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Exciting New Branchless Banking Services Powered by GCASH

By Aditya Banerjee

This is the first of a four part series of articles about the RBAP-MABS National Roundtable 2012 Conference panel session entitled �Using New Channels to Expand Microfinance Services.�

Mr. Paolo Baltao from Globe Telecommunications, Craig Tower from Microfinance Opportunities, Jun Perez of SEEDFinance, and Melvin Joy Yu from Cantilan Bank delivered a series of presentations on using new branchless banking technologies to expand microfinance services in the Philippines.

Mr. Baltao announced Globe G-Xchange Inc.�s (GXI) next generation GCASH mobile money services, which are expected to provide new features as well as create a more seamless experience for rural bank clients and GCASH users.

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Rural Banks Trained on GCASH-Enabled Mobile Phone Banking Services

The United States Agency for International Development-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) � Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program conducted two separate GCASH accreditation trainings for rural banks from the Bicol Federation and National Capital Region (NCR) on May 10 at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Naga City and May 29 at the RBAP Conference Room in Manila.

Five (5) participants from four (4) Bicol Federation banks � Rural Bank of San Jose (Camarines Sur), Bangko Rural ng Magarao, Rural Bank of San Fernando (Camarines Sur) and Rural Bank of Pasacao � attended the training while seven (7) participants from four (4) banks � Bangko Nuestra Senora, Banco Alabang, Country Rural Bank of Taguig and Rural Bank of Karamotan � joined the training for NCR banks.

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RBAP to take advantage of strong growth forecast in mobile banking this year

Manila Times � The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) is looking to capitalize on the projection of a strong growth in the mobile banking business this year, driven by the continuous flexibility of carriers to adapt according to market needs.

RBAP President Ian Eric Pama said that rural banks will utilize the advantages of cellular phone-based banking in order to hurdle geographical barriers for the industry.

�Now, more than ever, we should use mobile banking to reach out to our clientele and deliver our service to them. If the prognosis of research firms is correct, then we should ride this wave as much as we can,� he said.

�RBAP has long been an active proponent of mobile banking. But with forecasts backing us up, they give the association�s vision more fuel,� he added.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) research firms see a big jump in the Philippine mobile banking industry this year. Based on its 2012 predictions for the Asia Pacific Region, ICT research firm XMG Global, founded and headed by Filipino-Canadian Lauro Vives, said that the region will be the world�s fastest growing mobile and broadband market with over 3 billion connections this year.

According to XMG, the growth will be driven by three factors: continuous efforts of telecommunications companies to invest an average of 17.4 percent of revenues into capital expenditures to meet emerging demand; variety and flexibility of payment and billing schemes; and low-cost handsets. In the Philippines alone, Smart Communications and Globe Telecom are investing close to P100 billion to upgrade their networks.

In addition, another leading ICT research firm, Gartner, Inc., said that the Philippines is one of only two countries�the other is Kenya�that have successfully implemented mobile payment solutions in micropayments services to distribute money in far-flung areas.

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PH market prepares for mobile banking boom

Manila Times - FOR those wondering about the prospects of mobile banking�a key tool for the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP)�this year, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) research firms have made a prognosis that is sure to make any rural bank executive excited.

According to its 2012 predictions for the Asia Pacific Region, ICT research firm XMG Global, founded and headed by Filipino-Canadian Lauro Vives, the region will be the world�s fastest growing mobile and broadband market with over 3 billion connections this year. The growth will be driven primarily by three factors: continuous efforts of telecommunications companies to invest an average of 17.4 percent of revenues into capital expenditures to meet emerging demand; variety and flexibility of payment and billing schemes; and low-cost handsets.

On the other hand, another leading ICT research firm, Gartner Inc., said that the Philippines is one of only two countries (the other is Kenya) that have successfully implemented mobile payment solutions in micropayments services to distribute money in far-flung areas.

Mobile phone companies Globe Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. have long been employing GCash and Smart Money, respectively, in micropayments services. Even the government�s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program uses a mobile payment service, GCash Remit.

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The Future of Mobile Phone Banking in the Philippines: Updates from Globe GCASH (part 2 of 3)

During the second part of the session on the future of mobile phone banking in the Philippines, Paolo Baltao, President of Globe�s G-Xchange Inc. (GXI) announced their continuing collaboration with the USAID-supported RBAP-MABS Program on various new products and promotions for GCASH accredited rural banks. This would further promote and expand mobile phone banking services utilizing the GCASH platform. To make it easier for clients to cash-out their GCASH funds, GXI has partnered with RBAP-MABS to offer a specialized ATM card that doubles as a photo ID card called the Rural Bank FaceCard.

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The Future of Mobile Phone Banking in the Philippines: Updates from RBAP-MABS (part 1 of 3)

During the USAID-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines � Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Roundtable Conference held last November 9, 2011 at Hyatt Hotel in Manila featured updates on mobile phone banking for rural banks as well as new global trends. During the conference, Mr. Petalcorin gave updates on the RBAP-MABS Program Mobile Phone Banking Services initiative: including various recent accreditation trainings for rural banks in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao regions for both GCASH and Smart Money platforms as well as lessons learned during the Mobile Phone Banking Channel Management pilot.

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Mobile Money Webinar: Coping with Dormancy

The third instalment of the Mobile Money Explained Live Webinar series is scheduled on the 17th of January at 2:30pm UK time (10:30pm MNL time).

One of the biggest issues facing mobile money providers at the moment is how to cope with dormancy. Maintaining high usage rates, especially in increasingly competitive markets, is not easy and after initial spikes in subscriptions, many service providers are faced with a vast number of dormant accounts on their hands.

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No Bank Nearby? No Problem. Cellphone Banking Booms in Developing World

Worldcrunch � Mexico City � In the Philippines, a trip to the bank can sometimes take two days � and might require a boat to get there. Such is life in a country that�s made up of some 7,000 islands, not all of which have their own bank branches.

Those who are not willing or able to take an overnight ferry just to pay a telephone or electricity bill can turn instead to a �collector,� someone who makes it his business to go from island to island collecting bills and the money to pay them � all for a commission, of course.

In recent years, however, a third option has emerged: mobile banking. Since 2006, the dominant mobile phone company in the country have been converting cell phones into payment platforms, for the cost of a text message and without the necessity of opening a bank account. It could mean an end to �collectors.�

�Electronic money is an opportunity to include a large percentage of the population in a cost-effective way,� says Nestor Espenilla, deputy director of the Filipino Central Bank.

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Smarter than a smartphone?

FinanceAsia � Mobile telephone capabilities may have come a long way since the days of the brick-size device, but how much can they really change banking?

Communicating through radio link has come a long way since World War II. With voice calls, text messages, mobile internet access and built-in cameras, today�s smartphone is already a remarkable all-in-one handheld computer � but its potential could be even greater in the developing world.

This is particularly true in banking. Asia�s fragmented payments infrastructure and large unbanked population mean that millions lack even limited access to branch-based banking, but rising mobile penetration is creating new options for person-to-person payments.

�Mobile banking works because the individuals and small businesses in the emerging markets have access to a mobile phone,� said Richard Davies, Asia-Pacific director of Logica�s global products business. �Similarly, in the more mature markets, it would be strange to see somebody who does not own a smartphone.�

Telecommunications service providers have been quick to pick up on this trend. Mobile banking and payments solutions, such as GCash in the Philippines and MPesa in Kenya, have been very successful in the emerging markets. �Banks in Southeast Asia are interested in mobile banking to get ahead of the game and provide additional services for their customers,� said Dean Young, vice president of product management at SunGard�s ambit retail banking business arm.

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Rural Banks Providing Financial Education in Branchless Banking

In Filipino grammar, adding the prefix mag is a nifty way to verbalize a noun. This extends from everyday, colloquial conversation Mag-kape tayo (Let�s have coffee) Mag-sine tayo (Let�s watch a movie) to more profound exhortations, like Mag-bago na tayo. (It�s time we make a change). The United States Agency for International Development-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program with assistance from Microfinance Opportunities (MFO) is now assisting rural banks to extend this further to promote mobile phone banking services with the launch of mag-CellBank! and the pilot testing of the Financial Education for Branchless Banking Project.

mag-CellBank!, the new logo for mobile phone banking services, employs the prefix mag to cell (for cellphone) and bank. Mag-CellBank! is an enthusiastic call for clients to perform banking transactions using their cellphones. The new name, along with a visual identity, is integrated into the new Financial Education for Branchless Banking toolkit that is currently being used by three pilot banks � GM Bank, Cantilan Bank, and 1st Valley Bank. mag-CellBank! services include Text-A-Payment (TAP), Text-A-Deposit (TAD), Text-A-Withdrawal (TAW), and phone-to-phone transfers and payments.

Launched in June 2010, the Financial Education for Branchless Banking Project is implemented by the RBAP-MABS Program with support from MFO, a Washington-based global nonprofit that develops consumer-focused ideas and solutions for the microfinance industry. The project, which is implemented in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation, aims to increase the uptake and use of mobile phone banking services through the use of financial education tools.

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RBAP-MABS Holds Mobile Phone Banking & GCASH Accreditation Course for Northern Luzon Rural Bankers

The United States Agency for International Development-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines�Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program conducted a Regional GCASH Accreditation Training for North Luzon rural banks in Clarkfield Pampanga last October 28, 2011.

The Globe GXI team � composed of their training team, North Luzon area managers, and the account manager and coordinator for rural banks � were present to facilitate the presentation and hands-on activities. Twenty (20) participants from 11 rural banks completed the training.

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Mobile Money for the Developing World

The Asia Foundation � A rapidly increasing number of people across the globe are now staying connected to one another via a mobile phone device � whether it�s an iPhone, Nokia, or Samsung. In fact, the United Nations reported earlier this year that the worldwide figure for cell phone subscriptions had topped five billion at the end of 2010. According to the International Telecommunication Union, approximately 3.8 billion of these mobile subscriptions were from developing countries � with India and China fueling this upsurge.

As this trend continues, the mobile financial services market is also booming, and is increasingly dominated by Asia, driven by mobile, operator-led initiatives in these developing nations to �bank the unbanked.� Developing countries such as Pakistan are among those that have made remarkable progress in global mobile phone adoption; in 2007, while just one million Pakistanis owned bank accounts, 70 million were mobile subscribers. In April 2011, this total subscriber figure stood at 108 million. This rapid mobile subscription rise has the potential for even greater expansion among those living in the developing world with the enablement of these four mobile banking functions: government cash transfers, international remittances, bill payments, and savings.

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Visayas and Mindanao Rural Banks attend Mobile Phone Banking Accreditation Training Course

Fourteen representatives from eight rural banks based in the Visayas and Mindanao attended the Mobile Phone Banking Accreditation training and refresher course at the Diamond Suites in Cebu City last September 9. The training was organized by the United States Agency for International Development-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program and co-sponsored by G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary and the mobile commerce arm of Globe Telecom.

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Philippine Experiences in Mobile Phone Banking highlighted during the Asia Pacific Mobile Financial

The United States Agency for International Development-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program joined mobile financial service stakeholders at the 5th Annual Mobile Financial Services � Asia Pacific Summit held at the Waterfront, Singapore on September 6-7, 2011. The annual conference gathers partners in mobile, banking, business and technology industries to build a robust and sustainable mobile commerce ecosystem.

Industry trends and challenges in the mobile financial services were discussed during the two-day summit. The impact of the near field communication (NFC) technology and smartphones were the highlights of the summit. Banks in countries including Singapore, Japan and Korea are now utilizing the power of smartphones in providing mobile financial services to their clients. The socio-economic impact and success of this innovation in the financial services space were recognized.

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RBAP-MABS Holds Regional Mobile Phone Banking Accreditation Course for Luzon Banks

The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines�Microenterprise Access to Banking Services Program (RBAP-MABS) in cooperation with Globe�s G-Xchange Inc. (GXI) conducted a regional GCASH accreditation training and refresher course on August 25, 2011 at the RBAP Conference Room in Intramuros, Manila. Thirty-three (33) participants from eighteen (18) rural banks from Luzon completed the course.

The training introduced the participants to the basic concepts and applications of mobile phone banking as an additional rural bank service. Ms. Letty Young of Globe Telecommunications discussed the fundamentals of GCASH and engaged the participants with hands on exercises: registration to GCASH, person-to-person (P2P) electronic money transfer and balance inquiry. Other topics essential to the successful implementation of mobile phone banking services (MPBS) were also discussed; such as developing a contingency plan and security and internal control measures.

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Chinese study group visits RBAP-MABS to learn about Microfinance and Mobile Phone Banking in the Phi

A delegation from China visited the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines � Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program on 22 August 2011 to learn about microfinance and mobile banking. RBAP-MABS welcomed the group with a multimedia presentation on the topics, including a live demonstration of the workings of mobile phone banking.

Organized and coordinated by the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE), the group was composed of representatives from Fuping Development Institute, China Association of Microfinance, CreditEase Group, Baoshang Bank and China Development Bank.

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USAID Officers Get Hands-on Briefing on Mobile Phone Banking Services

Officers of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) were given a firsthand briefing on the mobile phone banking initiative of the USAID-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program during a visit with partner bank, PR Savings Bank�s Ortigas Branch on August 11, 2011. The officers included Science & Technology Adviser to the Administrator Alex Dehgan, Environment Officer Kerry Reeves, Teresa Leonardo, Global Climate Change Advisor, and Contracts Officer Technical Representative Teresita Espenilla.

The team was provided with a presentation outlining the Program�s mobile phone banking initiative. As of May 2011, there are some 71 accredited rural banks with over 1,100 branches and other banking offices that are registered to offer mobile phone banking services utilizing the GCASH platform. These banks have served over 256,000 mobile phone banking clients and customers and have processed more than PhP 12 billion ($ 250 million) in mobile phone banking transactions via GCASH.

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Visions on Mobile Banking & Mobile Money: A President�s View

Four Rural Banks president share their views and visions on mobile banking and mobile money using the Globe GCASH platform in the Philippines.

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Conditional Cash Transfer Improves lives

More than a thousand people waited in line to receive their second cash payment from the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Tabogon, Cebu last July 26, 2011. Green Bank, a participating bank of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program, assisted the release of PhP 1.2 million pesos (US$30,000) financial assistance through GCASH Remit.

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1st Valley Bank Highlights its Mobile Banking Services

The officers and staff of 1st Valley Bank Zamboanga Del Norte branch welcomed officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) composed of Director Andrew Plitt (ASIA/Special Project Office), Myra Stokes and Teresita Espenilla of USAID/Philippines on July 20, 2011. On hand to provide the briefing on the USAID-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program was Regional Manager for Mindanao Anthony Petalcorin, while 1st Valley Bank officer Ms. Emily Enad, 1st Valley Bank Vice-President for Risk Management provided the guests a look at how the bank is implementing the different initiatives under the RBAP-MABS program, especially with regard to mobile phone banking.

