GCash drives PH digital transformation, hits over PHP 1 Trillion Transactions in 2020

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GCash, the undisputed leader and preferred mobile wallet in the Philippines, exceeded its 2020 business targets, one of which is hitting its PHP 1 trillion transaction commitment earlier this year -- an impressive 254% YoY growth -- while it continues to empower millions of Filipinos with digital financial tools and services that helped them adapt into the new normal. 

The service peaked at PHP 7.5 billion daily gross transaction value, and more than 6 million transactions a day. Meanwhile, its customer base ballooned to more than 33 million -- a third of the Philippines’ national population -- coming from 20 million in 2019.

“The remarkable growth GCash experienced this year shows that Filipinos have embraced financial technology. People have realized that fintech isn't just an option but a necessity, allowing them to fulfill their financial lifestyle conveniently,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash.

Sazon credits the exponential growth of the mobile wallet firm thanks to people’s readiness to shift to cashless, consumers finding fintech a necessity during the pandemic, and by providing consumers a great journey within the GCash ecosystem, making financial services as easy as messaging. The growth is driven by an unprecedented surge in usage in GCash to GCash money transfers, bank transfers, online and offline cash-in services, and bills payments, all of which have become necessities during the pandemic.

According to data from App Annie, a third-party global app ranking firm, GCash has been definitively the number one mobile wallet in the country for eleven consecutive months this year: It widened the gap further in active users, leading more than double than the next banking app, and almost three times the size of the next mobile wallet. Their data also showed that the GCash app also overtook popular streaming and social services such as Netflix, Twitter, Grab, and TikTok. This reflects the Filipinos’ growing reliance on digital finance to manage their personal finances and to carry on with their daily lives while also staying safe with contactless transactions provided by fintech apps like GCash.

“We observed that Filipinos rapidly adopted GCash while they adjusted to the stay-at-home lifestyle, and have meaningfully impacted their lives. Thanks to GCash's pivot to fulfill the needs of its customers during the new normal, our growth reached remarkable heights in a span of a few months,” added Sazon.

Part of the strategies driving the mobile wallet’s PHP 1 trillion transaction value growth further are its participation in popular culture and traditions, such as the global 12.12 online sales, and even replacing physical red envelopes -- ang paos -- with its very own digital version, prompting Filipinos to send money to their loved ones during the holiday season using the GCash app.

GCash is also leading the financial service sector, by inducing more than 3 million Filipinos to open their own savings accounts through GSave as of November 2020, and have extended over PHP 8 billion in much-needed credit through GCredit. The growth in these services demonstrate the positive disruption being provided by financial technology in the country, offering vast convenience to its customers.

“While we experienced unprecedented growth in GCash this year, our ultimate objective is to democratize finance to all Filipinos and further enable their financial lifestyles. We are positive that fintech services such as GCash will play a key role in the ongoing payment revolution in the Philippines in the coming years,” Sazon said.

GCash's performance in 2020 accelerates the fulfillment of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' Digital Transformation Roadmap, where the agency aims to shift at least 50 percent of retail payment transactions to digital and to have at least 70 percent of Filipinos have their own e-wallet by 2023.

Earlier this year, GCash hit a record PHP 100 billion transaction value during the first seven months of 2020, and has disbursed over PHP 16 billion SAP disbursements to 2 million Filipinos nationwide.

Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom Inc.

GCash is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information, kindly visit https://www.gcash.com/.

Top 5 Christmas gift ideas you can give via the GCash App

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This 2020 holiday season is unique because of the pandemic, community quarantines and lack of opportunities to socialize with family and friends. So it’s no surprise that consumers will find other ways to give gifts -- or even give non-conventional gifts -- for Christmas.

GCash, the undisputed leader and preferred mobile wallet in the Philippines, suggests that Filipinos go for digital gifts readily available within the GCash app for Christmas. This is not only very practical and usable, but will also keep consumers safe from the pandemic by being contactless.

“This holiday season is the first in recent history where some friends and families won’t be able to see each other because of the pandemic, preventing much needed social interaction. However, through fintech, we can still make our loved ones feel the Christmas spirit. This is possible with GCash,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash.

Here are some top recommendations users can check out for a Merry GCash Christmas:

Gift idea #1. Send aguinaldo to your inaanaks, family, and loved ones!

