In any business, going beyond means more than just coming up with
innovations; more importantly, it's all about thinking ahead by
providing efficient, convenient, and accessible measures that truly
makes things easy for customers.
This is the vision that the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) carries
as it kicks off the celebrations for its 160th anniversary last August
1. "Throughout 160 years, BPI has pioneered banking innovations that
helped spur the growth and development of the industry through
streamlining of banking processes, computerizing and automating
operations, and improving overall security of transactions," says BPI
president Aurelio R. Montinola, III. "BPI envisions to democratize
financial responsibility by empowering Filipinos to live more
progressive lives and realize their dreams. This is in keeping with our
thrust to make banking more accessible, more convenient, and more
affordable to more Filipinos."
During the anniversary kickoff, BPI reported that a double-digit rise in
net interest earnings has pushed its first semester net profit to grow
by 12 percent to P6.2 billion. Net profits for the second quarter alone
grew by 18 percent, reaching P3.3 billion in total from P2.8 billion
last year. Revenues, on the other hand, saw a 15 percent rise with
increases generated by both net interest and non-interest income.
BPI has pioneered a number of firsts which have changed the landscape of
the industry over the years. "BPI was not only the first established
bank in the Philippines but, more significantly, was also the first
established bank in Southeast Asia," reveals Montinola.
In 1852, BPI printed out the first Philippine peso, thus taking
Philippine trade beyond the Spanish currency. And then in 1901, BPI
financed the country's first railroad system that gave people easier
access to locales beyond their own. Twelve years after, in 1912, BPI
brought banking beyond Luzon and Visayas when BPI opened its first
regional branch in Zamboanga. And in 1981, BPI brought electronic
banking to a new level by introducing the country's first ATM system—the
BPI Express Teller. More recently, in 2003, BPI became the first bank in
the country to introduce mobile banking. And in 2008, BPI pioneered the
concept of real-time, online banking when they allowed customers to bank
in any BPI branch beyond their home branch.
Today, BPI sets its sight to improving every Filipino's banking
experience by going beyond the ordinary with banking innovations that
help address the need of Filipino businesses. "BPI's banking innovations
celebrate the marriage of technology and efficiency by leading Filipinos
to financial empowerment," says Montinola.
BPI has rolled out a full set of banking services that adheres to its
vision of making banking easier and convenient for Filipinos today.
"Last April, we have launched the BPI Investments Online—the country's
first-full service investment funds platform," Montinola reveals. This
program simply allows clients to initiate new investment accounts,
subscribe to and monitor their investment funds and redeem these
investments through the internet, wherever they are and whenever they want.
BPI has also been rolling out a new digital customer transaction assist
platform in its branches called the BPI Express Assist (BEA). Customers
can now forget about the hassles of filling out deposit or bills payment
slips and cut down their transaction and waiting time as BEA makes
everything simpler and faster with its touch-screen processing and
automated queuing. More significantly, this particular technology, which
was conceived in partnership with Wincor Nixdorf, has been awarded the
Best Automation and Networking Award in the 5th Asian Banker Technology
Implementation Awards Programme held in Hong Kong, also last April.
Another facility that will be launched very soon, Montinola notes, will
combine the power of BPI Express Mobile and the near field communication
(NFC) technology, allowing clients to have a mobile wallet in their
mobile phone. "This will allow clients to make purchases without
carrying cash. Simply wave your mobile phone on a POS terminal with a
reader, and the payment will already be made in an instant," says the
BPI top boss.
As Internet technology progresses, BPI also developed parallel web-based
banking solutions for businesses. Eleven years ago, BPI unveiled the
ExpressLink (or ELink), BPI's Internet-based solutions which allow
businesses to monitor account balances and banking transactions, collect
payments, and pay the company's obligations—all through the Internet. As
the most multi-awarded cash management solution in the country, ELink
has changed the way FIlipinos do business by allowing decision-makers to
manage their finances without having to be physically present at the
workplace. ELink has also been made available even for smaller
businesses and start-up companies to help them enjoy the same benefits
that big companies have access to. "Now, ExpressLink has gone beyond the
Internet platform, and extended to the mobile technology of today. This
we call ExpressLink mobile or the ELink Mobile, which allows businessmen
to have control over their company's finances anytime, anywhere via
their mobile devices."
"By diversifying financial channels through these programs, BPI
harnesses more accessible technologies today to keep every aspect of our
clients' businesses on their fingertips, literally," shares Montinola.
"Truly, BPI stays true to its commitment of being making life easy for
the Filipinos."
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