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Representatives from Venezuela and Ecuador visit the Philippines to learn about Mobile Financial Ser

The USAID-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines � Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) program in coordination with RBAP International Study Visit Program once again organized a study tour on Mobile Phone Banking for UTIBA, the supplier of Globe�s GCASH platform and representatives from Digitel Venezuela and Grupo Mas, Coca Cola, and DIPOR from Ecuador. Apart from visiting RBAP, the group also visited G-Xchange Inc (GXI), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and GM Bank from July 18-20, 2011.

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Representatives from Sri Lanka and Thailand visit RBAP to learn about Mobile Phone Banking

The Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) in coordination with Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) on its International Study Visit Program once again conducted a lecture on Mobile Phone Banking (MPB) with its partners from different parts of the globe. Participants last July 13-14, 2011 were from Thailand�s Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) as well as representatives from People�s Bank and Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

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Rang-ay Bank renews efforts to expand services to microenterprises

To support Rang-ay Bank�s plan to expand its microfinance services, the USAID-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines � Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program provided the senior officers of the bank with briefings on different program initiatives that are aligned to the interests of Rang-ay Bank on August 6, 2011. Aside from the briefing, MABS helped the bank come up with microfinance services expansion strategy and provided the bank with an updated assessment of its mobile phone banking (MPB) services initiative.

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Mobile Phone Banking and New Technologies: Providing New Channels to Serve Clients Better, Faster, a

Alternative ways of delivering banking services are changing the way rural banks are servicing their clients. Not only that, these innovations are also helping the Philippine Government reach families at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

During the 2011 RBAP-MABS National Roundtable Conference, rural banks shared how technology has been useful to them in expanding microfinance services. As of May 2011, more than 160,000 rural bank clients have processed more than PhP10 billion (US$220 million) in mobile phone banking transactions via the GCASH platform.

Banking practices have been evolving and expanding coverage geographically, as well as in terms of network, client base, and products and services being offered to clients. Mobile phone banking services were first introduced to rural banks through an effort promoted by the RBAP-MABS program back in 2004.

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RBAP-MABS reviews RB Gattaran�s management information system and potential for mobile phone banking

Located in Cagayan about 242 miles away from Manila, the Rural Bank of Gattaran serves over 50,000 clients in Northeastern Luzon. With the strategic location of its branches including one near a famous tourist spot, Sta. Ana, the bank sees the potential for mobile phone banking services in its areas of operation.

The bank�s current remittance facility is servicing up to 40 transactions daily, totalling P5,000 � P500,000 ($116-$11,630) for each of the bank�s three branches.

To support the bank in its commitment to improve its operations, the USAID-supported RBAP-MABS program evaluated the current banking software deployed in RB Gattaran�s three branches during its visit on June 23-24. The RBAP-MABS review team gave recommendations to improve the bank�s monitoring system and assisted the bank in planning for enhancements.

RB Gattaran became a MABS participating bank in 2006 and has since then provided micro loans to over 5,000 clients totalling more than PhP 341,000,000 ($7.9M).

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Ms. Roxana Baldetti of the Guatemalan Congress visits RBAP for mobile phone banking

A well-known member of the Congress of Guatemala, Ms. Roxana Baldetti, visited the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) on June 17, 2011 to better understand how the mobile phone banking initiative through the rural banks has worked out in the Philippines, particularly in reaching out to more remote areas..

Guatemala is a country with a population of about 13.8 million � over 75 percent of which live below the poverty line. Poverty is even more severe among the rural and indigenous populations. (Source: Encyclopedia of the Nations)

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Mongolia delegation studies Philippine mobile phone banking and mobile money platforms

Seventeen (17) delegates from the Bank of Mongolia, the Finance Regulatory Board of Mongolia, the Information, Communications Technology, and Post Authority, along with other Mongolia government officials participated in the RBAP International Visits Program on May 16-20. This was to learn first-hand about the uses of mobile money and mobile phone banking in the Philippines.

Mr. John Owens, Chief of Party of the USAID-supported RBAP-MABS program, introduced the delegates to the uses of mobile money and mobile phone banking practiced by Philippine rural banks. He also shared the latest updates in the Philippine rural banking industry, as well as how mobile money and mobile phone banking are helping in the expansion of banking services to reach far-flung areas in the country. He shared how this approach and other principles practiced in the Philippines can be also applied in Mongolia. He also discussed how the Philippines� excellent regulatory system has helped in the success of mobile phone banking.

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Conditional Cash Transfer, Rural Banks, and Mobile Money Transfer

By Meliza H. Agabin, RBAP-MABS Deputy Chief of Party

Rural banks like Green Bank and mobile money transfer help facilitate cash grants directly to thousands of poor families.

In a scene being played out in various places in the country, some of them more remote, over 400 households from four barangays in the municipality of Sogod, Cebu received financial support from the government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development�s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) on May 4, 2011.A 5-year program of the Philippine Government, 4Ps provides conditional cash grants for the poorest families in identified municipalities as financial aid for the family�s health and for children�s education. Aside from disbursements through the Land Bank of the Philippines, conditional cash transfers (CCT) are being disbursed too with the involvement of mobile money remittance channels such as rural banks and their mobile phone banking facility.

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When I mention mobile phone banking services, what is the first idea that comes to your mind?

This was one of the questions asked at the focus group discussion (FGD) conducted recently in a small town of Laur in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. The participants were borrowers of the local rural bank, GM Bank, based in Cabanatuan City. The session was held to road test the financial education materials developed with assistance from the Microfinance Opportunities (MFO), partner of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP).

RBAP, through its USAID-supported Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program, is receiving support from MFO as part of a joint project established between the latter and The MasterCard Foundation. The project is to support the adoption and sustained use of mobile phone banking (m-banking) services via increased financial education for clients of rural banks.

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Rural banks expand mobile phone banking in the countryside

Manila Times � A partnership between telecom firms and rural banks in providing financial services to more Filipinos is expected to reach new heights with the development of newer technologies and acceptance of mobile banking in the countryside becoming more prevalent.

Many expect mobile money transfers (MMT) to boom over the next three years as the cost and ability to send money and pay for basic goods and services are cheaper and more efficient than the traditional modes. Globe Telecom subsidiary G-Xchange and the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) are now working together to expand mobile banking services and provide a wider array of financial services. RBAP is also working with Smart Communications to enable MMT via the Smart Money platform and eventually mobile phone banking services for Smart subscribers as well.

While MMT is a very useful service for remittances and payments, the real potential comes from combining these platforms with a bank to offer real mobile phone banking services that make it easier for people to save, borrow, repay their loans, pay bills, facilitate rural payroll, or send or receive remittances. With more than 2,700 branches and other banking offices and more than five million clients, the rural banks are in the best position to provide the largest bank network partnership in the countryside.

With the service, cell phone owners can remit and donate money, receive and make loan payments, pay salaries, commissions and bills through a text message. It is now estimated that there are more than 70 million individual mobile phone subscribers in the Philippines and more than half of them do not have bank accounts. This is the large untapped market that rural banks are now focusing on in partnership with GXI and, in the near future, with Smart.

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Bangko Kabayan expands Mobile Phone Banking by targeting �influencers�

Last March 10-11, staff from the USAID-supported RBAP-MABS program went back to Batangas-based Bangko Kabayan to review its Mobile Phone Banking Channel Management pilot program. The team�s follow-up trip to Tingloy Island was to check on the developments of mobile phone banking activities there since the visit in December last year.

Prior to the review, the bank had already added a merchant-partner to support bank clients in another village. It has also tripled the number of depositors and doubled the number of borrowers using mobile phone banking services. These efforts greatly help in making mobile phone banking sustainable in a remote island setting as in Tingloy.

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1st Valley Bank expands Mobile Phone Banking Services

In November 2010, 1st Valley Bank, a Northern Mindanao-based rural bank, launched a channel management initiative to support its mobile phone banking services with technical assistance from the USAID-supported RBAP-MABS Program and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through a grant to Mercy Corps and MICRA Philippines. The bank assigned three channel officers to promote the bank�s m-banking services for their branches located in Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte and Cagayan de Oro areas.

The bank is now focusing on alternative marketing strategies that combine financial education and product knowledge to enable users to register and utilize the bank�s m-banking services. In addition, the bank understood the need to integrate m-banking practices into its regular operations and microfinance activities to enable customers to be more active users of branchless banking options.

1st Valley Bank has strengthened its mobile banking strategy by allocating manpower and resources for the effort as well as improved senior management support and oversight.

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Nepal and Utiba study group takes a look at mobile phone banking services of rural banks

Delegates from Nepal Telecom, Nepal Rastra Bank, Kantipur Publications, KRS Solutions and Utiba visited the Philippines on February 14-15 to study the current mobile phone banking and mobile money services in the Philippines. The delegates were interested in how the rural banks, through the USAID-supported RBAP-MABS Program, have been implementing mobile phone banking and mobile money transfer services for their clients.

RBAP-MABS provided an orientation on the MABS program and its mobile phone banking initiative implemented by its participating rural banks in partnership with Globe�s G-XChange Inc. (GXI). MABS presented a video of Cantilan Bank�s experiences in offering m-banking services through GXI�s GCASH platform. MABS Chief of Party John Owens also shared how the idea of using mobile phone banking in the Philippines was conceptualized, the breakthroughs and milestones of offering these services, issues encountered, lessons learned, the business models practiced by the rural banks, and how to prepare financial institutions to promote mobile phone banking services for microentrepreneurs and low-income households.

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Mobile Phone Banking & Mobile Payments for Students: The GM Bank Experience

GM Bank is the largest rural bank in Nueva Ecija (Philippines) with its head office in Cabanatuan City, more than 3 hours by land north of Manila. It has been in partnership with Globe�s G-Xchange Inc. (GXI) and the RBAP-MABS program and for its mobile phone banking initiative since 2006. It is also one of the banks participating in the new Channel Management Initiative supported by USAID/Philippines and MICRA Philippines, which is supported by Mercy Corps through a grant from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Channel Management Initiative focuses on developing partnerships between local merchant-partners who are accredited GCASH cash-in and cash-out outlets (CICOs). The rural banks provide liquidity services to the CICOs as well as send customers to their shops. The CICOs provide cash-in and cash-out services for the rural banks and help them in promoting mobile phone banking services.

Recently, GM Bank shared a new use case focused on students and schools to stimulate an m-banking ecosystem between the bank, its merchant-partners, students, and neighboring schools. The province, especially Cabanatuan City, is the educational center of the Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley regions.

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Mobile money wallets help microentrepreneurs in the Philippines

Turning sideways to squeeze between the tightly packed stalls, customers stop to admire strings of white, pink, and green pearls displayed by Jamera Macmac and her family. The family runs a pearl business in the bustling Greenhills Shopping Center in Manila, Philippines, where customers seek out their unique designs. After years of managing the business, Ms. Macmac wanted to look for new ways to sell her products. She also grew tired of frequent trips to the bank to deposit cash or send money to family in Mindanao.

The innovative solution was for Ms. Macmac�s customers to pay her using mobile money. This is possible due to the collaboration between Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program, which is supported by USAID/Philippines, and Globe Telecom�s G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), which operates the GCASH platform. Utilizing the GCASH platform, RBAP-MABS participating rural bank, Philippine Rural Banking Corporation (PR Bank), introduced mobile banking and mobile commerce services to microenterprise clients in Greenhills Shopping Center. Ms. Macmac is now able to sell pearls to customers while accepting GCASH for payment. She can then use her mobile wallet to deposit money to her bank account remotely, pay bills, make purchases, and send money to relatives and friends via a network of rural banks that have been accredited with the support of the RBAP-MABS program to provide cash-in and cash-out services for GCASH clients.

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Providing M-Banking Services in a Remote Island: The Bangko Kabayan Experience

M-Banking allows rural banks to expand their reach to communities too small or too remote to justify a branch. Bangko Kabayan, working with the USAID-supported RBAP-MABS Program, has successfully piloted an approach that combines regular visits from bank officers with partnering with mobile money accredited merchants such as sari-sari stores, which provide cash-in, cash-out (CICO) services that allow bank clients to convert cash into mobile money or vice versa. This approach, called channel management, could be replicated by any rural bank that wishes to expand its customer reach to remote areas without the expense of building branches, thereby providing access to banking services cheaply and efficiently.

The RBAP-MABS Program Channel Management Initiative, with funding support from USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through a grant from Mercy Corps, began its pilot phase in November 2010. In a recent visit in December 2010, RBAP-MABS interviewed the channel officers, merchant-partners, and clients of Bangko Kabayan. The team also visited one of the pilot areas located in Tingloy Island in Batangas Bay area, across Batangas City. This remote island can only be reached by a two-hour boat ride.In the interviews with merchants and clients in the area, RBAP-MABS found out that both were quite enthusiastic about the bank�s GCASH-powered mobile phone banking services (MPBS). They were particularly interested in the Text-A-Deposit service, which allows them to save remotely through their mobile phones. This is one more example of how small rural banks can provide banking services with mobile money platforms in remote areas even without a branch.

The RBAP-MABS Program Channel Management Initiative, with funding support from USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through a grant from Mercy Corps, began its pilot phase in November 2010. In a recent visit in December 2010, RBAP-MABS interviewed the channel officers, merchant-partners, and clients of Bangko Kabayan. The team also visited one of the pilot areas located in Tingloy Island in Batangas Bay area, across Batangas City. This remote island can only be reached by a two-hour boat ride.

In the interviews with merchants and clients in the area, RBAP-MABS found out that both were quite enthusiastic about the bank�s GCASH-powered mobile phone banking services (MPBS). They were particularly interested in the Text-A-Deposit service, which allows them to save remotely through their mobile phones. This is one more example of how small rural banks can provide banking services with mobile money platforms in remote areas even without a branch.

Bangko Kabayan hired two channel officers to separately conduct market research and identify potential merchant-partners who can be accredited by the mobile money issuer and act as cash-in and cash-out points. One of the channel officers visited Tingloy Island and surveyed key barangays.

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Multi-country delegation studies Philippine Mobile Phone Banking

Since the inception of the rural banks� mobile phone banking initiative with the USAID-supported RBAP-MABS program, mobile phone banking has continued to rise and expand in the Philippines, particularly among the unbanked and underbanked in the countryside. Thus, the Philippines became one of the world�s leaders in small microfinance-oriented rural banks utilizing mobile money platforms to facilitate access to banking services. Practitioners from all over the world now regularly visit to learn from the rural banks� experiences.

On February 28-March 1, twelve (12) representatives from Infotel in India, the Grace Kennedy Group and Digicel in Jamaica, Digicel Haiti, Meezan Bank in Pakistan and Utiba Americas visited the Philippines to take a closer look at its mobile phone banking industry, particularly the rural banks� role in providing these services. They first visited the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) and listened to an orientation on its Mobile Phone Banking initiative from the RBAP-MABS team.

