fresh new expenses for parents, from transportation to school supplies to hefty tuition fees.

When added all up, the numbers may look overwhelming, but there are ways to stay on top of your child’s school expenses.  Assess how much you will need to set aside for the entire school year. That amount could range from as low as P50,000 to as high as P500,000 depending on where your child is studying plus the uniforms, school supplies, books and other things that your child may need. Once you have pegged that amount, you can start saving a portion of your income to contribute to the education fund.

City Savings Bank Simplifies Loan Applications and Reloans for DepEd Teachers with Loan Ranger Mobile

City Savings Bank (CitySavings), the thrift arm subsidiary of the Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank), continues to make headway with its groundbreaking Loan Ranger Mobile App, which caters to the banking needs of the Department of Education (DepEd) teachers. The mobile app provides public school teachers a fast, convenient, and secure way to check their savings and loan account balances, as well as apply for a reloan anytime, anywhere. Over 170,000 DepEd teachers and employees have enrolled in Loan Ranger Mobile.

True to its tagline, “Simple is Good,” CitySavings simplifies the loan process for DepEd teachers. With Loan Ranger Mobile, teacher-clients can view their account balance in real-time. If they qualify for a reloan, they can simply apply using the app and without visiting the branch. They can also check the status update of their loan application.

Build Strategy for Banking Platforms Resulted in 70% of Failed Digital Transformation for Banks in APAC

IDC Infobrief, commissioned by Backbase, discusses adopt and build as the best practice to grow ROE for digital initiatives

Backbase, the global pioneer of Engagement Banking, announced the release of the APAC-focused Infobrief, "Accelerating Customer-Centric Transformation by Balancing Build and Buy - A Collaborative Approach Towards Sustainable Digital Banking Architecture." Developed by global market intelligence firm IDC, and commissioned by Backbase,  the in-depth report draws insights from 125 banks and 316 CIOs in APAC, including the Philippine market, and offers a regional perspective on digital transformation. The Infobrief challenges the long-standing default approach of building in-house solutions for digital engagement banking platforms, and finds that 65% of mid- to large-sized banks in APAC have opted to build their engagement banking platforms in-house to achieve digital transformation; however, 70% of these projects have failed due to costly and lengthy in-house efforts. 

UnionDigital Bank named Best Digital-Only Bank at The Asian Banker Excellence in Retail Financial Services and Technology Innovation Philippines Awards 2023

L-R: Christian Kapfer, Research Director, The Asian Banker; Ron Puno, Chief Transformation and Technology Officer, UnionDigital Bank; and Wilson Chia, International Resource Director, The Asian Banker

UnionDigital Bank, the digital bank subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines, was recently awarded as the "Best Digital-Only Bank" at The Asian Banker Excellence in Retail Financial Services and Technology Innovation Philippines Awards 2023. The recognition was a testament to UnionDigital's exceptional performance, underpinned by its robust fintech capabilities, strong support from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and extensive partnerships within its ultimate parent company Aboitiz Group's dynamic ecosystem.

UnionDigital Bank also won the Best Digital Lending Service Award from the The Digital Banker: World Digital Bank Awards 2023 last May.

UnionDigital Bank Wins Profitability Race in PH Digital Banking

UnionDigital recorded a triple-digit percentage growth in the first half of 2023 vs. the second half of 2022.

UnionDigital posted PHP 20 billion in deposits, PHP 13 billion in loans in the first half of 2023, up by 113% and 126%, respectively.

As of May 2023, UnionDigital has seized 75% of the market share for loans among the six BSP-licensed digital banks.

UnionDigital recently won “Best Digital-Only Bank” in The Asian Banker Awards 2023 and is one of the only two digital banks from the Philippines listed in the Global Top 100 Digital-Only Bank Ranking 2023

UnionDigital Bank, the digital bank subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines, is one of the fastest digital banks in the world to achieve profitability. It attained a triple-digit percentage growth in its net income during the first half of 2023 compared to the second half of 2022. The Aboitiz Group-led digital bank, which recently marked its first-year milestone in July, attributed this to the robust loan portfolio growth via the UnionBank ecosystem.

Turning A Scare into Security: How Miles Ocampo Was Inspired To Make Her Best Decision Today

Miles Ocampo is used to fast and big changes. As a former child star, she has constantly reinvented herself and expanded her craft. This year alone, she has done a variety of projects, from an action-drama series, a rom-com movie, to a hosting stint on a noontime show. But for someone as adaptable as Miles, there are some things that she could not anticipate. 

"I've been through a lot for the past few months, and it happened so fast to the point that I couldn't keep up with the changes I had faced,” she said. 

A rough patch 

Last April, Miles shared that she recently had surgery to remove her thyroid gland. 

Her health scare started out with minor complaints. Miles recounted in her social media post that she did not feel like herself late last year. She remembers waking up in the middle of the night because she was having a hard time breathing, and getting frustrated that she was getting tired easily. 

