January 24, 2024

MANILA, Philippines – GCash, the country’s leading finance super app, brings a powerful start to 2024 with the launch of its newest endorser — international fashion icon, Heart Evangelista-Escudero.

The unveiling of Heart as the new face of GCash was announced together with the release of the brand’s latest digital film, set to take over our feeds. The film not only showcases Heart’s exciting partnership with GCash, but also demonstrates how GCash has made its way into her heart, being her go-to super app for easy, safe & secure transactions, whether it be online, in-store, or even abroad.

Inspired by her travels and experiences, Heart shared her anecdotes of the moments GCash saved her in times of need –from receiving a sweet gift from her loved ones by using the app’s Send Money feature, to shopping online for cute trinkets for her dog, Panda. She even talked about how the ease of the Scan to Pay feature when it comes to simple things, like buying kwek-kwek when the craving strikes, and of course, who could forget her delighted reaction when she successfully used her GCash Card for the first time to pay for a coffee run in Paris!

“For me, GCash has been a game changer. You can use it for so many things, and literally EVERYWHERE! From my local cravings, shopping finds and even now that I’m getting ready to head out for Fashion Week season, there is no limit when I’ve got my GCash with me. Ang galing diba? ” - Heart Evangelista-Escudero

Much like Heart, there are so many new things to discover and love about GCash! Apart from being able to send and receive money for FREE, and get free vouchers and discounts when paying online, thanks to the GCash Card, its users can transact seamlessly in over 200 countries and territories— with lower foreign exchange rates vs. competitors, it instantly became one of her travel essentials!

The different scenes showcased in the brand’s new film were inspired by the star’s day-to-day life. In fact, Heart was heavily involved in crafting the script, and dressing herself in some of her signature pieces from her personal wardrobe, some of which we’ve seen all over social media!

“In my Heart, GCash is the best way to pay”

Quoting Heart’s ending line in her newest film, GCash invites its users to enjoy the best things life has to offer in the most convenient and secure way possible.

"Heart was really the perfect, and easy, choice for us when it came to developing this campaign. She gave a mountain's worth of ideas from the very first time we met her and the team was left inspired! Her attention to every detail was key for us to develop a material that was unique but also very personal to her. We loved the way she was able to share her personal experiences with us in highlighting how her GCash has made her transactions easier, not only in the Philippines but all over the globe. ” - Neil Trinidad, GCash Chief Marketing Officer

GCash, the country’s no. 1 finance super app continues its mission to empower Filipinos to move towards financial progress. Through this new collaboration between Heart and GCash, users can only expect more to come in 2024 as they continue to open doors to a brighter future for all Filipinos, so that they too can say that GCash is the best way to pay.

Watch the full GCash short film produced with Heart through the official GCash page @gcashofficial on Facebook and YouTube.

GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Finance App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1,600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.), the first and only duacorn in the Philippines which is a part of the country's leading digital solutions platform, Globe Group.

January 5, 2024

BanKo renews partnership with acclaimed actress Kathryn Bernardo. Photo shows Kathryn with BanKo Excutives (L-R) President Jerome Minglana; Chairman Josephine “Jojo” Ocampo; and Head of Financial Inclusion and Microfinance Rod Mabiasen, Jr.

BPI Direct BanKo, Inc., A Savings Bank (BanKo), the microfinance arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), recently renewed its partnership with Asia’s superstar Kathryn Bernardo, as a member of the BanKo family for the second year.

As BanKo embarks on a mission to become the trusted microfinance partner of the masang Pilipino, it hopes to bring banking closer to communities by offering the right financial services at an affordable price. The bank is also doubling down its efforts on digitalization to make their products easily accessible by the masses.

“Our vision at BanKo is to build a better Philippines – one family, one community at a time – and this is embodied in each and every financial service we offer to a wide range of customers,” said BanKo Chairman Josephine “Jojo” Ocampo. “On behalf of BanKo, we’d like to thank Kathryn for once again placing her trust in us and for believing in our vision to help build a better Philippines. Kathryn is an exceptional actress and a young entrepreneur whose talent and charisma touch the heart of many Filipinos and resonate with BanKo’s brand promise of maaasahan, malalapitan, at mapagkakatiwalaan.”

“I’m excited to have another exciting year with BanKo. BanKo isn’t just a brand; it’s about helping more Filipinos to get a better life, and I’m grateful to be part of that. Thank you for placing your trust in me,” shared Kathryn.

This partnership further signifies BanKo’s renewed commitment to bring innovative banking experience to self-employed microentrepreneurs (SEMEs) and C2D salaried individuals. This forms part of the bank’s mission to promote financial inclusion by providing access to easy, convenient, and affordable products to serve Filipinos who plan to level up their business and uplift their lives, as reinforced by its tagline, “Sa BanKo, may ngiti ang bukas mo”.

In 2023, BanKo opened 26 new branch-lite units (BLU) in different locations across the country, bringing the total number of branches and BLUs to 346. The bank operates in 77 out of 82 provinces, with branches in 125 cities, serving as the sole representative of BPI in 152 of these areas.

In order to reach more Filipinos, BanKo has over 1,500 loan officers and associates, referred to as “BanKoMares” and “BanKoPares”, who provide personalized service by assisting clients from account opening to financial literacy discussions.

Additionally, through its partnership with Kathryn, a renowned actress whose authenticity resonates with diverse audiences, BanKo was able to extend its reach to the masang Pilipino. Her role as a ka-BanKo has helped bridged gaps and engage communities, enabling the bank to not just provide financial assistance, but also empower Filipinos through financial literacy. With the collaborative efforts of the BankoMares and BanKoPares, and Kathryn’s influence, BanKo endeavors to positively impact the lives of many Filipinos across the country.

Kathryn is a proud ka-BanKo. With her are BanKoMare Grace and BankoPare Ralph. BanKoMares and BanKoPares provide personalized service by assisting clients through every stage of opening an account or applying for a loan. They also offer financial consultations and literacy sessions to help clients achieve financial wellness.

In 2023, BanKo also announced that through NegosyoKo Loan, clients can now borrow up to P500,000 without collateral, providing them the opportunity to undertake more significant business ventures and expand their operations.

Furthermore, BanKo introduced the InstaCashKo Line, a ready-credit line tailored for both existing and new SEME clients, granting them on-demand access to cash. Year-to-date, BanKo has released P14.2 billion worth of business loans in 2023.

BanKo also offers PondoKo Savings, which is an ideal starter for those who want to save. Opening a PondoKo Account is simple and easy as clients only need to download the BanKo Mobile App and submit one valid ID. PondoKo is exceptionally inclusive, with a low initial deposit requirement of just P1.00 and offers 2% rebate for every purchase of prepaid load on the app. Depositors also benefit from the ease of transferring funds to other banks and e-wallets via InstaPay, free of charge.

Garnering a 24% market share in terms of volume of microfinance loans among Philippine banks, BanKo continues to be one of the country’s largest microfinance banks.