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RBAP-MABS & Rural Banks highlighted at the MMT Asia-Pacific Conference 2011

Having pioneered mobile phone banking and being noted as one of the world�s leaders in mobile money, the Philippines hosted the Mobile Money Transfer Asia Pacific Conference (MMT-APAC) on January 17-20 at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino in Manila. This is the second of Clarion Events� MMT-APAC series, which started in December 2009.

Gathering the world�s mobile money industry leaders, mobile network operators, financial institutions, regulators and m-commerce practitioners, the conference featured presentations on the latest trends, updates and developments in mobile money from all over the world. Highlighted during the event were the mobile phone banking and mobile money transfer experiences of the Philippine rural banks presented by Bangko Kabayan�s Ms. Fides Ganzon, Cantilan Bank�s Gen. Charles Hotchkiss (Ret.), and RBAP-MABS Chief of Party John Owens.

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Bank of Florida and GCASH offer mobile banking services to Central Luzon

Bank of Florida together with G-XChange Inc. (GXI), the wholly-owned mobile commerce subsidiary of Globe Telecom, brings the benefits of mobile banking services to communities in Central Luzon.

Working closely with the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) and Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS), a program supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bank of Florida allows customers to experience convenience in getting remittances through mobile phone banking.

To date, Bank of Florida has a total of P1.3B assets. Together with RBAP and MABS, GXI is proud to partner with Bank of Florida in continuously uplifting the unbanked and underbanked communities it serves.

Mobile Phone Banking Channel Management Initiative Update

Together with its selected partner rural banks and the Microfinance Innovation Center for Resources and Alternatives (MICRA) Philippines, the USAID-supported RBAP-MABS Program began the pilot phase of its Mobile Phone Banking Channel Management Project on November 15, 2010.The team visited two of its four pilot banks for the project � Bangko Kabayan and Cantilan Bank � in December to check out how the project is going.

On December 9 and 10, RBAP-MABS visited and interviewed the channel officers, merchant-partners, and clients of Batangas-based Bangko Kabayan. The team visited the pilot area located in Tingloy Island, Batangas Bay (across Batangas City), which can only be reached by a two-hour boat ride. The merchant and clients interviewed were enthusiastic in supporting the bank�s initiative, especially on the prospect of being able to avail of the bank�s mobile phone banking services via GCash. RBAP-MABS assisted the bank in fine-tuning its marketing plan to better serve the clients in the area. The program will continue to monitor the area�s progress as the pilot rolls out in April 2011. Read more

Mindanao RBs undergo mobile phone banking accreditation training

The USAID � supported RBAP-MABS program, in partnership with G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom,conducted a mobile phone banking accreditation seminarfor Mindanao rural banks at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, Davao City on December 14.

Twenty-two (22) participants from 11 rural banks interested in offering mobile phone banking services attended the seminar. Eight banks were introduced to the initiative: Cooperative Rural Bank of Davao Del Sur, Penbank Central, Rural Bank of Talisayan, Rural Bank of Manolo Fortich, Rural Bank of Cabadbaran, Rural Bank of Lanuza, Partner Rural Bank (Cotabato), Inc. and Rural Bank of Kibawe. Three banks, on the other hand, attended the seminar as a refresher course: Century Bank, Rural Bank of Labason and Rural Bank of Saranggani. The training was intended to prepare rural banks for Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) authorization to offer mobile phone banking services.

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Globe, rural banks to distribute cash for Philippine CCT

Philippine Information Agency � Balabac, Palawan (1 December) � Conditional cash transfers (CCT) for the 4Ps beneficiaries is now made more accessible, easier, and hassle-free with the new innovative solution utilizing the GCash, rural banks and other money remittances channels.

Land Bank used to distribute these cash grants, which are meant to provide for the education and health needs of the children and pregnant mother in a poor family, in exchange for their compliance to a list of program conditionalities.

However, the beneficiaries in the remote villages are burdened by the transportation costs in claiming their monthly CCTs in the Land Bank. There are only 3 branches of the bank in Palawan and these are located in the poblacion areas.

Innovative Solutions

GCash Remit is one of the solutions to address this problem. With this new cash release scheme, beneficiaries are saved from spending on fares, some of which are even bigger than the cash grants that they are set to receive.

�Secretary (Dinky) Soliman really wants to bring the money closer to the people,� says Director Honorita Bayudan, the new National Program Manager of 4Ps, during the evaluation meeting for the pilot GCash Remit. Bringing the money closer to the people means utilizing �merchants in the market� who can do the job, even if it will entail additional administrative cost for the Department.

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RBAP-MABS prepares Luzon rural banks for mobile phone banking accreditation

The USAID-supported RBAP-MABS program conducted a mobile phone banking accreditation seminar at Legend Villas, Mandaluyong City on November 22. Held in partnership with G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, the training was attended by 22 participants from 10 Luzon-based banks, namely: Country Rural Bank of Taguig, Builders Rural Bank, Rural Bank of Pilar (Bataan), Rural Bank of Cabuyao, Rural Bank of Paete, Rural Bank of Taal, Community Bank (RB Alfonso), First Macro Bank, Rural Bank of Agoo, and Sampaguita Savings Bank.

The participants were trained on GXI�s GCASH platform and mobile phone banking fundamentals, including step-by-step procedures and service implementation. Simulations and hands-on-exercises were done to build on the skills of the participants. Each went home with new knowledge, skills and CD manuals to help them in the implementation of Mobile Phone Banking Services using the GCASH platform. Read more

Central Bank of Namibia studies MABS Approach to mobile phone banking

Representatives from the Banking Supervision Department of the Central Bank of Namibia in South Africa visited the country on November 15-19 to study Philippine microfinance under the Knowledge Exchange Program of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The group, headed by Department Director Romeo Nel, was eager to learn the mobile phone banking experience of the country, as well as the regulatory policies of the BSP. Also in the study group were Mr. Brian Gei-Khoibeb, Deputy Director for Payment System, and Mr. Sergio de Sousa, Payment System Analyst.

On November 18, the group visited First Macro Bank�s main office in Pateros City, as well as its other banking office (OBO) in Antipolo City. They observed the bank�s operations, visited its clients, and studied its lending procedures and mobile phone banking operations. They also witnessed how the clients paid their loan amortization using mobile phone banking through the GCASH platform. Read more>>

Channel Management Training kicks off

The USAID-supported RBAP-MABS Program and the Microfinance Innovation Center for Resources and Alternatives (MICRA) Philippines held the first part of their series of mobile phone banking channel management trainings on October 13-15 for Luzon banks, and on October 20-22 for Mindanao banks. Eighteen (18) bank officers from five MABS participating banks attended the training, which was to prepare them for the pilot test of the RBAP-MABS Channel Management Project through the GCASH platform.

A component of the RBAP-MABS mobile phone banking initiative, the Channel Management Project aims to develop merchant-partners that can market and provide cash-in/cash-out services to clients in behalf of their respective partner banks. This strategy provides rural banks an opportunity to increase the volume and value of mobile phone banking transactions and cross-sell other bank products and services.

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Mobile banking takes the lead

BY JIMMY CALAPATI
"THE Philippines is among the most advanced mobile money markets in the world"

This was the statement of the GSM Association (GSMA), an association of 800 mobile operators and more than 200 related companies all over the world, in its 2010 annual report entitled "The Mobile Money for the Unbanked Programme".

In the report, GSMA said that three factors have contributed to the success of mobile money in the Philippines: the characteristics of the Philippines market; actions taken by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP); and, actions taken by the country�s top telecommunications company--Smart and Globe.

"Not only the extent, but also the way in which Filipinos have adopted mobile have been key enablers of mobile money success. The country is the texting capital of the world and Filipino mobile users are highly SMS literate, which made the proposition of conducting financial transactions on a handset somewhat more intuitive," GSMA said.

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GCASH and RBAP�s mobile phone banking initiative � finalist for this year�s MMT Awards

Mobile Money Transfer (MMT) Awards, the world�s first mobile money awards, recently announced the finalists for this year�s awarding ceremonies. Among them were Globe�s GCASH and its partnership with the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) in providing mobile phone banking services to thousands of low income households in the Philippines.

Four finalists for each of the MMT Award�s six categories were chosen from several entries from all over the world. The GCASH-RBAP partnership was shortlisted for the �Achievement in Financial Inclusion� category, which recognizes an MMT service provider (operator, bank or microfinance institution) that has made a real difference to the unbanked in its country of operation, bringing about tangible social and economic improvement. Among the other finalists in this category were Safaricom - M-PESA, EKO Financial Services, and the EasyPaisa � Telenor & Tameer Bank partnership. GCASH was also named as finalist for the �Best IMT Programme� category. The other categories were "Best MMT Entrant of the Year�, �Best Bank-led MMT Project�, �Best Operator-led MMT Project�, and �Most Inventive Marketing Campaign�.

The awarding will be held during the upcoming MMT Global Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on October 24-27. It will be another big gathering of MMT practitioners from all over the world, like the Asia-Pacific Conference held in Manila last December and the MMT Summit held in Dubai in October last year.

Bankers from India, Nepal and Thailand study Philippine mobile banking

A study group of six bankers from India, Nepal and Thailand visited the Philippines on October 11-18 to learn about mobile phone banking in the country. The delegation was composed of Mr. Kudero S. Mahadevaswamy of the Reserve Bank of India, Mr. Madhav Prasad Ghimire and Mr. Khagendra Prasad Gautam of Nepal Rastra Bank, Mrs. Doungratana Satthavorasit of Bank of Thailand, and Mrs. Puntip Pitakwasad and Mrs. Kajiphan Mcentire of the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (Thailand).

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RBAP launches ATM FaceCard

Rural banks further empower their mobile phone banking clients with a new and exciting ATM Card attached to the GCash wallet, the Rural Bank FaceCard ATM Card. Made possible with the joint support of RBAP, its USAID-supported MABS program, and Globe�s G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), the customizable Rural Bank FaceCard ATM Card allows mobile phone banking clients to withdraw money not just from Globe�s over 18,000 cash-in/cash-out (CICO) outlets, but also from more than 9,000 ATMs or automated teller machines nationwide. It also doubles as a valid ID card containing the client�s photo and signature. Powered by GXI, this new ATM card allows clients to choose among pre-designed themes or upload an image of their own design.

Early this year, Globe launched a major expansion of its GCash Cash-In and Cash-Out (CICO) network. Adding all ATMs nationwide, clients now gain access to over 27,000 GCash cash-out points. �We have always worked with the rural banks to utilize the power of GCASH to deliver various services for remote payments or money transfer purposes, attuned to the needs of the under-banked customer segments they serve. In-line with the significant growth of the rural banking industry over the past five years, we have now designed a dual function card providing ATM access that also serves as a valid ID appropriate for their customers based in key cities. This is our way of strengthening the link between the under-banked and banked markets serviced by our rural bank partners with the expanded capabilities of our GCash platform,� GXI President Rizza Maniego-Eala said.

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Bangko Mabuhay and GCASH serve the mobile money community of Cavite

Bangko Mabuhay together with G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned mobile commerce subsidiary of Globe Telecom, brings the benefits of mobile money and convenient remittance pay-out options in Cavite.

Using the GCASH platform, its branches serve as cash-in and cash-out facilities for customers who would like to take advantage of the convenience that mobile money transfer offers. Bangko Mabuhay is also an active pay-out outlet for GCASH REMIT, cash pick-up remittance service under GXI.

Bangko Mabuhay, registered as Rural Bank of Tanza (Cavite), Inc., has over P900M in assets serving thousands of clients in the province.

See full section printed on Philippine Star on August 27, 2010.

Rural Banks expanding Mobile Phone Banking Services via local merchants

Seven of the country�s leading rural banks participated in a senior management consultation meeting to support the expansion of mobile phone banking services under the USAID-supported RBAP-MABS Program held at the RBAP Office in Manila on August 25. Building on the current achievements and outreach of the rural banks in providing mobile phone banking services, the Mobile Phone Banking � Channel Management, was introduced to the rural banks to support, sustain and manage their efforts in providing greater access to banking services in the countryside via mobile money and mobile money cash-in and cash-out outlets (CICOs).

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RBAP-MABS and GXI train 7 rural banks on mobile phone banking services via GCASH

RBAP-MABS, together with GXI (G-Xchange, Inc.) conducted the 4th Mobile Phone Banking Services (MPBS) Accreditation and Refresher Training Course this year at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel on August 6. The training was for all interested member rural banks from the Visayas and Mindanao.

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Mobile Phone Banking Training for RBs � Cebu City -August 06, 2010

RBAP-MABS, together with the Rural Bankers Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (RBRDFI) and Globe's wholly-owned subsidiary, Globe X-Change Inc. (GXI) will be holding a one-day Mobile Phone Banking Accreditation Training on August 6, 2010 at the Cebu City Mariott Hotel (Cardinal Rosales Avenue, Cebu City). This training is open to Visayas and Mindanao rural banks.

Visit the RBRDFI website for more information.

Making Microfinance Mobile

CGAP - Mobile banking services are beginning to revolutionize the way people in developing countries manage their money, creating opportunities for microfinance institutions to substantially improve their services. Although widespread m-banking services are currently only present in a few countries, a new CGAP Focus Note, Microfinance and Mobile Banking: The Story So Far shows how microfinance institutions (MFIs) can link into existing m-banking services to make it more convenient and cost-effective for customers to borrow and repay loans. Still, for those MFIs located in countries without an existing m-banking service, most will find it too expensive, time-consuming, and complex to develop a service on their own.

The study, which examines the intersection of mobile banking and microfinance in countries both with and without existing m-banking services (Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malawi, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tanzania, and the Philippines), found that giving customers the flexibility to make loan payments and deposits using their mobile phones typically shortens group meetings and decreases cases of theft and fraud.

�Using mobile phones to automate payments can offer significant operational cost savings for an MFI if there is a large gap between technology costs and labor costs in their market, enabling them to lower interest rates for their customers,� says Kabir Kumar, co-author of the study.

Working as an agent in an m-banking system can also enable an MFI to learn more about how m-banking works without high investment costs, while helping them differentiate themselves from others in the market, and bringing greater liquidity to their branch locations.

Kenya offers some of the best examples of how MFIs are building on an existing m-banking service. In December 2009, MFI Faulu Kenya launched a service to link Safaricom�s successful M-PESA mobile money transfer service with Faulu savings accounts. Four months after the launch, about $60,000 was transferred between the two institutions each week and 30,000 customers were using the service.

Smaller MFIs can also work together to leverage an m-banking service. One such program is the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines�Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) program. This USAID-assisted program organized a group of 60 rural banks, using their ties with more than a thousand small business customers to serve as resellers for GCash, a mobile payments solution developed by GXI, a subsidiary of Globe Telecom.

Read the complete article from the CGAP website.

Mobile payment users seen to reach 109 million

Philippine Star � Mobile payment users worldwide are forecast to increase 2.1 percent to 109 million by the end of 2010, a US-based research firm said in a report.

