BDO Unibank has partnered with the Palawan Group of Companies to expand access to payment and collection services nationwide, leveraging the pawnshop giant’s physical footprint and growing digital ecosystem.
The tie-up integrates BDO’s payment and collections platform with Palawan Group’s more than 3,500 Palawan Pawnshop – Palawan Express Pera Padala outlets and its e-wallet, PalawanPay. The setup effectively turns Palawan locations into an alternative nationwide payment channel for BDO billers, customers, and corporate clients.
Under the arrangement, BDO’s partner billers can accept over-the-counter payments at Palawan branches, while users can also settle transactions digitally through PalawanPay. The system allows customers to pay bills, send remittances, and complete other routine financial transactions within the Palawan network.
The partnership reflects a broader shift in Philippine finance: banks are increasingly tapping non-bank distribution networks to extend services beyond traditional branches. By linking BDO’s banking infrastructure and cash-management capabilities with Palawan’s extensive grassroots presence, the collaboration could help streamline corporate collections and ease payment bottlenecks.
The arrangement widens collection points and improves transaction efficiency. For consumers, particularly in provinces where bank branches remain scarce, it offers a familiar, nearby channel for everyday financial tasks.
Palawan Group president and chief executive officer Karlo M. Castro said the initiative is aimed squarely at cash-reliant customers who continue to depend on physical outlets for payments and remittances.
With more than 23 million PalawanPay users and thousands of branches operating even on weekends and holidays, the partnership underscores how hybrid financial models—combining digital wallets with brick-and-mortar outlets—are becoming central to expanding financial inclusion across the Philippines.