Physical aguinaldos on envelopes are a thing of the past. Go digital with GCash instead! Just navigate to the Send Money section of the GCash app, select Send Pamasko, and add the numbers of the recipients and the aguinaldo amounts you’re going to give them!

Users also have the option to customize their Send Pamasko through a variety of digital envelopes, and even add a holiday message to it, too! It will save everyone a lot of time and effort, plus your younger pamangkins and inaanaks will appreciate it more since it’s digital (because they’re the digital generation) with a dedication.

Gift idea #2. Gift prepaid load to others, and get the chance to win back load for yourself!

Sure, prepaid load isn’t something one thinks of immediately when it comes to Christmas gifts, but in this weird time of being contactless, having prepaid load is a key way to stay connected with family, friends, and loved ones.

Great thing is that GCash is also holding a promo this holiday season where you can win back the load you purchase.

Every regular, combo, or broadband load you purchase using the GCash app entitles you to one digital scratch card where you get a chance to win up to 100% of the load you bought back! Just enter the mobile number you used to purchase, and the transaction reference number you received from 2882 on www.load2win.com!

Gift idea #3. Getting your loved ones insurance is a great gift this Christmas

We have heard a lot of unfortunate stories about one’s health and well-being this year, especially relating to illnesses. That’s why having your friends, family, or loved ones insured is something that they will appreciate, knowing well that they can have something to fall back to regarding their health.

Powered by Singlife, GCash is offering medical coverage against dengue for as low as PHP 300 a year! The first 10,000 customers will also get free COVID-19 coverage when they avail.

If you want to have your immediate family protected with this gift, simply just log-in to the GCash app and go to GInsure. If you want to have your friends and extended family covered with insurance as well, you can use Send Pamasko and use the customized Singlife digital envelope to make sure they use it for purchasing insurance!

Gift idea #4. Pay someone’s bill for the gift of peace of mind

The pandemic has brought people to their knees physically, emotionally, and financially. If you have someone close to you that you know has been experiencing troubles and catching up with their monthly dues, why not pay it for them as a gift? Not only will they thank you for it for their peace of mind (imagine not having electricity for December because they weren’t able to pay their bill) , you’ll also buy them more time to get a better start for 2021!

To start, you can get their account number or bill reference details and the amount due, input it on the Pay Bills portion of the GCash app, and pay! The bill will be settled in as fast as 24 hours.

Gift idea #5. Donate to your favorite charity and make their beneficiaries’ Christmases a memorable one

People used to do feeding programs and other public social activities to celebrate their Christmas pre-COVID. Unfortunately, this is not really practical and safe to do anymore because of quarantine restrictions. However, there’s another way you can help -- by donating to a charity or NGO of your choice via the GCash app.

Through the GCash app, you can directly send funds to organizations such as the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Philippine Red Cross, Caritas, Childhope, Operation Smile, UNICEF, World Vision, and the World Wildlife Fund. Donations will greatly help their advocacies.

GCash is also holding its Merry GCash promo, where customers get a chance to win one of over PHP 30 million in prizes just by simply using the GCash app. For more information, visit facebook.com/gcashofficial.

Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom Inc.

GCash is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information, kindly visit https://www.gcash.com/.

Over PHP 30 million of prizes to be given away at GCash's Merry GCash Promo!

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There’s about 30 million reasons to celebrate Christmas this 2020, and it’s just by using the GCash app!

GCash, the undisputed leader and preferred mobile wallet in the Philippines, is giving away over PHP 30 million in prizes and surprises with its biggest holiday promo yet, Merry GCash!

It is indeed ChristMAS KAYA with GCash because by just simply using the app -- buying load, sending money, shopping using scan-to-pay, and doing other transactions -- customers can win daily gifts up to PHP 5,000, and also get a chance to win smartphones, TVs, laptops, gaming consoles, and more at the grand raffle!

As an additional pamasko, customers who buy prepaid load using the GCash app also get a chance to win up to 100% of their load back via the Load2Win promo! Customers can learn more at load2win.com.

“While 2020 has been a very challenging year altogether, the Filipino Christmas spirit is very much alive, it’s through our Merry GCash campaign where we want to embody the same -- spreading joy and giving gifts this holiday season, just by using the GCash app,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash.