Gartner Research said total mobile payment transactions will total nearly 4.5 billion in 2012, up from just 125 million in 2007, growing at an annual compounded rate of 105 percent.

In the Philippines, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) estimates that there are at least eight million Filipinos using mobile phones to make bills payments and other banking related activities.

According to Gartner Research, mobile payment users in the Asia and Pacific region will surpass 62.8 million in 2010 and represent 2.6 percent of all mobile users in the region.

In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, mobile payment users will total 27.1 while in North America, mobile payment users will number 3.5 million and represent 1.1 percent of all mobile users in the region.

Read the complete article on Philippine Star online.

BSP not likely to put cap on mobile banking fee

Malaya Business Insight - Even as more and more Filipinos are using services available at their fingertips through cellular phones, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) deputy governor Nestor Espenilla said he is not keen on imposing more regulations, especially a cap on service charges, on mobile banking.
�We don�t want to regulate and impose a price cap. Rather than a price cap, let competition come in,� Espenilla said.

Espenilla said mobile banking is an ideal solution for a country like the Philippines.

�Text savvy ang mga Filipinos and many are still un-banked,� Espenilla said.

Espenilla said mobile banking has turned into a competition, not only among the top telecom providers but also among banks and other firms engaged in money transfer.

He said because of the increasing numbers of people using mobile banking for their money transfer needs, some courier services are lowering their fees.

�That�s how competition is shaping. And the Filipino consumers are evidently the winners here,� Espenilla said.

The central bank earlier said there are now eight million Filipinos using mobile banking services offered by telecom providers, boosting financial services to the un-banked in the countryside.

Read the complete article on Malaya Business Insight

Delegates from Pacific Islands study Philippine mobile phone banking

A joint study group of 9 members from the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) and the Pacific Island Central Bankers visited the Philippines on June 21-23, 2010 to learn about Philippine mobile phone banking. Specifically, they were interested in the regulatory approach adopted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for its successful implementation.

RBAP-MABS, a USAID-supported program, presented to the study group its experiences with rural banks and microfinance clients in developing and implementing its mobile phone banking initiatives using the GCASH platform. The RBAP-MABS team also shared the lessons learned over the past 5 years or so of experience. To date, there are already 62 rural banks with 906 branches offering mobile phone banking services to their clients in the countryside.

The study tour, led by Ms. Alyson Slater from Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), is composed of officials from the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Central Bank of Samoa, Reserve Bank of Vanuatu, Bank of Papua New Guinea, Banking and Payments of Timor Leste, and Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme. AFI is a global network of policymakers in developing countries that provides its members with the tools and resources to share and develop policies which promote financial inclusion.

New developments in Mobile Phone Banking for 2010 highlighted at National Roundtable Conference

Leaders from the mobile phone industry and rural banking met on June 3 to discuss new developments in mobile phone banking during the 2010 RBAP-MABS National Roundtable Conference in Manila.

Mr. Jaime Fraginal Jr., Head of Sales of G-Xchange, Inc. � a wholly owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom � first presented GCASH Remit, an instant cash pick-up service for domestic and international remittances. This convenient service, accessible through 18,000 partners across the country (including 3,000 partners from the rural banking network), has low remittance charges for the sender and is free of charge for the beneficiaries. Because there is no third party handling the cash and it requires a PIN number from the beneficiary, GCASH Remit is safe and secure.

By building the infrastructure to increase the flow of money throughout the nation, GCASH Remit looks to play a significant part in the development of the Philippine countryside as another remittance opportunity for accredited rural banks.

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Credit Scoring System, Netbooks, and new Mobile Phone Banking App introduced at the RBAP-MABS Nation

Several technological developments for support and expansion of microfinance services were presented during the 2010 RBAP-MABS National Roundtable Conference held in Manila on June 2-3, 2010.

Ms. Rebecca Hughes, Philippines Country Director of Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), first introduced a credit scoring model and automated loan application process via netbooks. The new loan application process via netbooks allows loan Account Officers to quickly and easily upload and prepare loan applications from the field. In addition, IPA has also added a credit scoring system into the application to better predict the borrower�s likelihood of repayment based on certain indicators such as the borrower�s background, cash flow, debt capacity and past repayment patterns of comparable borrowers. For the staff and clients, the netbooks help speed up the processing of loan applications in the field.

While Ms. Hughes cautioned that not every bank will be able to implement the credit scoring system overnight, all banks can benefit from the automated loan applications via netbooks. This can also provide banks with the first step in collecting data that can one day be utilized by the bank to implement a credit scoring system.

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Mobile phone banking merchant partners help ease banking in Surigao

A growing number of store owners are collaborating with rural banks and connecting to the GCASH network from Cantilan to Butuan City and across the region. These store owners are providing cash-in and cash-out services to support mobile phone banking services as well as mobile money transfer in these areas.

The partnership between RBAP-MABS and G-XChange, Inc. (GXI), Globe Telecom�s wholly owned subsidiary, has helped develop and implement mobile phone banking applications and m-commerce services for rural banks and their clients. Based on a secure GCASH menu, mobile phone banking clients of accredited rural banks can receive loans, make payments and deposits, withdraw funds from their deposit accounts, receive money from relatives and friends, and even buy and sell goods remotely via GCASH.

Merchant-partners provide the opportunity for rural bank clients to conveniently deposit cash into or withdraw cash from their mobile wallets. While rural banks in turn help to manage the liquidity needs of their merchant-partners.

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Cantilan Bank Celebrates 30 Years of Progressive and Excellent Community Banking Services

By: Eric Miller, guest blogger

More than 500 attendees packed into a basketball gymnasium in Cantilan�s town square to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Cantilan Bank. The gala highlighted the banks remarkable growth over the past three decades and underscored the important role microfinance services played in their success.

MABS started working with Cantilan Bank 11 years ago, when it had just three branches and 35 employees. Now, the bank is 260 employees strong with 12 branches across Surigao. The bank-wide loan portfolio grew from around P50M to P652M. The number of microfinance borrowers is 39% of Cantilan�s total borrowers with a client base of over 8,400 hard-working microentrepreneurs, small farmers, and store owners. The number of deposit accounts is 58,522 with P524M in deposits. More importantly, there are 3 depositors to every borrower, and voluntary savings by micro-depositors comprise 50% of total microloans outstanding. Indeed, the bank has grown drastically by continuously evolving to better serve their clients.

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Trends and Challenges in Microfinance for this Decade

By: Eric Miller, guest blogger

The first panel discussion of the RBAP-MABS National Roundtable Conference, moderated by MABS Chief of Party John Owens, addressed the current trends and challenges in the microfinance industry. Topics ranged from market issues, competition, the regulatory environment and branchless banking.

Ms. Pia Roman-Tayag, the Inclusive Finance Advocacy Staff Head of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), kicked off the panel discussion with a look into the regulatory environment. She began by emphasizing that policy and regulations are not the answer, but they provide the enabling environment and support for the market-based solutions of microfinance. To address the risks of limited technical know-how, inadequate risk management practices and governance issues of the early microfinance era, the BSP set regulations to require banks to develop adequate methodologies, risk management systems and comprehensive governance standards.

Ms. Roman Tayag noted that the current microfinance era has seen a mainstreaming of the industry with commercial investors, new products, technological innovation and a move towards financial inclusion. The current challenges for the banks include the need to find greater efficiencies, become more transparent and develop effective credit underwriting standards. For microfinance clients, she noted that financial literacy and the awareness of consumer rights and redress mechanisms are most important. To meet these new challenges, the BSP must be responsive, especially in light of the new definition of microfinance as addressed earlier in the Governor�s speech. Additionally, BSP will review consumer protection regulations, take action against financial crime and over-indebtedness, and advocate for financial literacy.

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GCASH recognizes its top 10 rural bank partners

Globe Telecom�s mobile commerce subsidiary, G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), joined the National Convention of the Rural Banking Association of the Philippines (RBAP) to recognize its top 10 rural bank partners in cooperation with Microenterprise Access to Banking Services Program (MABS) supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). RBAP-MABS has been instrumental in giving clients of rural banks long-term solutions to accessing financial services including mobile banking through GCASH.

The 10 GCASH awardees: Philippine Rural Banking Corporation, Green Bank, Cantilan Bank, GM Bank, 1st Valley Bank, Agribusiness Bank, Bangko Kabayan, Rang-Ay Bank, Card Bank and New Rural Bank of Victorias.

RBAP-MABS Partner with Microfinance Opportunities and The MasterCard Foundation to expand mobile pho

M-Commerce leaders from Bahrain and Utiba Americas study Philippine mobile banking

A study group composed of six executives from YQ Bahrain, Movilway and Utiba Americas visited the Philippines on May 16-18 to take a look at Philippine mobile phone banking. Movilway CEO Fernando Fiksman and COO Dan Cohen, as well as YQ Bahrain General Manager Fawaz Ghazal and Board Director Tariq Al Saffar, were accompanied by two representatives from Utiba, the mobile wallet developer that crafted Globe�s GCASH.

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New Rural Bank of Victorias and GCASH Proudly Serve Ate Evelyn

Philippine Star � The New Rural Bank of Victorias together with G-XChange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned mobile commerce subsidiary of Globe Telecom, bring the benefits of mobile banking services to communities in Visayas benefiting individuals like Ate Evelyn.

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Philippines to lead in mobile commerce, expert says

Computer World � As the texting capital of the world averaging more than two billion text messages a day, the Philippines is predicted to become the leader in mobile commerce.

John Owens, a well-known microfinance expert who serves as chief of party to Microenterprise Access to Banking Services, said with around 76 million mobile phone subscriptions in the Philippines, it is more than double than all the country�s bank accounts of 33 to 34 million. He said that potentially today people can be provided with financial services just by using the phone.

�Mobile commerce reaches all levels of society. From those who are considered the unbank (people with no bank accounts), to rural household where the whole infrastructures putting ATMs, and physical bank networks won�t reach � the mobile phone does,� Owens said, adding there are tremendous opportunities being seen worldwide about the growth of the mobile commerce industry, especially MMS (multimedia messaging service) which is now reaching almost half of the globe�s population.

Read the complete article on IDG News online.

RBAP-MABS hosts 3rd Mobile Commerce Summit Asia in Manila

Close to a hundred stakeholders and leaders of the Asian mobile commerce industry � bankers, mobile network operators, mobile commerce providers, and third-party solutions providers � attended the 3rd Mobile Commerce Summit Asia. The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program Chief of Party, Mr. John Owens, chaired the opening session of the two-day conference held on March 24-25 at the Crowne Plaza in Manila.

He provided the participants a snapshot of the thriving Asian mobile commerce industry, focusing on developments in the Philippines where Globe and Smart Communications continue to be two of the leading pioneers in mobile money and mobile commerce in the region. He also shared the experiences of rural banks, which have not only utilized mobile money platforms to expand access to banking services, but have also promoted mobile commerce for microenterprise clients.

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RBAP to Host 3rd Mobile Commerce Summit Asia 2010 in Manila

RBAP-MABS Chief of Party will chair and open the 3rd Mobile Commerce Summit Asia on Wednesday March 24 at the Crown Plaza Galleria in Ortigas City. The Summit will include bankers, mobile network operators, mobile commerce providers, and third-party solutions providers who will share the futuristic exploration of next generation mobile commerce services in Asia. Mobile commerce is already a multi-billion dollar industry that is set to expand exponential in the coming decade.

The Philippines is the perfect location to host this event as it is home to Globe and Smart Telecommunications, two of the leading pioneers in mobile money and mobile commerce in the world. The conference will focus on the growth of mobile commerce, mobile payments and near field communication focus streams, the importance of partnerships and collaboration, creating new dimensions for mobile commerce and overcoming challenges, and mobile money transfer and mobile banking services. In line with the mission of providing a worthy experience to all participants of 3rd Mobile Commerce Summit Asia in the Philippines, RBAP along with PR Bank, one of the leading rural banks and enabler of mobile financial services via GCASH, will be conducting a study tour that will feature the real scenario on how mobile money and mobile banking. The study tour will end with a visit to Greenhills Shopping Center to introduce participants to mobile commerce services being used by small merchants in the Philippines.

RBAP-MABS mobile phone banking services highlighted in Global Summit

Taking its part in the promotion of effective use of modern technology in microfinance, MABS shared its mobile phone banking experiences during the M-Commerce World Summit 2010 held on March 17-18 in Singapore.

The summit covered mobile money transfer & mobile money remittance, mobile payment and NFC technologies, mobile banking, banking the unbanked & microfinance services, and mobile marketing and advertising. It has highly regarded expert speakers and panelist representing M-Commerce Ecosystem from Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States � including Philippines from Globe/GXI and the Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program.

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MABS conducts MPB accreditation training for Visayas and Mindanao banks

After two successful sessions for Luzon banks in Pampanga and Tagaytay, MABS conducted a mobile phone banking accreditation training for Visayas and Mindanao banks on March 17 at the Sarrosa International Hotel and Residential Suites in Cebu City.

Twenty-two participants from 13 MABS participating banks attended the training.

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Globe widens remittance corridors to Belgium, UK, US

Philippine Star - Belgacom International Carrier Services (BICS), a leading global provider of voice, data and value added services and G-Xchange (GXI), the mobile-commerce subsidiary of Globe Telecommunications Inc., have signed an agreement to expand GXI�s existing number of remittance corridors, using BICS� HomeSend Remittance Hub.

The HomeSend service, created in partnership with eServGlobal, provides a mobile-centric approach to international remittance. It allows subscribers of any mobile operator connected to HomeSend to transfer money electronically via a cellular phone to a GCASH subscriber.

This new cooperation, therefore, provides increased choice and convenience for Filipinos living or working overseas when sending money home to their families and friends in the Philippines. READ MORE

RP leads in mobile banking services

Philippine Star - The Philippines is recognized among the leaders in developing mobile banking for the unbanked. Mobile banking utilizes the mobile phone to extend banking services such as deposits, withdrawals including remittances or money transfer, bills payments, and loan payments.

Telecommunications companies (telcos), such as Smart Communications (Smart) and Globe Telecommunications (Globe), were one of the first worldwide to start mobile money. Smart started in 2001 through Smart Money, and Globe followed soon after in 2004 with GCash.

But one of the leaders in terms of reach and number of subscribers is M-PESA of Kenya. It has 8.6 millions active users or 25 percent of the country�s population, and monthly person-to-person transactions worth over $320 million with average of $37 per user per month.

The telcos have put up systems that cater to the average bank users to the poorer segment of society that do not have banking relationships often referred to as the unbanked, as well as the under-banked that undertake limited banking services. READ MORE

RBAP-MABS and GXI launch Mobile Phone Banking Marketing Program

In continuing support to the mobile phone banking services (MPBS) of GCASH accredited rural banks, the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with Globe Telecom�s mobile commerce subsidiary, G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), launched a Mobile Phone Banking Marketing Program this year.

