More than 200 students opened their first transaction accounts during a Youth Financial Inclusion (YFI) Initiative onboarding activity at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) on Jan. 30, 2026.
The YFI program aims to improve financial health among young Filipinos by encouraging them to open transaction accounts, which serve as an entry point to savings, loans, and other financial services. Data show that only about three in 10 Filipinos aged 15 to 19 currently have a financial account.
Launched in January 2025, the initiative is led by the Financial Inclusion Steering Committee chaired by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
During the event, YFI Ambassadors from USM worked with the central bank to guide freshmen students through the account opening process and introduce them to basic financial services.
The program also featured talks on money management, the impact of financial inclusion in communities, and the BSP’s push for digital payments. Financial service providers presented savings and loan products designed for students, as well as digital tools that allow easier and more convenient transactions.
The Cotabato onboarding is the third in a series of YFI activities, following earlier runs in Southern Leyte and Cavite in 2025.
The central bank said expanding account ownership among the youth is key to building lifelong financial habits, widening access to formal financial services, and supporting inclusive economic growth.