Even with the pandemic, GCash is still empowering Filipinos to continue traditional Christmas traditions through financial technology. With the GCash app, customers can send aguinaldo digitally to their loved ones through the Send Pamasko option under the app’s Send Money feature. 

For physical gifts, customers can now use GCredit on Shopee, perfect for those who would want to buy now and pay later. 

Lastly, customers have multiple options to have their noche buena with GCash. Customers who want theirs pre-made can order from foodpanda and get PHP 50 off when they pay via GCash and use the code “GCASH50” upon checkout. 

For those who would want to prepare theirs with the family meanwhile, they can do their holiday grocery shopping inside the GCash app as well! Powered by Puregold, customers can purchase their groceries directly from the app by going to GLife then selecting Puregold, checkout digitally and pay using funds from their GCash wallet, and have the option for branch pickup or delivery. 

Aside from Puregold, GLife will also soon offer digital storefronts to different industries such as gaming, food delivery, grocery, retail, transportation, and more. Datablitz, Purego, Boozy, and Goldilocks are among the partner stores coming soon, while top local online shopping website Lazada, Zeal Rewards, Globe One, and Goama Games are already available inside GLife.

“Cashless transactions this holiday season are crucial for the safety and convenience of Filipinos. Gone are the days where you have to do most things physically, be it sending pamaskos or going to a supermarket to prepare for noche buena. The GCash app offers this new and more convenient reality to Fililpinos, empowering them to do more on their smartphones while staying safe at the comfort of their homes,” Sazon said.

Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom Inc. 

GCash is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. For more information, kindly visit https://www.gcash.com/.

Spread the holiday cheer and receive exclusive rewards with the #BetterQR this Christmas! Enjoy the most rewarding holiday shopping with PayMaya and Megaworld

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With the holiday season upon us, many Filipinos are already filling up their list of gifts to give to family and friends. 

To make your holiday shopping experience safer, more convenient, and even rewarding, PayMaya has partnered with Megaworld Lifestyle Malls to give everyone amazing perks when they shop using PayMaya with the Holiday Quest at Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Promo.

From November 18, 2020 until January 10, 2021, you can get a chance to win P10,000 when you #ScanToPay at least P500 via PayMaya QR in participating stores at Megaworld Lifestyle Malls including Eastwood City, Lucky Chinatown, Forbes Town, Southwoods Mall, Uptown Bonifacio, McKinley Hill, Newport Mall at Resorts World Manila, and Festival Walk Iloilo. 

And when you spend an accumulated total of P2,000 via PayMaya QR, you’ll automatically get a P200 cashback. You can get this awesome reward twice during the promo period – that's P400 worth of savings from your Christmas shopping haul for your loved ones, or simply for those in need. 

You can enjoy all these awesome perks on top of the up to 100% cashback (max of P500) that you usually receive for all your #ScanToPay purchases with PayMaya’s partner merchants – making your shopping experience all the more rewarding.

"Together with Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, we are helping ensure that Filipinos will get the safest, most convenient, and most rewarding holiday shopping yet, especially when they pay with the #BetterQR for their gifts and other items. We hope these meaningful rewards from PayMaya and Megaworld can offer joy as we all celebrate a truly Pinoy Christmas this year, despite the challenges,” said Raymund Villanueva, Business Head for QR Ecosystems of PayMaya Philippines. 

"We're excited to work with PayMaya in enabling a safe and rewarding shopping experience to our customers as we welcome the holiday season. We're confident that with these exciting PayMaya QR offers, our customers are not only able to get the best value for their money, they're also able to keep their transactions safe by utilizing contactless payments," Graham Coates, First Vice President, and Head, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls.

To help ensure the safety of consumers when shopping in malls, PayMaya has actively supported the multi-sectoral "Ingat Angat Tayong Lahat" campaign which seeks to promote the safety of cashless payments in malls and retail establishments. By being vigilant about health standards, Filipinos can safely enjoy visiting malls and shops to help promote the growth and recovery of the economy.

Getting PayMaya and paying for your purchases using the app is very easy. Just download the PayMaya app using this link: https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133 and register for an account to find out what it’s like to go cashless with the fastest, safest, and most rewarding way to pay for anything online and in stores! Remember, for your holiday shopping, don't pay cash. PayMaya!