Supported by Globe, this program is an incentive-based initiative intended for the microfinance merchant-clients of GCASH accredited rural banks to help support the more active promotion of mobile phone banking services by utilizing merchants to promote and assist clients in learning how to make use of mobile phone banking services. READ MORE

MABS successfully conducts 2nd Mobile Phone Banking Accreditation Course for Southern Tagalog RBs

MABS successfully conducted the second of this year�s mobile phone banking accreditation trainings on March 3 in Tagaytay, Batangas. Twenty-nine participants from 18 Luzon-based rural banks, five of which are already accredited to offer mobile phone banking services (MPBS) via Globe�s GCASH platform, attended the training.

Through the training, qualified rural banks can obtain accreditation to offer GCASH and apply to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for authorization to offer MPBS. MABS provided the participants with a detailed workshop on the MPBS implementation process, mobile phone banking step-by-step procedures, and sets of MPBS manuals. Read more �

GCASH and Guagua Rural Bank Formalize Partnership

Guagua Rural Bank (GR Bank) officially joins the Philippine mobile phone banking community as it formalized its partnership with G-Xchange Inc. in utilizing the GCASH platform to facilitate its mobile phone banking services (MPBS).

Developed under the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) program, MPBS involves the use of mobile phones in performing bank transactions such as deposits, withdrawals, remittances and loan payments, among others.

Facilitated by the USAID-supported RBAP-MABS program, GR Bank signed a memorandum of agreement with G-XChange, Inc., Globe Telecom�s mobile commerce subsidiary, on February 18 during the Central Luzon Federation of Rural Bank Management Conference in Hotel Stotsenberg, Clarkfield, Angeles City, Pampanga.

Read the complete article.

1st Valley Bank & GCASH empower clients like Aling Romela

1st Valley Bank together with G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), the wholly-owned mobile commerce subsidiary of Globe Telecom, brings the benefits of mobile banking services to Filipinos in Mindanao.

Working closely with the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) and Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS), a program supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), 1st valley bank helps Mindanao by making banking products and services even more accessible to clients. Read more

RBAP-MABS Mobile Phone Banking Accreditation for Central Luzon Rural Bankers

The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) conducted a mobile phone banking accreditation training course at Montevista Villas, Clark Field, Angeles City on February 17.

Held in partnership with G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), Globe Telecom�s mobile commerce subsidiary, the training was attended by 21 participants from 10 Central Luzon rural banks. Read more �

RBAP plans for big time mobile phone banking services expansion this 2010

The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) projects a substantial increase in mobile phone banking services this year as G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI) plans to activate Globe Telecom�s nationwide sub distributer network of over 18,000 cash-in and cash-out outlets.

Combined with the mobile phone banking services developed by USAID-supported RBAP-MABS program, this will provide the rural banks with a virtual ATM network that more than doubles the current count of about 8,000. �We see this as an opportunity to leapfrog the rural banking sector�s outreach in the countryside and we are gearing up to accomplish this in 2010,� said RBAP President Joseph Omar Andaya. READ MORE

Global mobile money seen to reach $202 billion in 2012

Philippine Star -- The magnitude of global mobile banking is forecast to hit $202 billion by 2012, and 60 percent of that will emanate from the Asia Pacific region.

Foreign consulting firm Edgar Dunn & Co. added that the Philippines, China, and India would be leading the way in the Asia Pacific region.

Lance Blockely, managing director of Edgar Dunn & Co. said that the Philippines is the global leader in mobile money transfer (MMT) and �the next few years will be a climate of explosive growth for mobile money transfers.�

By 2012, 364 million low-income, un-banked people could use mobile financial services. Likewise, the number of people without a bank account but with a mobile phone is estimated to grow from one to 1.7 billion.

This were some of the conclusion arrived at during the recently-concluded Mobile Money Transfer (MMT) Asia Pacific (APAC) conference in Manila, that brought in experts, providers and representatives of MMT practitioners from all over the world. Read the rest of the article on Philippine Star online.

USAID-MABS and MicroSave hold M-Banking Dialogue

After the Mobile Money Transfer Asia-PacificConference (MMT-APAC) held on December 7-9 held in Manila, USAID-MABS and MicroSave conducted an M-Banking dialogue at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Manila on December 9 and 10. Selected microfinance practioners, networks including MicroSave, MABS, Mercy Corps, MICRA and ACCION, donor-supported efforts including USAID and IFC, various third party providers including EKO from India, and Mobile Money Issuers including Safaricom�s M-PESA and Globe X-Change Inc (GXI/GCASH) participated in the dialogue. Read the rest of the article.

Globe dealership turns into virtual cash network

WANT TO MAKE deposits into your bank account without actually dealing with a bank? How about paying bills, or cashing in the money your mother, father, brother or sister sent your from abroad by simply taking a few steps out of your front door?

These things, which used to be impossible unless you lived right in the center of the Makati Central Business District, could soon be the norm for the rest of the populace.

This is the idea behind Globe Telecom Inc.�s plan to create the country�s largest financial services network with the help of its 15,000 vendors.

Globe will turn its sub-dealers, or vendors who distribute products like prepaid credits or SIM cards to be sold to consumers, into cash-in and cash-out points for the company�s electronic money service GCash, creating a network of informal automated teller machines (ATMs) throughout the archipelago.

MABS hosts Mobile Money Transfer Asia-Pacific Conference

Owing to its exemplary performance and remarkable success as mobile commerce pioneer and leader, the Philippines hosted the first Mobile Money Transfer Asia Pacific Conference (MMT-APAC) On December 7-9, 2009 put on by Clarion Events. Held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Manila, the conference gathered some of the most important mobile money industry leaders, mobile network operators, financial institutions and regulators from all over the world. Following a tradition of successful MMT conferences in different parts of the world, the MMT-APAC hosted 166 participants and featured presentations from respected industry leaders. Read the rest of the article.

BSP receptive to retailers as mobile money conduits

Business World -- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is open to allowing third parties such as retail outlets to act as mobile money transfer agents so Filipinos without immediate access to banks could still have access to simple financial services.

\"We are studying this,\" BSP Gov. Amando M. Tetangco Jr. told reporters at the sidelines of the Mobile Money Transfer Conference and Expo yesterday.

During his keynote speech, Mr. Tetangco said the central bank appreciates the need to accredit third parties such as pharmacies and convenience stores as intermediaries for mobile money transfer but it needs to make sure that the public stays protected.

\"While the business case of a vast network of authorized agents is clear, sufficient regulations must be in place to ascertain these agents comply with operational standards as well as good governance and consumer protection practices.\"

He said only banks and quasi-banks have been allowed by the central bank to engage in mobile money transfer, which use mobile phones for banking transactions such as deposits and withdrawals. Read the rest of the article on Business World online.

GCASH, RBAP, MABS: 5-year solid partnership surpasses P5B mark

For five fruitful years, GCASH, RBAP, and USAID-MABS have formed a solid team-up that offers financial inclusion through Mobile Phone Banking Services.

This has allowed them to reach communities, providing mobile banking services through the GCASH platform. RBAP, the MABS program and GXI, in turn, have significantly contributed to the micro-entrepreneur�s access to financial services.

GCASH

Advantages of GCASH for Banking & Commerce

Watch video in ( English / Tagalog / Visayan )

How to Download the GCASH Menu and Register

Watch video in ( English / Tagalog / Visayan )

Cashing in, Sending, and Cashing out GCASH

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Checking your balance

Watch video in ( English / Tagalog / Visayan )

GCASH to Load

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Mobile Phone Banking Services
Text-a-Payment

Advantages: Watch video in ( English / Visayan )
How to use it: Watch video in ( English / Visayan )

Text-a-Remittance

Advantages: Watch video in ( English / Tagalog / Visayan )
How to use it: Watch video in ( English / Tagalog / Visayan )

Text-a-Deposit

Advantages: Watch video in ( English / Tagalog / Visayan )
How to use it: Watch video in ( English / Tagalog / Visayan )

Text-a-Withdrawal

Advantages: Watch video in ( English / Tagalog / Visayan )
How to use it: Watch video in ( English / Tagalog / Visayan )

Text-a-BillPayment

Advantages for companies: Watch video in ( English / Visayan )
Advantages for clients: Watch video in ( English / Visayan )
How to use it: Watch video in ( English / Visayan )

Text-a-Sweldo

Advantages for rural banks: Watch video in ( English / Tagalog / Visayan )
Advantages for small companies: Watch video in ( English / Tagalog / Visayan )
How to use it: Watch video in ( Tagalog / Visayan )

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MABS Mobile Phone Banking and Mobile Commerce Solutions
Introduction to Mobile Financial Services Offered by Rural Banks

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Overview of Mobile Financial Services Offered by Rural Banks

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Using Advise & Pay and Text-A-Deposit for Remittances

Watch video in ( English / Tagalog / Visayan )

Mobile Commerce Advantages

Watch video in ( English / Visayan )

Advantages of Buying & Selling via a Mobile Phone

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Text-A-Payment for M-Commerce

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Sending Money via Mobile Phones in the Philippines

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BSP upbeat on mobile banking
By Lawrence Agcaoili

MANILA, Philippines � The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is very bullish on the prospects of mobile banking next year as telecommunications giants Smart Communication and Globe Telecom booked P9 billion worth of transactions in the second quarter this year.

BSP officer-in-charge Nestor Espenilla Jr. said in an interview with reporters that more consumers, particularly families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), are starting to appreciate the use of electronic transactions.

�We are bullish on mobile banking. We expect volume of transactions through the electronic money system to grow next year,� he said.

e-transactions involve the payment of goods purchased and services rendered but could also be a conduit for the money sent home by Filipinos working abroad.

�The amount of e-money transactions is already huge, and we expect it to grow further,� the BSP official added.

Philippines Takes Center Stage Hosting International Mobile Money Transfer Conference
The Philippines has the �most acclaimed and mature� mobile money programs in the world; thus, there could be no better place in the world to hold a conference of international mobile money technology (MMT) leaders. This was according to the organizers of the Asia Pacific Mobile Money Transfer Conference to be held in Manila this December.

The world�s pioneer in mobile phone banking, the Philippines has one of the most organized, sophisticated and successful mobile money systems in the world. With over PhP 13 Billion worth of mobile money transactions each month, the Philippines exhibits outstanding performance in terms of effective use of mobile phones, mobile money and mobile phone banking services.

Free GCASH remittance service from Sept 30 to Oct 5
Globe Xchange Inc. (GXI) announces FREE GCASH REMITTANCE SERVICE FROM SEPTEMBER 30 to OCTOBER 5, 2009 to allow OFWs to extend help to those affected by Typhoon Ondoy. Globe will be waiving remittance transactions from abroad via GCASH to assist families affected by the typhoon and make it less burdensome for their relatives overseas to send money back home.

Mobile money transactions may reach $202 billion in Asia-Pacific, Far East
MANILA, Philippines � It is estimated that by 2013, mobile money will be worth about $202 billion, of which 60 percent will be from the Asia-Pacific and Far East regions.

In the Philippines alone, a whopping P13-billion per month worth of mobile money transactions were recorded.

�It exhibits outstanding performance in terms of effective use of mobile phones, mobile money and mobile phone banking services,� organizers of the Asia Pacific Mobile Money Transfer Conference said in a report.

Proponents of mobile money transactions in the region will be holding an international mobile money technology (MMT) in Manila next month.

Philippine Rural Banks� Mobile Phone Banking experiences shared at the MMT Summit in Dubai
Taking part in the international mobile money technology (MMT) scene, MABS presented alongside other mobile phone banking leaders on how mobile money works on the �front lines� of microfinance at the 2009 Mobile Money Technology Global Summit held in Dubai on October 26-27. MABS Chief of Party John Owens shared the experience of rural banks in the Philippines who are effectively using mobile money transfer to expand outreach to more than 330 experts and leaders in the mobile money industry who participated in the summit.

Presenting with him in a panel discussion on how mobile money works on the �front lines� of microfinance were Musoni�s Africa Implementation Team Manager Cameron Goldie-Scot, Aikku�s Microfinance Specialist Philippe Breul, and Utiba�s Product and Marketing Director Ritesh Andley. They presented on the operational and cultural impact of mobile phone banking on existing practices of MFIs, MMT as a tool to increase productivity and reduce operational costs, and how MMT affects the lives of microentrepreneurs in Africa, India and the Philippines.

2nd Annual MMT Global Summit to Highlight Rural Banks using GCASH
The 2nd annual Mobile Money Transfer Global Summit will be held in Dubai from October 25-28, 2009 following its hugely successful launch last year. MMT 09 features a combination of visionary case studies from the Philippines and other countries especially on providing an innovative platform for microfinance institutions and banks to reach out to the unbanked and underbanked clients.

Mobile phone banking moves one notch higher
MANILA, Philippines - The Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) program is taking mobile banking to the next level in its continued bid to bring credit closer to the un-banked and under-banked.

The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are the key supporters of the MABS program.

MABS chief of party John Owens admitted that they have several mobile banking products already being pilot tested with several rural banks.

�It has to do with smart money and mobile phone technology,� Owens said, promising to release more information as the pilot testing period.

Industry sources said that rural banks are working on expanding its mobile banking capabilities and its network.

�Anyone with a phone can start trading through the BA electronic money resources, and we have 170,000 clients registered with the banks that can withdraw money up to a maximum of P100,000 a month,� they said.

They said that the RBAP and MABS are presently talking with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on using electronic shops (e-shops).

Help Ondoy victims via GCASH for FREE

GCASH and Bangko Kabayan: Improving the lives of Batanguenos through mobile phone banking
Bangko Kabayan together with G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned mobile commerce subsidiary of Globe Telecom, in close partnership with the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) and Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS), a program supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has made mobile phone banking services (MPBS) possible for the people of Batangas.

Japanese students study M-banking for microfinance in the Philippines
A delegation of 23 development economics students from Chou University in Tokyo, Japan visited MABS and GM Bank in a study tour on mobile phone banking on September 4 and 8, 2009.

Led by Professor Mitsuhiro Hayashi, Ph. D., the students visited the country to learn about the effectiveness of mobile phone banking for microfinance services.

GCASH and Cantilan Bank: Conquering Rough Roads to Microfinancing
Cantilan Bank together with G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned mobile commerce subsidiary of Globe Telecom, has conquered the rough roads to deliver accessible microfinancing services to Cantilan, a municipality located in Surigao del Sur that is 4 hours away from the nearest city. This has been made possible by the close partnership with the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) and Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS), a program supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

MABS shares Mobile Phone Banking and Microfinance Experiences in China
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine rural bankers got a chance to share its expanding experience in microfinance and mobile phone banking with private and state financial institutions in China at the International Microfinance Summit held in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia last month.

Convenient Banking via SMS: Mobile Phone Banking Services (MBPS) give rural banks a big boost
by Bubbles Salvador

Imagine a remote area where peopleactually have to travel far to get to a bank. As banks continuously strive to improve services to their clients, Globe has come up with hassle-free ways of doing bank transactions with Globe�s Mobile Phone Banking Services (MPBS), making banking transactions via GCASH possible.

