Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) has strengthened its global remittance footprint after forging a strategic partnership with Digital Wallet Corporation, the operator of Smiles Mobile Remittance, Japan’s leading mobile-based overseas money transfer service.
The tie-up expands RCBC’s remittance network with the successful onboarding of three new corridors for Digital Wallet, covering the United States, Canada, and Singapore—key markets for overseas Filipinos.
The move reinforces RCBC’s push to deliver faster, more secure, and more accessible remittance services to Filipinos working abroad and their families back home.
Martin Tirol, head of RCBC’s Transaction Banking Group, said the collaboration underscores the bank’s commitment to empowering overseas Filipinos through efficient cross-border financial solutions. “By deepening our collaboration with partners like Digital Wallet, we are giving overseas Filipinos more tools to build a better future for their loved ones,” Tirol said.
Digital Wallet, through Smiles Mobile Remittance, holds a dominant position in Japan’s overseas remittance market. Its reach was further strengthened by the 2024 acquisition of Seven Global Remit, Ltd., which gave it access to the extensive Seven Bank ATM network—one of Japan’s largest and most trusted financial infrastructures.
Beyond expanding remittance corridors, RCBC is rolling out initiatives aimed at increasing the number of overseas RCBC account holders by addressing the financial literacy needs of the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) community. These programs form part of the bank’s broader strategy to promote financial inclusion and responsible money management among Filipinos worldwide.
The bank has also recently partnered with other global digital remittance players, including Visa, Korea-based GMoneyTrans, and Taptap Send. RCBC currently operates more than 20,000 domestic payout touchpoints nationwide.
Now the fifth-largest privately owned universal bank in the Philippines, RCBC continues to build on its reputation for strong customer service and digital innovation, positioning itself as a key enabler of seamless and secure cross-border financial connectivity.