To find out about all the perks and rewards you can get through your PayMaya account, visit www.paymaya.com/deals or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, and government. Aside from providing payments acceptance for the largest e-Commerce and "everyday" merchants in the Philippines, PayMaya enables national and social services agencies, as well as local government units, with digital payments and disbursement services. 

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides millions of Filipinos with the fastest way to own a financial account, with the widest 57,000 Add Money touchpoints nationwide. 

Its Smart Padala by PayMaya remittance agent network of over 30,000 partner touchpoints nationwide serves as last mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to services. 

To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Get up to P500 cashback when you claim your Western Union remittance via PayMaya for the first time!

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Plus get a chance to win P100,000 at the raffle draw! 

Digital financial services leader PayMaya is making it convenient and rewarding for Filipinos to claim their Western Union remittances via the PayMaya app as it offers recipients a cashback of up to P500 plus a chance to win P100,000 in the raffle draw. 

From today until January 15, 2021, recipients who will claim a minimum amount of P3,000 via Western Union on their PayMaya account for the first time can get a cashback of up to P500. 

Additionally, when they use their PayMaya account to conveniently shop for essentials online and in-stores, pay their bills, or buy prepaid load with a minimum spend of P500, they will automatically earn a raffle entry for a chance to win P100,000 PayMaya credits in the raffle draw![1]

With the holiday season approaching, more Filipinos will be receiving remittances from relatives abroad as part of their celebrations. But with the current public health situation, having a way to claim remittances via Western Union and PayMaya even while at home offers reliability and convenience for Filipinos around the country. 

Using PayMaya to claim your Western Union remittance is easy. All you have to do is follow these simple steps: 

• Open your PayMaya app and tap Add Money near the top right of your screen.
• Tap Western Union® from the list of Add Money Partners. 
• Enter the 10-digit Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) from your sender’s Western Union® transaction. 
• Tap Receive on your confirmation screen after verifying the correct transaction details (e.g. MTCN, Sender Name, Amount) 
• Check for the in-app and SMS confirmation of the successful receipt of your money! 

With your remittance in your PayMaya account, you can now complete your essential transactions via contactless means. On top of that, you can also enjoy exclusive rewards to give you the best value for your money. 

Getting a PayMaya account is simple. Just download the PayMaya app at https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133 to find out what it’s like to go cashless with paying for anything online and in stores! Remember, for everything you need to pay, don’t pay cash, PayMaya! 

To find out about all the perks and rewards you can get through your PayMaya account, visit www.paymaya.com/deals or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, and government. Aside from providing payment acceptance for the largest e-Commerce and "everyday" merchants in the Philippines, PayMaya enables national and social services agencies, as well as local government units, with digital payments and disbursement services. 

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides millions of Filipinos with the fastest way to own a financial account, with the widest 57,000 Add Money touchpoints nationwide. It's Smart Padala by PayMaya remittance agent network of over 30,000 partner touchpoints nationwide serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to services. 

To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Safer and more convenient contactless payments made more accessible: You can now add money to your PayMaya account for free at Ministop stores nationwide

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Filipinos can now conveniently add money to their PayMaya accounts at the nearest Ministop store, making going cashless much easier in the New Normal. Through an expanded partnership between digital financial services leader PayMaya Philippines and the popular convenience store chain, customers can now avail of this Add Money service at more than half of Ministop stores and by end of the year, in all of its over 500 stores nationwide. Every Add Money transaction via Ministop will also be free of charge until December 2020. 

With this partnership, Ministop’s extensive list of branches nationwide will be added to PayMaya’s 57,000 Add Money touchpoints–the widest Add Money network in the Philippines. Now, it’s easier for users to ensure that they have enough funds to utilize safe and convenient contactless payment for their transactions, wherever they are in the country. 

Aside from being able to fund their PayMaya accounts more conveniently, PayMaya account holders can already pay for their Ministop purchases in a safer contactless way via PayMaya QR. 

“With cashless fast becoming the default preference of consumers, we strive to make it more convenient for Filipinos to add money to their PayMaya accounts. Ministop's popular locations and always-open operations greatly help in our drive towards digital payments adoption. We're happy to work with Ministop in enabling safer, more convenient, and more rewarding cashless transactions, especially at a time when it is needed the most,”said Shailesh Baidwan, PayMaya President. 