Green Bank uses GCASH to provide quality banking services to its customers
G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), a wholly owned commerce subsidiary of Globe Telecom, continues to support the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) and Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) in its initiative to expand mobile phone banking within rural banks. Green Bank, the first rural bank in the Philippines with nationwide presence, is one of the pioneers in providing mobile phone banking services under the RBAP-MABS initiative using the GCASH platform.

GCASH and GM Bank: Building Nueva Ecija�s Mobile Phone Banking Community
With the vision of providing banking services to where such facilities are challenged, GM Bank, in cooperaton withGlobe Telecom, the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) and Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS), program supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), builds communities in Nueva Ecija for improved financial services.

ONB the largest rural bank in Mindanao partners with GCASH
G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), Globe`s wholly-owned mobile commerce subsidiary, recently signed a memorandum of agreement with ONB, the largest rural bank in Mindanao, facilitated by the Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) with support from USAID/Philippines.

With this partnership, GCASH services will be integrated in ONB�s recently upgraded banking system. Initially, ONB will accommodate cash-in and cash-out services and GCASH Remit. With these new services available to its banking clients, ONB can now further expand their product portfolio that will assist in widening customer reach.

GCASH paves the way for PR Bank�s micro-financing success
The Philippine Rural Banking Corporation (PR Bank), the biggest rural bank in Region II and one of the largest nationwide, is always on the lookout for innovative solutions that would make its services more convenient, secure, and profitable. PR Bank is consistently improving its operations and processes through non-traditional means that greatly cater to the various micro-financing needs of its specific clientele.

In line with this vision, PR Bank has partnered with RBAP-MABS, along with the support of G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, for its Mobile Phone Banking Services (MPBS) through GCASH.

RBAP-MABS lauds GCASH for propagating mobile phone banking to the rural banking industry
The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) and its Microenterprise Access to Banking Service (MABS) program supported by USAID/Philippines awards a plaque of recognition to Globe Telecom through its wholly-owned mobile commerce subsidiary G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI). The award is in recognition of their unrelenting efforts to promote the use of the GCASH platform for RBAP-MABS mobile banking technology as a tool to provide world-class banking services for microentrepreneurs, small farmers, and low-income households.

GXI was also recognized for being able to execute quickly and rapidly to meet the growing demands of the rural banking industry during the recent 6th MABS National Roundtable Conference & EAGLE Awards Ceremony.

MABS conducts mobile phone banking training for One Network Bank
Continuing to uphold its mission of helping rural banks improve their microfinance operations, MABS, together with Globe subsidiary G-Xchange Inc., conducted training-workshops for One Network Bank (ONB) officers and staff in Davao and Koronadal in Mindanao on April 28-30.

Over a hundred participants from 32 ONB branches attended the two trainings held at the Mindanao Training and Resource Center in Davao City. In the training held at the EMR Center in Koronadal, South Cotabato, there were more than 30 participants from 19 ONB branches. GXI also conducted trainings in ONB branches in Dipolog and Cagayan De Oro on May 5 and 6. All in all, the trainings benefited 176 officers and staff from all of ONB�s branches.

MicroSave Releases New Briefing Notes Series in Partnership with MABS
USAID�s Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program announces the release of the latest MicroSave Briefing Notes series on mobile phone banking, which were written in partnership with MABS Chief of Party John V. Owens. The MicroSave Briefing Notes series is a compilation of short, focused, easy-to-read summaries of key issues and ideas on microfinance and microfinance institutions.

12.Will the BENEFICIARY be charged for the SMS message received from 2887?
The BENEFICIARY will not be charged for the message from 2887.

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11.BENEFICIARY has received a notice from 2887 regarding a remittance through GCASH REMIT. Why was i
After the SMS message has been received by the BENEFICIARY, the SENDER can still CANCEL the transaction by going to the remittance partner where he made the transaction. If the SENDER decides to cancel the transaction, the BENEFICIARY will receive a message from 2887 informing him of the cancellation. In case the BENEFICIARY does not have a Globe/TM mobile phone, the SENDER has to inform the BENEFICIARY about the cancellation.

2887: �Sorry, ang inyong remittance na may ref. no. WC167692 ay hindi na maaaring ma-claim. Mabuting makipag-ugnayan po kayo sa sender sa lalong madaling panahon."

translated as, �Sorry, but your remittance under ref. no. WC167692 is not available anymore. You may contact your SENDER regarding this the soonest.�

The BENEFICIARY provided an incomplete or incorrect reference code to the outlet.
The SENDER provided the wrong name or address and the discrepancy is major.
The BENEFICIARY presented an invalid ID or has no ID at all.

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10.What does the BENEFICIARY need to present in order to claim the remittance?
The BENEFICIARY has to bring with him the transaction reference code, as well as a valid ID. He cannot authorize another person to claim the remittance in his behalf. The FULL NAME OF THE BENEFICIARY AND HIS ADDRESS, which you encode in GCASH WIRE PORTAL, has to MATCH the same information on the BENEFICIARY�s ID.

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9.How much will the BENEFICIARY be charged for the transaction?
The BENEFICIARY will not be charged any service fee when he claims the remittance.

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8. Where can the BENEFICIARY claim the remittance?
The BENEFICIARY can claim the remittance at any GCASH REMIT outlet accepting GCASH REMIT payouts. The BENEFICIARY can call 2882 toll-free from his Globe/TM mobile phone or 739-2882 from a landline to know where the nearest GCASH REMIT outlet is.

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7. How will the BENEFICIARY know that he has a remittance to be claimed?
If the BENEFICIARY has a Globe/TM mobile number, he will receive an SMS message from Access Number 2887 informing him of the remittance. This assumes that the SENDER has provided the BENEFICIARY�s Globe/TM mobile number to the remittance partner where he made the transaction. The SMS message from 2887 contains the transaction reference number which the BENEFICIARY would need to claim the remittance.

2887: �Punta na kayo sa GCASH REMIT outlet para kunin ang inyong remittance. Ipakita ang ref. no. AB123456 at ID. Call 2882 para malaman ang GCASH REMIT outlet na malapit sa inyo.

translated as, �Go to any GCASH REMIT outlet to claim you remittance. Please present your ref. no. AB123456 and ID. You may call 2882 to learn which GCASH REMIT outlet is near your place.�

If the BENEFICIARY does not have a Globe/TM mobile number, the SENDER will have to be the one to inform the BENEFICIARY of the transaction reference code.

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6. Does the BENEFICIARY have to be registered to GCASH to claim the remittance?
The BENEFICIARY NEED NOT BE registered to GCASH to claim the remittance. The BENEFICIARY NEED NOT BE a Globe/TM subscriber either. Even beneficiaries WITHOUT A MOBILE PHONE can claim a GCASH REMIT remittance.

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5. How does GCASH REMIT work?
The SENDER goes to a GCASH REMIT-accredited remittance partner, fills out the partner�s remittance form, presents valid ID, pays, and receives a receipt with a reference code, which should be passed to the BENEFICIARY. If the BENEFICIARY has a Globe/TM mobile number, SENDER provides the BENEFICIARY�s Globe/TM mobile number to the remittance partner and the BENEFICIARY will receive an SMS notification which bears the reference code.

The BENEFICIARY goes to any GCASH REMIT outlet accepting GCASH REMIT payouts, fills out the GCASH Service Form, presents a valid ID, and receives the money.

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4. Why should I use GCASH REMIT?
FAST
AFFORDABLE compared to other cash pick-up
services
CONVENIENT
SECURE
BENEFICIARY need not be a Globe/ TM subscriber, but if the beneficiary has a Globe/TM mobile phone, he gets an automatic SMS informing him of the remittance and the GCASH Remit REFERENCE CODE

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3. Why did you change the name?
This is part of our effort to make the brand name simpler and since we are offering a remittance service, we would like to be recognized with what we offer. Thus, the new name, GCASH Remit.

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2. Is GCASH REMIT service different from GCASH Advise & Pay service?
No. The remittance service of GCASH Remit is the same as the GCASH Advise & Pay service but now made better. GCASH remit now offers more outlets abroad and in the Philippines where you can send or receive your remittance! You can still expect the same speed, affordability, convenience and security that you have always experienced in the past.

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1. What is GCASH REMIT?
GCASH REMIT is the instant cash pick up service of GCASH. A sender may choose to send remittance from abroad through our GCASH REMIT international partners. The beneficiary can pick-up the remittance at any accredited GCASH REMIT local outlet. Recipients who are not Globe or TM subscribers can still claim the remittance. Globe and TM subscribers instantly receive a text alert when money has been sent.

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GXI�s GCASH Product Undergoes Rebranding
The Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program�s mobile phone banking initiative partner G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI) announced the rebranding of its GCASH remittance product. From the former GCASH Advise & Pay, it was renamed as GCASH Remit. The brand name GCASH Remit will be carried by both its local and international remittance services.

GCASH REMIT FAQS
Frequently asked questions about GCASH Remittances.

Globe Cites RBs' Role in Mobile Banking
By Ted P. Torres
December 09, 2008
www.philstar.com

Globe Telecommunications Inc. (Globe) has recognized rural banks for their impressive performance in providing mobile phone banking services in the countryside.

At present, 43 rural banks have already been accredited and registered to offer mobile phone banking with the support of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) - Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) program.

MABS Releases Mobile Phone Banking Instructional Videos

RBAP and Nokia Philippines MOU Signing
MANILA, August 6, 2008 � This day marked the ground-breaking partnership between the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) and Nokia (Philippines), Inc. in the promotion of a breakthrough mobile phone banking (m-banking) services, being developed for the rural banking sector by the Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program, which will revolutionize the financial systems of the microenterprise and microfinance sectors.

Nokia Phils. Country Manager William Hamilton-Whyte said that mobile phones are now �increasingly being seen as a business tool across the developing world and especially in the growing and vibrant microenterprise sector.�

Agreement to Expand RBAP Mobile Phone Banking Services Signed With GXI
MANILA, August 6, 2008 � The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) and Globe Telecom�s mobile commerce subsidiary G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing their partnership to support and jointly promote the expansion of mobile phone banking services (MPBS) of rural banks. GXI President Rizza Maniego-Eala and RBAP President Tomas Gomez IV signed the agreement which will serve as the framework for the expansion of MPBS developed under the RBAP�s Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program - and other related services using the GCASH payment platform to more than 500 rural bank branches and their clients.

16. What are the fees for making GCASH Transactions?

GCASH transactions to access code 2882: P1.00.

These following transactions are FREE of charge if you use the SIM menu:

Registration

Balance Inquiry

Sending GCASH

Request for Last Transaction

Change M-PIN

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Philippine regulatory approach provides exemplary m-banking model
From New Horizon Q1 2008

The Philippine Central Bank fosters an environment that helps bring mobile banking services to rural shopkeepers, street vendors and household-based entrepreneurs.

In the Philippines micro, small and medium-sized enterprises make up 99.6 percent of total businesses and employ 70 percent of the workforce. Around 4.1 million families belonging to the lowest-income strata are engaged in microenterprise activities.

Without access to financial services, these microenterprises are forced to rely on more expensive sources of credit, such as informal money lenders, that limit their growth capacity.

17. What number can I call for GCASH service concerns?
Call 2882 for any issues or questions that you have about GCASH services.

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2. What is mobile money?
Mobile money refers to money which is exchanged or transfered via a mobile phone and is linked to a mobile wallet that is linked to the SIM card in their mobile phone. The ability to link a bank account to a mobile wallet to execute financial transactions is providing an unparalleled level of flexibility and convenience to a growing number of rural bank clients in the Philippines. Mobile money can be used to transfer money person-to-person, allow someone to remotely deposit and withdraw mobile money to or from their bank account, pay for bills, or buy and sell anything using mobile money and their mobile wallet.

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1. What is mobile phone banking?
Mobile phone banking is the term used to describe the use of a mobile phone to facilitate regular banking activities including deposits, withdrawals, payments. and money transfers.

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New to Mobile Phone Banking? Got Questions? Find the answers here.

What is mobile phone banking?

What is electronic money?

What is GCASH?

How Do I Download the GCASH Menu?

How Do I Activate My GCASH Service?

How Do I Access the GCASH Menu?

What is Cash-In and Cash-Out?

How Do I Load GCASH Into My Phone?

How do I send GCASH from my mobile phone to another mobile phone?

How do I convert my GCASH into cash?

How much GCASH can I store in my cellphone?

What is the maximum/minimum amount I can send or receive?

How Do I Inquire my GCASH Balance?

How Do I Change my M-PIN?

How can someone from overseas send GCASH to someone in the Philippines?

What number can I call for GCASH service concerns?

I lost my phone? Did I lose my GCASH too?

I want to use my phone to transact with my bank, but there is no cellphone signal. What should I do?

I did not receive any confirmation/notification message of my GCASH transaction with the bank?

GCASH REMIT FAQS

1. What is GCASH REMIT?
2. Is GCASH REMIT service different from GCASH Advise & Pay service?
3. Why did you change the name?
4. Why should I use GCASH REMIT?
5. How does GCASH REMIT work?
6. Does the BENEFICIARY have to be registered to GCASH to claim the remittance?
7. How will the BENEFICIARY know that he has a remittance to be claimed?
8. Where can the BENEFICIARY claim the remittance?
9. How much will the BENEFICIARY be charged for the transaction?
10. What does the BENEFICIARY need to present in order to claim the remittance?
11. BENEFICIARY has received a notice from 2887 regarding a remittance through GCASH REMIT. Why was it not accepted at the GCASH outlet?
12. Will the BENEFICIARY be charged for the SMS message received from 2887?

Sample Map

View Larger Map

�

Mobile Banking Conference at Chemonics International
Submitted by Ana Escalante

Last week I attended to a conference at Chemonics International by John Owens on mobile banking (m-banking). Almost every writer on NextBillion has written blog posts about this new approach to banking. According to John Owens -chief of party for MABS from Chemonics International- m-banking is the future of micro-finance and rural banking, especially in remote areas - and many people agree. With the increase in cell phone sales in the past years, more people have cell phones and therefore banking services have a broader market base in which to operate.

Cell phones double as electronic wallets in Philippines
By Oliver Teves, Associated Press

Dennis Tiangco receives money at a bank that was sent by his mother in Hong Kong thru his cell phone in San Miguel town, in the northern Philippines. More than 5.5 million Filipinos now use using their cell phones as virtual wallets.

SAN MIGUEL, Philippines � It's Thursday, so 18-year-old Dennis Tiangco is off to a bank to collect his weekly allowance, zapped by his mother � who's working in Hong Kong � to his electronic wallet: his cellphone.

Sauntering into a branch of GM Bank in the town of San Miguel, Dennis fills out a form, sends a text message via his phone to a bank line dedicated to the service.

