Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) shared the Philippines’ digital finance playbook with banking leaders from Sri Lanka and India, highlighting how collaboration, innovation and technology can expand financial inclusion across emerging markets.
Delegates from Sri Lanka’s Bank of Ceylon (BOC) and India’s Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Ltd. (TMB) visited RCBC to study the country’s experience in digital payments, financial inclusion and fintech development as part of a regional knowledge exchange organized by the Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA) Center for Training and Research in Agricultural Banking.
The discussions brought together banking institutions from three Asia-Pacific economies navigating similar digital transformation challenges, including how to widen access to financial services, encourage digital adoption and strengthen financial resilience.
Leading the discussions was Lito Villanueva, RCBC executive vice president and chief innovation and inclusion officer and founding chairman of FinTech Alliance.PH. He highlighted how partnerships among regulators, banks, fintech companies, government agencies and industry groups have helped accelerate the Philippines’ digital finance ecosystem.
“It was a great opportunity to share how collaboration among regulators, banks, fintechs, government agencies, and industry associations has helped accelerate financial inclusion and expand access to financial services across the country,” Villanueva said.
He said regional exchanges provide valuable opportunities for financial institutions to learn from each other’s experiences as they tackle common challenges.
“What always inspires me during these exchanges is realizing that while every market has its own unique challenges, we are all pursuing the same goal: making financial services more accessible, affordable, and inclusive through technology and innovation,” Villanueva added.
The Philippines has become one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing digital finance markets. Latest Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data showed that digital payments accounted for more than 57 percent of retail payment transactions by volume, while over half of Filipino adults now have access to formal financial services.
RCBC has contributed to this shift through platforms such as RCBC Pulz, RCBC DiskarTech and RCBC ATM Go, which have expanded digital banking access among urban communities and underserved areas.
The exchange underscores a broader regional trend: as Asian economies accelerate digital transformation, banks are increasingly looking beyond borders for solutions that can make finance more accessible, inclusive and resilient.