“This strategic partnership fortifies Ministop's strategy to accelerate our financial service offerings that bring convenience and proximity to our customers. Through PayMaya, our customers can now enjoy a safe and convenient cashless payment option via PayMaya QR as well as enjoy the add-money service at many of our 500 stores that is located nearest to them." said David Goh, Ministop Managing Director.

To add money to a PayMaya account via Ministop, all users have to do is follow these simple steps: 

1. Log in to the PayMaya app and tap“Add Money”on the home screen. 

2. Select the Ministop logo. 

3. Enter the amount to be added (minimum of P100), then tap“Continue.”A barcode will be generated on the screen. 

4. Go to the nearest Ministop store and tell the cashier to add money to the user's PayMaya account.

5. Present the generated barcode, pay the amount, and wait for a confirmation SMS

Getting a PayMaya account so you can go cashless is very easy. Just download the PayMaya app at the Android Playstore or iOS App Store and register for a PayMaya account so you can find out what it’s like to shop with the fastest, safest, and most rewarding, way to pay for anything online and in stores! Remember, for your all your purchases, bills payment, and other essential transactions, don’t pay cash. PayMaya! 

To find out about all the exclusive deals you can avail of with your PayMaya account, visit www.paymaya.com/deals or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, and government. Aside from providing payments acceptance for the largest e-Commerce, food, retail and gas merchants in the Philippines, PayMaya enables national and social services agencies as well as local government units with digital payments and disbursement services. 

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides millions of Filipinos with the fastest way to own a financial account with over 57,000 Add Money touchpoints nationwide, more than double the total number of traditional bank branches in the Philippines combined. 

Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 30,000 partner touchpoints nationwide serves as last mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to services. 

To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

 

GCash, Singlife tie up to launch digital Insurance Marketplace

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GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, has partnered with digital insurer Singlife Philippines to provide GCash users access to relevant, affordable, and secure insurance products.

Despite the growth of the insurance market in recent years, more than 95 percent of Filipinos are insufficiently prepared – if not completely unprepared –for high medical expenses, disability, or death of the main income earner. This leads to high debts to pay for medical costs or even outright denial of treatment. Families are being torn away from their standards of living when an adverse event happens and income is disrupted. One hurdle is the complexity of insurance products and the old-fashioned way they are offered, with conventional insurance plans requiring a lot of paperwork.

“Cash seeks to maximize the reach of technology to promote health and financial security especially during this global health situation. After offering customers a new, more customer-friendly way to do banking transactions, partnering with Singlife Philippines will allow us to also offer our clients access to a number of meaningful life insurance products that cater to their financial well-being,” GCash CEO Martha Sazon said.

GCash, the largest fintech company in the Philippines, has always had its eyes set on financial inclusion for all Filipino. Recently, GCash has started offering users a suite of financial services such as savings, on-demand credit, and investments. Offering insurance is the next step towards this goal.

Singlife Philippines is a majority-owned subsidiary of Singlife (65%) with partners Di-Firm (20%) and Aboitiz Equity Ventures (15%). The company’s purpose is to unlock the potential of money for everyone by offering innovative tools & solutions that help people become confident and in control of their finances.

“We believe that everyone should have access to financial products that support them to manage their financial lives efficiently. By using digital technology, we can simplify products, make them affordable for a larger market, and design them to be customer centric. Our products adjust to your needs and give you the best value for your money,” Singlife Philippines President & CEO Rien Hermans said.

He adds, “Partnering with GCash, the biggest e-wallet platform in the Philippines, makes perfect sense as our goals are aligned.  We offer simple and flexible products at affordable prices to a large base of customers.”

This is only one of many partnerships, and GCash will continue to work with local industry leaders to offer the best insurance options to the people in the market.

“The end goal is to really connect every Filipino to all the kinds of financial protection they might need in the most convenient way possible,” Sazon said.

PayMaya and beep™ team up to provide safer, contactless commute for all

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Digital financial services leader PayMaya Philippines partners with beep™ to provide commuters a safer way to load up their beep™ cards.  

Commuters can enjoy a safe and contactless commute by simply purchasing their beep™ load packages on the PayMaya app. With this load up method, there is no longer a need for face-to-face interactions with the teller, as well as exchange of cash, which can contribute to the further spread of the virus.  