A bank in every pocket?
From The Economist print edition, Nov 15th 2007
Banking on mobile phones holds promise, provided regulators are willing to be flexible

THE idea that mobile phones bring economic benefits is now widely accepted. In places with bad roads, few trains and parlous land lines, they substitute for travel, allow price data to be distributed more quickly and easily, enable traders to reach wider markets and generally ease the business of doing business. Leonard Waverman of the London Business School has estimated that an extra ten mobile phones per 100 people in a typical developing country leads to an extra half a percentage point of growth in GDP per person. To realise the economic benefits of mobile phones, governments in such countries need to do away with state monopolies, issue new licences to allow rival operators to enter the market and slash taxes on handsets. With few exceptions (hallo, Ethiopia), they have done so, and mobile phones are now spreading fast, even in the poorest parts of the world.

Microfinance lenders are getting the message
By Roel Landingin and Richard Lapper, http://www.ft.com

Running a small bank that is big on microfinance can be tedious work. Take it from Omar Andaya, whose family owns Greenbank, a rural bank based in Butuan city in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.

12. What is the maximum/minimum amount I can send or receive?

For phone to phone (P2P) transfer, the minimum amount is PhP1.00.

The maximum amount you can send or receive P2P is P40,000 in a day. This is also called the wallet limit. Note that the total amount you can transfer or receive in a month is limited to P100,000.

However, a Rural Bank or other GCASH outlet servicing your transaction may have set its own maximum limits for cash-out or cash-in transactions, which can be lower than the PhP40,000 daily or the PhP100,000 monthly limit.

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10. How do I convert my GCASH into cash?

Go to your nearest Rural Bank or Globe Business Center

Fill up the Globe GCASH Service Form

Show required identification to the person in-charge.

Send GCASH from your phone to the GCASH service phone of the bank or outlet. Pay the processing fee. You will then receive your cash.

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7. What is Cash-In and Cash-Out?

Cash-In is the term used for converting your cash into GCASH. See question no. 5, How do I load GCASH into my phone for details on how to Cash-In.

Cash-Out is the term used for converting your GCASH into cash. SeeGo to your nearest Rural Bank or Globe

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RP Mobile Phone Banking Catches Global Attention
Tuesday, 02 October 2007
The Philippine Star

Mobile phone banking services developed in the Philippines was highlighted in an international conference held in Washington recently.

The United States Agency for International Development-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) -Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) program attracted attention during an international technology conference held at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC and sponsored by the International Finance Corp. (IFC), the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), and VISA International.

The conference on �Next Generation Access to Finance: Gaining Scale and Reducing Costs with Technology and Credit Scoring� featured technologies used by pioneering organizations in the financial services industry � including microfinance organizations � to reduce costs, reach new customers, and scale-up delivery of services.

Philippine Rural Banking Goes Mobile with GCASH
Taken from: Microfinance Gateway
Owens, J. & Balingit, C.

The USAID-supported Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) program is an initiative of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP). In partnership with the Philippine rural banking industry, the program aims to significantly expand access to financial services for micro-entrepreneurs. This highlight discusses one of the MABS Program's most innovative projects, using mobile phone banking to reach rural micro-entrepreneurs.

RBs Initiate Text Payments, Withdrawals
Tuesday, September 04 2007 (www.philstar.com)

After being among the first financial institutions in the Philippines to use mobile phone technology, especially short message system (SMS) or text message, for remittance and utilities banking activities, the rural banks are now involved in withdrawals through SMS.
A good example is Bangko Kabayan,which has been offering the Text-A-Payment for some time now. Recently, it introduced the new Text-A-Withdrawal services at its Calaca branch.
The progressive rural bank has a growing number of clients residing in Balayan which is located some 40 minutes away from the nearest branch in Calaca.

Website Launched for Mobile Phone Banking Clients of Rural Banks
A new website www.mobilephonebanking.rbap.org has been launched to further support the expansion of mobile phone banking services for rural banks and their clients utilizing the MABS-designed mobile phone banking applications that utilize the Globe Telecom�s electronic money platform - GCash. The new website is an online resource for mobile phone banking services and provides users with a directory listing all of the 287 accredited rural bank branches. The website also lists the rural bank registered merchants that accept mobile payments via GCash, allowing GCash users to easily locate merchants in their towns. Clients and merchants can now download the forms required for registration and access instructions and guidelines. Step-by-step instructions and requirements are also available to users of the new mobile phone banking services.

Bangko Kabayan Expands Microfinance Services Through RBAP-MABS Mobile Phone Banking and GCash
Microfinance Pacesetter
In 2001, Bangko Kabayan�s management decided to embark in microfinance and join the network of rural banks participating in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-supported, Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program. MABS provides training and technical assistance to its participating rural banks to help them establish profitable and sustainable microfinance operations. They in turn, offer microfinance products to the still largely under served microenterprise sector.

Globe-MABS program catches Gates� attention
Ted Torres
Philippine Star

A microfinance project prepared by Globe Telecommunications Inc. (Globe) and a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded program has been selected for possible financial and technical assistance from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation CGAP Technology Program.

Rural Banks and small business reap rewards of G-Cash

Note: Adobe Reader needed to view documents

Accreditation Forms
   ‣ AutoloadMax Retailers Survey Sheet
   ‣ Bank Application to Offer GCASH Services
   ‣ GCASH UAT Test Script
   ‣ GXI Bank Application Form
   ‣ GXI Batch Registration Form
   ‣ GXI-BPI Settlement Bank Agreement
   ‣ GXI CNDA
   ‣ GXI Implementing Agreement
   ‣ GXI Implementing Agreement Annex A
   ‣ GXI Implementing Agreement Annex B Complete
   ‣ GXI Implementing Agreement Annex B Part 1
   ‣ GXI Implementing Agreement Annex B Part 2
   ‣ GXI Implementing Agreement Annex C
   ‣ GXI List of Settlement Bank
   ‣ GXI Secretary Certificate
   ‣ TAP GCASH Checklist of Requirements

Service Enrolment Forms
   ‣ Text-A-Deposit To Receive Form
   ‣ Text-A-Deposit To Send Form
   ‣ Text-A-Payment Enrollment Form
   ‣ Text-A-Withdrawal Form Authority to Debit

GCASH Guide
   ‣ GCASH Guide

Mobile Banking Guide
   ‣ GCASH Driven Menu-Driven Interface Guide Version
   ‣ TAD-TAW Services - Depositor's Guide

Voter�s ID

Postal ID

Driver�s License

SSS ID

Passport

Company ID

PRC

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2/F RBAP Bldg A.Soriano Jr. Ave. corner Arzobispo St. Intramuros, Manila
Tel. No.: (632) 527-2972, 527-2968
Telefax: (632) 527-2980, 527-2969
Email: info@rbap.org

We would like to hear from you. Please send us your comments, suggestions and questions.

Contact Form

Your e-mail address:

Name:

Address:

Contact Numbers:

Message:

G-Cash Lends a hand to rural businesses
More and more people throughout the country are discovering the ease and convenience of M-Commerce through G-Cash. Microentrepreneurs, farmers, fishermen and rural communities can now enjoy wireless access to financial services thanks to the partnership between G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, and the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program.

Too busy to leave your work? Live too far away from your bank?

Pay loans, deposit, or withdraw from your bank account remotely using your cellphone!

Text-A-Payment

Text-A-Remittance

Text-A-Deposit

Text-A-Withdrawal

Text-A-BillPay

Text-A-Sweldo

Text-A-Credit

Text-A-Credit
Still under development is the Text-A-Credit service. This service will allow the banks to release loans through their clients� mobile phone wallets. Banks may also allow pre-approved credit lines for their preferred clients which can be released using the G-Cash platform.

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Text-A-Sweldo

This mobile phone banking service also enables rural banks to provide payroll services to their own staff as well as support payroll services for local companies. This minimizes the risk and cost of handling large amounts of cash, preparing checks, and managing payroll servicing. With Text-A-Sweldo, rural banks can provide payroll services quickly and efficiently using the online WIRE service of Globe Telecom to upload payroll files and transmit employees� salaries directly to their mobile phone wallets allowing employees to pay bills, transfer money to their account, transfer funds to another person, buy goods and services from G-Cash-enabled merchants, or convert electronic cash to airtime load.

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Text-A-BillPay

The Text-A-BillPay (or Text-A-Bill Payment) service is designed for rural banks to facilitate bills payment for local utility companies (electricity, water and cable television), medium enterprises, and local schools. Consumers or customers of these registered enterprises can pay their bills using their mobile phones and pay directly to their local rural bank using G-Cash. Local utility cooperatives, hospitals, schools and other small and medium enterprises in the rural areas are the primary beneficiaries and can register directly with the rural banks for this service.

Requirements:

Globe and Touch Mobile subscribers

Download G-Cash Menu

No need to enroll to this service

Local Utility Company must have been activated by your nearest rural banks to accept G-Cash for payment

Procedure:
1. In your cellphone, select Globe Services (Glove Svcs+) Menu
2. Click on MyFavorites and select G-Cash
3. Enter 4-digit MPIN and click OK.
4. Enter the 11-digit MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (for G-Cash) of the Bank-Branch (where the utility maintained its deposit account) and click OK.
5. Enter the AMOUNT to pay for the bills
6. Then enter the following details as instruction in the optional message:

BPAY: (Institution Code) space (Acct Name) space (Acct Number)

Wherein:

BPAY: = is the system indicator that determines the G-Cash received by the bank is for bills payment

Acct Name: = is the subscriber�s account name

Acct Number: = is the subscriber�s account number

Example:

The institution name is LANECO (for Lanao Electric Cooperative) and the name of the subscriber is MICHAEL PEREZ and the subscriber account number is 155-67890

The optional message should contain the following instruction:

BPAY:LANECO MICHAEL PEREZ 155-67890

7. You will then receive a confirmation message with a transaction reference number. The bank that receives your G-Cash for bills payment will also receive a confirmation message with the same Transaction Reference Number.

Important:
Save/take note of the Transaction Reference Number found on the confirmation message. This will serve as your electronic receipt or evidence of payment. Bills Payment must be made before 3:00 PM. All payments received after cut-off time will be considered for next banking day transaction.

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Text-A-Withdrawal
With the Text-A-Withdrawal service, rural banks can provide services to clients similar to automated teller machines (ATM), point-of-sale (POS) systems, phone banking and internet banking integrated into one access channel and device�the mobile phone.

Banks that offer this service will just need to require clients to register their bank account(s) and sign a debit agreement. Through the Text-A-Withdrawal service, bank clients can virtually withdraw money from their account from anywhere, within banking hours, using their mobile phones. After receiving G-Cash from the bank, the client can convert G-Cash to cash at any accredited bank or G-Cash accredited cash-out merchant, pay bills using G-Cash, or buy goods and services at any merchant accepting G-Cash for payment.

Requirements:

Globe and Touch Mobile subscribers

Download G-Cash Menu

Enrollment to the Text-A-Withdrawal Service

With at least P1.00 of G-Cash remain in the G-Cash wallet

Procedures:
1. In your cellphone, select Globe Services (Glove SVcs+) Menu
2. Click on MyFavorites and select G-Cash
3. Enter 4-digit MPIN and click OK.
4. Enter the 11-digit MOBILE PHONE NUMBER of the Bank-Branch (where you have maintained your deposit account) and click OK.
5. Enter P1.00 of G-Cash as �Text Fee�
6. Then enter the following details as withdrawal instruction for the bank-branch in the Optional Message:

DAO:(Acct Name) space (Acct Number)space(Amount)

Wherein:

DAO = is the system indicator that says �Debit Account Of� instructing the recipient the bank to debit/withdraw from deposit account (savings or current)

Acct Name: = is the depositor�s name requesting amount of withdrawal transaction

Acct Number: = is the savings or current account number of the depositor

Example:

The depositor�s name is JOSE SANTOS and the savings account number is 567-890123 and the amount requested to withdraw is P5000 pesos.

The optional message should contain the following instruction:

DAO:JOSE SANTOS 567-890123 5000

8. You will then receive a confirmation message with a transaction reference number. The bank that receives your G-Cash withdrawal request will also receive a confirmation message with the same Transaction Reference Number.
9. The bank will send you your requested withdrawn amount in G-Cash form. You will receive a confirmation message indicating the amount of G-Cash you by the bank.

Important:
Save/take note of the Transaction Reference Number found on the confirmation message. This will serve as your electronic receipt or evidence of withdrawal. Withdrawal request must be received by the bank before 3:00 PM. Withdrawal request received after cut-off time will be considered for next banking day transaction.

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Text-A-Deposit
Depositing money is traditionally done through cash or check credited to a specific bank account, either directly or to other banks through telegraphic transfer or inter-bank fund transfer arrangements. The Text-A-Deposit service removes boundaries and allows for remote, fast, and secure bank deposit services.

The MABS-designed Text-A-Deposit service allows bank clients to send electronic cash value via their mobile phone, which is then immediately credited by the bank to his/her deposit account. The account owner/holder or a relative or friend with a GCASH registered mobile phone may send the deposit. The deposit instructions are encrypted and password protected in the 70-character Optional Message field of the GCASH transaction.

Recipients of electronic cash via the Text-A-Deposit service do not need to own a mobile phone. The sender only needs to indicate the bank account number in the Message field to signify his/her intention to have funds credited directly to the deposit account of the recipient. Through the confirmation message from Globe/GCASH, the bank will identify the sender�s name, account number, account name and reference number including date and time of the transaction and will use this information for purposes of validation and recording Text-A-Deposit transactions.

Requirements:

Globe and Touch Mobile subscribers

Download GCASH Menu

The GCASH Recipient for deposit in the bank-branch must have an active, non-restricted deposit account (of any type: savings or current) account in the bank.

The Recipient of the GCASH for deposit must enroll to the Text-A-Deposit Service

Sending GCASH for Deposit Procedures:

1. In your cellphone, select Globe Services (Glove SVcs+) Menu
2. Click on MyFavorites and select GCASH
3. Enter 4-digit MPIN and click OK.
4. Enter the 11-digit MOBILE PHONE NUMBER of the Bank-Branch (where the recipient maintained his/her deposit account) and click OK.
5. Enter the amount to be deposited to the recipient deposit account
6. Then enter the following details as deposit instruction for the recipient bank-branch in the Optional Message:

FAO: (Acct Name)space(Acct Number)

Wherein:

FAO = is the system indicator - �For the Account Of� - instructing the recipient the bank to credit the GCASH received

Acct Name: = is the name of the depositor/recipient who will receive the GCASH being sent by the sender

Acct Number: = is the savings or current account number of the depositor/recipient

Example:

The depositor/recipient�s name is JOSE SANTOS and the savings account number is 567-890123

The optional message should contain the following instruction:

FAO:JOSE SANTOS 567-890123

7. You will then receive a confirmation message. The bank who receives your GCASH deposit will also receive a confirmation message with the same Transaction Reference Number.

Note:
If you don�t have a mobile phone, you can course through your GCASH deposit through GCASH accredited bank-branch (with Text-A-Deposit service available). Fill-up the form �To Send Form� and ask assistance from the bank-branch teller or cashier.

