geo/philippines

Location
13.043024245936, 122.34375
05 Jun, 2024
Manila
Following the success of the 1st Philippine Climate Forum in 2022 which was attended by more than 100 stakeholders in climate finance and sustainability in the country, the IFC, in collaboration with The World Bank and various partner institutions...

New member: RCBC joins the SME Finance Forum to facilitate Filipino SMEs’ digitalization

Washington D.C., April 1st, 2021- Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. 
 
“40 percent of small and medium businesses worldwide struggle to get access to the credit and capital that they need to grow their enterprises. We are delighted to welcome Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) to our network of over 220 member institutions who are working to eliminate the finance gap for SMEs,” said Matthew Gamser, CEO of the SME Finance Forum.
 
As one of the Philippines’ trusted commercial banks, RCBC provides integrated financial services for their SME customers through innovative products and a highly motivated team.  RCBC has garnered numerous accolades from respectable award-giving bodies both locally and internationally in recognition of the Bank’s digital transformation.   SME Banking has been one of the Bank’s strengths, acclaimed as well in the past years for its financial inclusion efforts that focused on the provincial areas or championed female-owned corporates, as well as for its small business loans initiatives that simplified the onboarding process through a credit scoring system.  
 
“Our vision is to be top of mind in SME banking in the Philippines. Joining SME Finance Forum would provide us an opportunity for privileged access to SME data analysis, industrial performance benchmark, and various special events, which will be a stepping stone for us to achieve our goal. We also look forward to collaborating with peer institutions and exploring new ways towards digital acceleration within our organization, at the same time to being at the forefront in helping SMEs transform digitally,” said Maria Angela V. Tinio, SME Banking Group Head of RCBC.  
 
About SME Finance Forum 
The SME Finance Forum was established by the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) in 2012 as a knowledge center for data, research, and best practice in promoting SME finance. As an implementing partner for the GPFI, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) was tasked with managing the initiative.
 
To see all SME Finance Forum members, please visit: https://www.smefinanceforum.org/members/member-list
 
The Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) is majority-owned by the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC), one of the oldest and largest conglomerates in Southeast Asia, covering over 60 businesses. Since its establishment in 1960, RCBC has been a pillar of the banking industry, providing a wide range of financial services to its customers through its retail and investment bank, microfinance unit, foreign exchange brokerage house, leasing company, and overseas remittance tie-ups. In 2019, RCBC merged with its thrift unit, RCBC Savings Bank, which resulted in a larger asset base and stronger financial standing.
Read more info at https://www.rcbc.com/
 
Media Contact  
Carina Carrasco  
ccarrasco@worldbank.org
 

Esquire Financing

Founded by Rajan Uttamchandani, EFI’s Chairman and CEO, Esquire Financing Inc. started its operations in 2011 and quickly became the trusted non-bank SME financing company in the Philippines. Our advocacy is to help MSMEs take their business to the next level by providing access to financing and sound advisory services for them to reach their full potential.
What separates us from our peers is our flexible loan terms with minimal documentary requirements and 3-days turnaround time. Understanding that each business owner has their own unique requirement, we tailor-fit our business loan based on cash flow analysis.
Country / Region
Member Since
Organization Type
Contact Person Name
Rajan Uttamchandani
Contact Person Title
CEO
Contact Person Email
rajan@esquire.com.ph
Operation countries

Boost Capital

Boost is a white-labeled SAAS platform that allows Banks to onboard customers via chat through smartphones in 5-10 min without an app download.
Country / Region
Member Since
Organization Type
Location
1.352083, 103.819836
Contact Person Name
Gordon Patrick Peters
Contact Person Title
Co-founder
Contact Person Email
gordon@boostkh.com
City/Town location
Singapore
Operation countries

MEDA

MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) is an international economic development organization founded in 1953 whose mission is to create business solutions to poverty.

Country / Region
Member Since
Organization Type
Location
50.7147661, 4.3991201
Contact Person Name
Lindsay Wallace
Contact Person Title
Senior Vice President Strategy and Impact
City/Town location
Waterloo

Security Bank and its new MSMEs Business Banking Segment joins the SME Finance Forum

Washington D.C, February 16, 2023 – One of the Philippines‘ leading banks, Security Bank Corporation joined the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network.

Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation.

Since 2016, we’ve been implementing our mission to build a global membership to support better SME financing, and since then, we’ve established a network with over 240 active member institutions, which operate in over 190 countries sharing the common purpose of helping under-served enterprises. We are delighted to welcome Security Bank Corporation, the first private and Filipino-controlled bank of the post-World War II period, to further grow our mission.” said Matthew Gamser, CEO of the SME Finance Forum.

Security Bank is one of the Philippines' leading universal banks serving retail, commercial, corporate, MSME, and institutional clients. The Bank has a proud history of financial management expertise, with a proven track record of stability and consistent profitability achieved through an efficient, perceptive, and forward-thinking management style.

“Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are a priority at Security Bank. The Business Banking Segment (BBS), established in 2022, provides a holistic value proposition for these businesess who help uplift the Philippine economy. By joining the SME Finance Forum, we hope to receive timely and relevant information on the SME lending industry and accelerate our business rollout in 2023,” says John David Yap, SVP and Head of Business Banking Segment at Security Bank. 

 

About SME Finance Forum

The SME Finance Forum was established by the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) in 2012 as a knowledge center for data, research, and best practice in promoting SME finance. As an implementing partner for the GPFI, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) was tasked with managing the initiative. The Forum operates a global membership network of +240 members that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs.

To see all SME Finance Forum members, please visit: https://www.smefinanceforum.org/members/member-list

 

About Security Bank

Security Bank Corporation is one of the Philippines’ leading universal banks, established on June 18, 1951 as the first private, Filipino-controlled bank of the post-World War II period, and publicly-listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE:SECB) in 1995.

Security Bank’s major businesses cover retail, corporate, commercial, and business banking. It offers a wide range of services including financing, leasing, foreign exchange, stock brokerage, investment banking, and asset management.

Security Bank differentiates itself from competition as a strong, independent, domestic bank with a global reach. The Bank provides superior customer experience in line with its brand promise of BetterBanking, stemming from an in-depth understanding of customers’ needs and providing solutions in a professional, problem-free, personalized and prompt manner. With the Bank’s strategic partnership with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), the largest financial group in Japan, it is also able to provide customers access to an extensive global network.

The Bank has been recognized by international and local organizations for its continuous product innovation, market leadership, and best-in-class management practices.

More information is available on www.securitybank.com

Security Bank

One of the Philippines' leading banks serving retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients and the first private and Filipino-controlled bank of the post-World War II period.

Country / Region
Member Since
Organization Type
Location
14.554729, 121.0244452
Contact Person Name
John David G. YAP
Contact Person Title
SVP, Head of Business Banking
Contact Person Email
jdyap@securitybank.com.ph
City/Town location
Makati
Operation countries

Opportunity International Network

Global non-profit committed to ending extreme poverty and promoting quality education for families. They provide financial resources, training and support to start small businesses and earn living wages.

Country / Region
Member Since
Organization Type
Location
43.4642578, -80.5204096
Contact Person Name
Deborah Foy
Contact Person Title
Interim Executive Director
Contact Person Email
Dfoy@opportunity.org
City/Town location
Waterloo, ON, Canada

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation

RCBC is majority-owned by the Yuchengco Group of Companies, one of the largest conglomerates in Southeast Asia. It is among the largest private domestic banks in the Philippines in terms of assets.

 

Country / Region
Member Since
Organization Type
Location
14.554729, 121.0244452
Contact Person Name
Tere Ambrosio
Contact Person Title
Project Manager Business Development Division
Contact Person Email
trmalig-ambrosio@rcbc.com
City/Town location
Makati City
Operation countries

Member News: UBX honored at 2020 BAI Global Innovation Awards for high-impact innovation during pandemic

BAI Global Innovation Awards, the financial service industry’s most prestigious awards program, has recently recognized UBX, the fintech spinoff and venture capital unit of Union Bank of the Philippines, for its high-impact innovation especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now on its tenth year, the BAI celebrates new and innovative solutions in the industry worldwide. Each winner is selected by the Innovation Circle, a panel of international financial services innovation leaders, who evaluate each submission for originality and impact to determine the most innovative companies across eight awards categories.

BAI and the Innovation Circle judges acknowledged “the heroic efforts of financial services organizations throughout the industry to meet the needs of their customers, colleagues and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic” particularly UBX, which was one of only two organizations recognized with special Honorable Mention for its “high-impact innovation during the pandemic to meet the changing needs of its customers quickly and effectively.”

UBX’s SeekCap is the Philippine's first same-day-approval loan marketplace for MSMEs. Through SeekCap, multiple lending institutions, including banks, can swiftly create and launch loan products on the marketplace, thereby allowing MSME borrowers to choose what loan product best suits their business needs, and apply for loans digitally and seamlessly on a single platform.

This game-changing solution was built by UBX together with OneConnect Financial Technologies to provide an end-to-end digital lending marketplace that allows MSMEs to quickly 'seek capital' – hence the brand name SeekCap. SeekCap is also a play on the Filipino word 'sikap' which means perseverance, diligence, and hard work – qualities that most MSMEs already have. This search enables MSMEs to also compare and apply for credit digitally and seamlessly, while enjoy fast, “within-1-day” approval.

" It is a great privilege for UBX to be recognized by BAI with a special Honorable Mention for our mission to provide opportunity and access for all!  Now, more than ever, MSMEs play a critical role in revitalizing the Philippine economy. With a fully-digital experience and fast approvals, SeekCap addresses the major funding gap of MSMEs who are acutely affected by access to credit and working capital; made even more challenging under COVID. Through SeekCap, MSMEs don't even need a bank account to apply,” said UBX President and CEO John Januszczak. 

 

For more information about UBX and its digital products, visit www.ubx.ph