PayMaya users can choose among three beep™ load packages on their PayMaya app: 

P100, P250, and P500 with an additional P5 convenience fee. 

To buy a load package on PayMaya, simply follow these easy steps: 

1. Tap treats on the app homepage 2. Select a beep™ card load package 3. Input your beep™ card number, then tap continue 4. Wait for a purchase confirmation in-app and via SMS 5. Head over to a beep™ e-load station and tap your card to receive the load package.  

Once the beep™ card is loaded, it can already be used on LRT 1, LRT 2, MRT 3, as well as in Point-to-Point (P2P) and Metro Manila city buses. There’s also a growing number of modern PUVs, among other transportation modes, that accept beep™ cards as a payment method. 

AF Payments Head of Business Development, Sharon Fong said, “We recognize the challenges and health risks that the daily Filipino commuter faces during the pandemic. We want to help mitigate those health risks by promoting contactless commuting. So instead of paying for your fare with cash that gets passed around by different people, you just tap your beep™ card. Loading your card is also safer and more convenient when you use cashless options, such as PayMaya.”

“As the country reopens, more Filipinos are starting to go back to work and use public transportation. At PayMaya, we’re committed to making cashless options widely available in the transportation sector in order to promote a safer and more convenient commute for the public. Our partnership with beep™ is just one of the many steps we are taking to achieve this goal,” said Shailesh Baidwan, PayMaya President. 

Apart from PayMaya, commuters can also reload their beep™ cards through select Smart Padala agents in their neighborhood for a quick and convenient transaction. All they have to do is follow these simple steps:  

1. Go to your trusted Smart Padala agent and ask if beep load packages are available. 2. Give the beep™ card account number and load amount. You can load P100, P250, and P500. 3. Pay for the load amount with the additional P10 service fee. 4. Head over to a beep™ e-load station and tap your card to receive the purchased load.

PayMaya has previously announced its support to the directive released by the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board mandating the use of contactless payments in public utility vehicles as part of the measures in what is dubbed as the “new normal." 

In June, it has entered into an agreement ride-hailing app hirna and its partner taxi drivers to be able to accept cashless payments from its customers via PayMaya QR.  

PayMaya has also previously equipped taxi operators in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Baguio with contactless payments, and enabled the first digital bus ticketing system with the Araneta Bus Port for cashless payments through credit and debit cards as well as via PayMaya QR.

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, and government. Aside from providing payments acceptance for the largest e-Commerce, food, retail and gas merchants in the Philippines, PayMaya enables national and social services agencies as well as local government units with digital payments and disbursement services.   

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides millions of Filipinos with the fastest way to own a financial account with over 40,000 Add Money touchpoints nationwide, more than double the total number of traditional bank branches in the Philippines combined. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 30,000 partner touchpoints nationwide serves as last mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to services. 

To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Western Union to provide 50% money transfer fee reduction for frontline and essential workers

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Western Union provides fee reduction for frontline and essential workers as a part of company’s ongoing efforts to provide essential money transfers and payments services amid the COVID-19 pandemic

MANILA, MAY 11, 2020–Western Union (NYSE: WU), a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, today announced a 50 percent fee reduction1 for front-line responders and essential workers sending money globally via any of the company's digital channels for the next two weeks. The promotion is a small tribute by the company to these customers for their endless commitment to their local communities and dedication to maintain the infrastructure and resources necessary to keep local economies afloat.

More than 65 percent of global citizens working and living across the world perform roles as first responders or in essential service industries, according to Western Union’s business intelligence. These global citizens indexed high across major countries including 63 percent in the U.S., 67 percent in the U.K, 68 percent in France, 70 percent in Germany, 62 percent in Australia, 58 percent in the UAE and 71 percent in Saudi Arabia.

“When the world stopped, our first responders and essential workers kept going,” said Western Union President and CEO Hikmet Ersek. “They have continued to show up, day after day, to make it possible for our communities and economies to carry on.”

“Many of the world’s frontline or essential workers are global citizens who regularly send money to loved ones back home. At Western Union, our inspiration comes from our customers who trust us with their hard-earned money. We want to acknowledge their dedication to keeping remittances moving to the communities and economies around the world that depend on them the most and support them as they continue promoting the health and safety of the communities around them.”