Important:
Save/take note of the Transaction Reference Number found on the confirmation message. This will serve as your electronic receipt or proof of deposit. Deposit must be made before 3:00 PM. All deposit received after cut-off time will be processed on the next banking day.

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Text-A-Remittance

Cash-In and Cash-Out functions as a low-cost remittance service offered by the rural banking industry. The service gives clients a more convenient and low-cost option to existing international and local money transfer services such as Western Union, Uniteller, Pera Padala, LBC and bank-to bank-fund transfers. Anyone who is a GCASH registered Globe or Touch Mobile subscriber can send money phone to phone anytime of the day, even on Sundays and holidays. The Cash-In/Out service can also be used for facilitating cash management of the bank and inter-branch and inter-bank fund transfers.

Requirements:

Globe or Touch Mobile subscribers

Download GCASH Menu

Clients can Cash-In or Cash-Out at accredited GCASH outlets

Enrollment is no longer required for this service

To perform GCASH transaction in other outlets other than the bank, please visit Globe Website at www.myglobe.com.ph

Cash-In Procedures:

1. Visit your nearest Rural Bank branch
2. Fill up the GCASH Service Form and submit it to the teller/cashier along with valid ID for verification.
3. Pay Cash (Cash-In amount + applicable service fee) to the Cashier or Teller
4. Cashier or Teller will send you GCASH to you or to the intended recipient equivalent to the Cash-In amount paid
5. Bank will receive a confirmation message. You or your recipient will also receive a notification message with the same reference number
6. Take official receipt (for the charges if applicable) and copy of the GCASH service form from Bank

Cash-Out Procedures:
7. Visit your nearest Rural Bank branch
8. Fill up the GCASH Service Form and submit to the teller/cashier along with valid ID for verification.
9. Ask for the mobile phone number that the bank-branch uses for GCASH transactions
10. Send your GCASH to the MOBILE PHONE NUMBER given by the Cashier or Teller
11. Cashier or Teller will pay you Cash (Cash-out amount less applicable service charge)
12. You receive a notification message. Bank will also receive a confirmation message with the same reference number.
13. Take official receipt (for the charges) and copy of the GCASH service form from Bank

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Text-A-Payment

The Text-A-Payment service is an innovative mobile phone banking service that uses SMS technology to allow microborrowers to make microfinance loan payments. New, existing and repeat borrowers can use the service for payments of their loans.

Rural bank clients only need to enroll at their bank branch, register their mobile phone with Globe�s GCASH service, and then easily load their mobile wallet at any GCASH Cash-In center or re-seller. After completing these steps, bank clients can conveniently and remotely send their loan payment to the bank without incurring the time and expense associated with traveling to a rural bank to make a loan payment. The borrower can pay the loan without leaving her/his business.

Requirements:

Globe and Touch Mobile subscribers

Download the GCASH Menu

Must be a borrower of the bank with outstanding loan account

Enrollment with the Text-A-Payment Service

Payment Procedures:
1. In your cellphone, select Globe Services (Glove Svcs+) Menu
2. Click on MyFavorites and select GCASH
3. Enter 4-digit MPIN and click OK.
4. Enter your 4-digit MPIN; you will see masked characters represented by asterisks (*)
5. Enter the 11-digit MOBILE PHONE NUMBER for GCASH of the Bank-Branch where you have a loan and click OK.
6. Enter the AMOUNT to pay
7. Enter the following details as instruction in the optional message:

LPAY:(Acct Name)space(Acct Number)

Wherein:

LPAY : = is the system indicator that indicates that the GCASH received by the bank is for loan payment

Acct Name: = the borrower name

Acct Number: = the loan account number

Example:

The borrower�s name is JOSE REYES and the loan account number is 123-456789

The optional message should contain the following instruction:

LPAY:JOSE REYES 123-456789

8. You will then receive a confirmation message. The bank will also receive a confirmation message with the same Transaction Reference Number.

Important:
Save/take note of the Transaction Reference Number found on the confirmation message. This will serve as your electronic receipt or proof payment. Borrower�s Payment must be made before 3:00 PM. All payments received after cut-off time will be considered for next banking day transaction.

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20. I did not receive any confirmation/notification message for my GCASH transaction with the bank

Note the date and time of your last transaction inquiry.

If found to be complete, report the incident to the bank and verify if they have received the notification message.

If they did receive a notification message, then note the trace number or call Globe�s Customer Service. Provide customer service with the date, time, and the amount of your transaction.

Call Globe Customer Service for any discrepancies noted:

          •Metro Manila landline (02) 739-2882

          •Toll free from any Gobe line 1800-8-2882882

          •Cellphone with Globe SIM 2882

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19. I don�t have cellphone signal

If you are have enrolled for any mobile banking service with your rural bank, call your rural bank via landline and report the incident.

Your bank may recommend other ways of serving you.

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18. I lost my phone? Did I lose my GCASH too?
The answer is NO. But you have to do the following:

Call Globe Customer Service to report the loss of your cellphone. For Metro Manila landline, call (02) 739-2882; toll free number from any Globe line 1800-8-2882882 or dial 2882 from any cellphone with Globe SIM.

Specify that you have a GCASH Wallet and you want it blocked/suspended.

To unblock the access and claim your GCASH, go to any Globe Business Center. Present a valid ID; the frontliner will ask you several questions for validation. After successfully answering the questions, you may cash out your GCASH wallet or transfer the balance to a new SIM.M

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15. How can someone from overseas send GCASH to someone in the Philippines?

Go to any Authorized International GCASH Outlet that accepts Cash-in transactions.

Fill up a Globe GCASH Service form.

Pay the processing fee.

Present a Valid I.D.

Pay the processing fee to the frontliner.

Frontliner will send the GCASH to your beneficiary and give an Account Receipt of the transfer and an Official Receipt of the processing fee.

Beneficiary will receive GCASH and a text confirmation of the transaction.

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14. How do I change my M-PIN?

Go to GCASH Menu (Globe Svcs+ > MyFavorites > GCASH)

Select Others

Enter your Old M-PIN

Enter your New M-PIN

You will receive a message indicating that you have successfully changed your MPIN

You can also change your M-PIN using Text-Based:

Send CHG(space)(Old M-PIN)(space)(New M-PIN) to 2882
Ex: CHG 1234 3421

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13. How do I inquire my GCASH balance?

Go to GCASH Menu (Globe Svcs+ > MyFavorites > GCASH)

Select Balance

Enter your M-PIN

You will receive a message indicating your GCASH balance

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11. How much GCASH can I store in my cellphone?

Maximum amount you can store in your GCASHwallet is P40,000.

Accredited GCASH merchants, however, have higher wallet limits depending on their merchant application.

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9. How Do I Send GCASH to Someone?
You can only send GCASH to Globe or TM subscribers in the following manner.

1. Scroll down and look for Send GCASH click it.

2. Enter 4-digit MPIN and click OK.

3. Enter your 4-digit MPIN and you will see masked characters represented by asterisks (*).

4. Enter 11-digit Mobile phone number of the recepient and click OK.

5. Enter the Amount of GCASH Value to be transferred/sent.

6. Enter 70-Character optional message that can be used for some instructions.

Both you (the sender) and the recipient will receive a Confirmation Message bearing the same transaction reference number, the amount sent or received, date and time.

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8. How do I load GCASH into my phone?

Go to your nearest Rural Bank or Globe Business Center

Fill up the Globe GCASH Service Form

Show required identification to frontliner

Give the frontliner the cash plus the processing fee and bank will send the GCASH to your mobile phone number directly.

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5. How Do I Activate My GCASH Service?

1. In your cellphone's SIM, go to
    Globe Services Menu and
    click it.     2. Scroll down and look for
        myFavorites Menu item and
        click it.     3. Scroll and look for GCASH Menu
        and click it.

4. Scroll down and look for
    Register, click it. 5. Nominate 4-digit MPIN to
    secure your GCASH acct
    and click OK. 6. Enter your 4-digit MPIN and you will
    see masked characters represented
     by an asterisk (*)

7. Enter the Complete Maiden
    Name of your mother (up to
    16 characters) and click OK. 8. Enter First Name (up to 20
    characters) and click OK. 9. Enter Last Name (up tp 20 characters)
    and click OK.

10. Enter your complete address
    (up to 40 characters) and click
    OK. 11. Enter Telephone Number
    with area code (up to 11 characters)
    and click OK. 12. You will receive a confirmation
    message after sending.

You will then receive an acknowledgement notice of the successful registration.

Also, it is important that you register your real name and details as the information will have to match your I.D. The information will be used for verification by Customer Service for any GCASH inquiries or transactions.

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6. How Do I Access the GCASH Menu?

1. In your cellphone's SIM,
    Go to Globe Services
    Menu and Click it.     2. Scroll down and look for myFavorites
        Menu and Click it. 3. Scroll down and look for GCASH Menu
        and click it.

4. Scroll down and select desired Transaction from Displayed options

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4. How do I download the GCASH Menu?

1. In your phone's SIM, go to Globe
        Services Menu and click it. 2. Scroll down and look for myFavorites Menu and Click it. 3. Click on AddFavorites

4. Click on Money and wait for 10 seconds as your cellphone starts to
connect to the Globe System 5. Click on GCASH to download
GCASH menu into your cellphone's SIM 6. Once download is complete, you will receive this message.

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3. What is GCASH?
GCASH is a Globe service that turns your cellphone into an electronic wallet. With GCASH, you can easily and conveniently:

send money both here and abroad

receive GCASH and exchange it for cash

make payments

shopping

transfer money from one cellphone to another

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Background on Mobile Phone Banking and Mobile Commerce Initiative

In 1998, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines launched the Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) program with technical assistance and implementation provided by Chemonics International. This initiative is designed to accelerate national economic transformation in partnership with the Philippine rural banking industry to significantly expand access to financial services for microentrepreneurs and other lower income groups. The MABS Program provides training and technical assistance to participating rural banks in the Philippines to develop their capacity to profitably provide financial services, including loans, deposits, and money transfer services to microenterprises in the Philippines. Since 1998, the MABS Program has helped more than 330 rural banks/branches expand their services and outreach throughout the Philippines.

Since 2004, the MABS Program has partnered with G-XChange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, in the development and implementation of mobile phone banking applications and mobile commerce services for rural banks and their clients. Approved by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), rural banks can now offer electronically-driven financial services in the comfort of their homes, business or offices. These services include Text-A-Payment (TAP) for loan payment, Text-A-Remittance (TAR) to transfer money locally and abroad, Text-A-Deposit (TAD) for remote deposit mobilization, and Text-A-Withdrawal (TAW) whereby clients can withdraw electronic money directly from their savings account to their mobile wallet.

The banks and their clients are finding that mobile phone banking offers significant benefits in terms of reduced costs, security and convenience in accessing financial services, and expanding business opportunities.

Mobile phone banking offer other advantages for the bank: it improves transparency of financial transactions, helps control fraud, and reduces errors associated with cash transactions. Rural banks can also provide payroll processing services for small businesses enabling employees to receive their salaries via their mobile phone wallets. For the clients, using mobile phone banking turns their phone into a virtual ATM on the palm of their hands. Convenience and lower transaction costs are what the clients experience when they use their mobile phones and GCash to receive loans, make payments and deposits, withdraw funds from their deposit accounts, receive money from relatives and friends, and even buy and sell goods remotely.

As Accredited Rural Bank
Requirements:

Must be an RBAP member bank

Staff must have attended and completed the RBAP Mobile Phone Banking Training

With CAMELS rating of at least 3.0

With certified results of Users� Acceptance Test (UAT)

Accreditation Procedure:
a) Download the accreditation forms and documents from this website
b) Submit the following accreditation forms and requirements to RBAP:

  BSP Requirements:

Bank Application to Offer GCASH Services (filled-up and signed, Certified by the President of the Bank and Notarized)

Users Acceptance Test (UAT) Result

  GXI Requirements:

Implementing Agreement (all pages must be signed)

Non-Disclosure Agreement with Terms and Conditions (all pages must be signed)

Annexes to the Implementing Agreement (all pages must be signed)

Attach the following documents:

            ‣ Bank Application Form (filled-up and signed)
            ‣ Batch Registration File (filled-up and signed)
            ‣ Articles of Incorporation (photocopy)
            ‣ By-Laws and SEC registration (photocopy)
            ‣ Secretary�s Certificate or Board Resolution indicating authorized signatories for GCASH transactions                (filled-up and Signed)
            ‣ Latest Income Tax Return � Company ITR (photocopy)
            ‣ Latest Audited Financial Statements (photocopy)
            ‣ Settlement Bank Agreement-BPI Account � if BPI is the settlement bank (filled-up and signed)

  Globe Telecom Requirements (for mobile phone line subscription):

Mobile Service Agreement � MSA Form (filled-up and signed)

Any billing sent in the company/bank name � at least 2 months from the date of submission (photocopy)

Any Valid ID of the authorized representatives indicated in the secretary�s certificate (photocopy)

c) Perform Users� Acceptance Test (UAT) procedures within 30 days from the date of activation of your GCASH wallet
d) Submit UAT Result to RBAP

As Rural Bank Merchant
Requirements:

Must be a Globe or Touch Mobile subscriber

Activated or Registered GCASH account. To register your GCASH account, follow the procedures found in Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Must have at least 1 valid ID (No valid ID, No Enrollment)

SIM�s Menu-Driven Interface must be used in performing any mobile banking transactions.

Must be a depositor of the bank with good account handling history

Enrollment is required to avail of Text-A-Deposit (TAD) service for settlement of GCASH to bank account

Enrollment Procedure:
a) Visit any nearest accredited Rural Bank offering mobile banking services
b) Inform the bank that you want to become an accredited Merchant and accept GCASH as payment
c) Present any valid ID
d) Fill-up enrollment forms and agree to terms and conditions of the TAD service

As Rural Bank Client/Customer
Requirements:

Must be a Globe or Touch Mobile subscriber

Activated or Registered GCASH account. To register your GCASH account, please refer to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Must have at least 1 valid ID (No valid ID, No Transaction policy)

SIM�s Menu-Driven Interface must be used in performing any mobile banking transactions.

Enrollment is required to avail any of the following services: (All enrollment procedures below)

            ‣ Text-A-Payment (TAP)
            ‣ Text-A-Deposit (TAD)
            ‣ Text-A-Withdrawal (TAW)
            ‣ Text-A-Credit (TAC)

No enrollment is required if you want to use any of the following services:

            ‣ Text-A-Remittance (TAR) or Cash-In and Cash-out service
            ‣ Text-A-Bills Payment (TAB)
            ‣ Text-A-Sweldo/Salary (TAS)

Enrollment Procedure:
a) Visit any nearest accredited Rural Bank offering mobile phone banking services
b) Present any valid ID
c) Select the service you want to avail
d) Fill-up enrollment forms and agree to the terms and conditions of the service

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