The Ultimate Sulit Shopping Experience for Back-to-School Supplies, Essentials

Pay via Home Credit when you shop at SM Stores to enjoy a limited time offer of a PhP300 discount, 0% interest with no processing fee on three months installments for your kids’ school needs! 

Enjoy a limited time offer of a Php300 discount, 0% interest with no processing fee on three months installments on school essentials when you shop at SM Store with Home Credit! 

 As the back-to-school season approaches, it is time again to start shopping for your kids' supplies and essentials. However, with new shoes, notebooks, uniforms, and other items to purchase, the costs can quickly add up. 

Netbank and UBX announce partnership to extend loans to small businesses selling on e-commerce platforms.

Partnership is the latest example of cooperation between the two leaders in embedded finance and open finance in the Philippines.

Netbank and UBX have signed an agreement to issue loans to sellers on ecommerce platforms and started to issue these loans. Netbank expects to rapidly expand its lending to e-commerce sellers in the next year.

Many sellers on e-commerce platforms require additional working capital to expand their sales. Few banks are willing to work with these sellers, however, since they don't have collateral.

Budgeting Hacks: How to Manage Your Kids' Back-to-School Expenses this Season

Enjoy Home Credit's back-to-school cash loan promo with just 1 minute processing time!  

Home Credit eligible customers can enjoy its back-to-school cash loan promo with just 1 minute processing time until August 31, 2023 

With the new academic year just around the corner, most parents, especially moms, are gearing to ensure a smooth back-to-school season for their kids. This entails making sure that tuition fees and miscellaneous expenses are settled in time for the beginning of classes while providing everything they will need, including textbooks, pens, paper, uniforms, and even gadgets, to be equipped with the right tools for their school tasks. 

UnionBank Makes InstaPay Transfers Super Affordable and Rewarding!

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) has always been a trailblazer in enabling affordable and convenient online transactions for its clients. Having one of the lowest inter-bank transfer fees in the industry was just the first step.  Now, UnionBank has FREE InstaPay fund transfers for transactions worth P1,000 and below from August 8 thru November 11, 2023! UnionBank Online app users can now make the most out of the deals this 8.8 with the savings they can get from the waived InstaPay fees. Now that’s an amazing offer!  

The good news doesn’t stop there! UnionBank is also bringing back its InstaPanalo Raffle promotion with a total of 3 million pesos in cash prizes to be given away. 

From August 1 to November 15, 2023, UnionBank Online app users doing InstaPay fund transfers worth above P1,000 get a chance to win cash prizes of up to P100,000! For every five (5) successful InstaPay send transactions worth above P1,000 each, customers automatically earn 1 e-raffle entry. There will be forty (40) winners of P50,000 in the first 2 draws and ten (10) lucky winners of P100,000 during the grand draw. Non-winners during the first and second draw events can still qualify for the grand draw.

Crypto and blockchain education gain significant traction in Philippine Universities

Global Miranda Miner Group launches nationwide caravan to educate students on the fundamentals of next-generation technology.

The rising adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology in the Philippines has prompted more universities to offer educational sessions, helping students keep up with the fast-changing digital and financial landscapes.

Leading this initiative is Arlone “Paul” Abello, known as Coach Miranda Miner, an investor, crypto market analyst, and CEO of the Web3 learning platforms Elite University and FEASTGold. In 2022, his firm Global Miranda Miner Group (GMMG) launched “CrypTalk: University Caravan,” designed to empower the next generation of finance and technology professionals with essential knowledge about blockchain trends and cryptocurrency as transformative emerging technologies in the financial world.

Landco Towers, Family-friendly Resort Condominiums South of Metro Manila

Landco offers RFO (Ready for Occupancy) Units in East Bay Residences 

Landco Towers at East Bay Residences, are modern resort condominiums in a laid-back neighborhood strategically situated at KM21 East Service Road, Sucat, Muntinlupa City. There are five Landco Towers that offer an ideal home for families to enjoy a leisurely pace of urban life amid a scenic resort landscape, the convenience of a retail strip and family-friendly facilities, and accessibility to business hubs and schools.

Quantum Residences: Everything that matters is here

The demand for residential spaces in major cities in Metro Manila continues to increase. This is as the real estate sector is seen to benefit from the continued reopening of the economy, including the return to office mandates and rising foreign investments.

Horizon Land, the smart-value brand of premier real estate developer Federal Land, Inc., is addressing the increasing demand for investment-worthy properties within Metro Manila with the launch of Quantum Residences, a three-tower property strategically located along Taft Avenue in Pasay City.

PH ripe for open finance

BSP, UBX, ECCP-SCOFFI commit to collaborate to leverage open finance to drive inclusion 

UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and members of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines’ (ECCP) Special Committee on Open Finance and Financial Inclusion (SCOFFI) committed to collaborate closely to leverage open finance in driving financial inclusion further in the country. 

In a recent Kapihan Session organized by the ECCP-SCOFFI, UBX Managing Director for Open Finance Jamie Garchitorena, BSP Deputy Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier highlighted the readiness of the Philippines in embracing open finance.