The fee reduction, valid with transfer code Thanks2020, applies to any transaction initiated in the majority of Western Union’s digital-enabled countries at westernunion.com or via the Western Union app, and received anywhere Western Union’s Global Network reaches: via bank account or wallet payout in more than 100 countries, as well as retail Agent locations in 200 countries and territories. The fee reduction will run from now until May 20, 2020 and is available to first responders representing medical, police, and fire department professionals as well as essential workers across food, transport, utility, and other essential industries, including manufacturing and construction.

Last month, Western Union announced the expansion of its digital money transfer services, the fastest-growing part of its business in 2019, to more than 75 countries. The end-to-end coverage ensures that these safe, convenient digital services are available to millions of the world’s most active money movers, especially during COVID-19. The company also last month announced, “Digital Location”, a phone-based concierge service meant to help customers complete digital transactions from the safety of their homes as well as home-delivery of remittance funds in some markets.

Western Union and the Western Union Foundation, along with partners, have pledged more than US$1.0 million in the fight against COVID-19. The foundation is prioritizing initiatives that include strengthening healthcare systems around the globe, serving vulnerable populations, including refugees and migrants. Additionally, the Foundation will continue to support local and global nonprofit organizations providing access to essential services, including hunger relief, medical training, education, supplies and equipment for frontline healthcare workers.

In addition, Western Union Business Solutions’ WU® NGO GlobalPay platform has enabled NGOs to focus on the vital work at hand delivering critical international operations to support communities in need. Since 2012, more than 2,000 NGOs have sent nearly $8 billion around the world in 132 currencies to more than 200 countries, through the platform.

All of Western Union’s responses and initiatives related to COVID-19 may be accessed via our dedicated Resource Center here.

WU-G

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments. Our omnichannel platform connects the digital and physical worlds and makes it possible for consumers and businesses to send and receive money and make payments with speed, ease, and reliability. As of December 31, 2019, our network included over 550,000 retail agent locations offering our branded services in more than 200 countries and territories, with the capability to send money to billions of accounts. Additionally, westernunion.com, our fastest growing channel in 2019, is available in over 75 countries, plus additional territories, to move money around the world. With our global reach, Western Union moves money for better, connecting family, friends and businesses to enable financial inclusion and support economic growth. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

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Western Union makes money on the foreign exchange conversion

Let's continue to stand as #OneAgainstCOVID19: Send love to your family and friends with PayMaya

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As the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon has been extended, sending and receiving funds whether for our loved ones, for those in need, or for payment to small business owners, is now more critical than ever. 

If you're planning to transfer funds soon, here are three ways you can do it via PayMaya: 

💙  Send to another PayMaya account via the "Send Money" function on your PayMaya app

💙  Send to any bank under Instapay via the "Bank Transfer" function on your PayMaya app

💙  Send to Smart Padala agents/Palawan Express via the "Send Money" function on your PayMaya app (don't forget to make sure that your Smart Padala agent is open!)

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Hope this helps spread a little joy in these tough times.

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Together, let's continue to stand as #OneAgainstCOVID19.

#StaySafe always!

#PayMaya

Five little ways to help others during the quarantine : The little acts of kindness go a long way to show how we are #OneAgainstCOVID19

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As the entire country deals with the current public health situation, it can be tough to find spots of hope and happiness in the confines of our home. While we may be healthy physically, it is also important to keep our mental health in check. In a time of difficulty, it isn’t too hard for all of us to be someone else’s source of light with small acts of kindness even when we cannot be physically there.

You might be thinking how to do anything when you’re practicing social distancing and staying at home. With the help of apps like PayMaya, it’s easier than ever to send some love and share your blessings with others. Here are little ways to spread love in the time of COVID-19.

1. Send money to anyone who needs it

Whether you want to help out a relative, a friend, or the family of your kasambahay, you can transfer funds quickly and easily to any PayMaya account, Smart Padala agents, Palawan Express, or any bank accounts under Instapay using the PayMaya app. In these trying times, helping them with funds for food and other supplies can really mean a lot.

Just make sure your account is upgraded so you can easily send funds to your peers. PayMaya’s upgrade is pretty easy and can be done within 24 hours, provided that you have sufficient documents. Learn how to upgrade your account by visiting https://www.paymaya.com/upgrade.

2. Help pay the bills

Now that work is a little harder to come by, there may be people you know who need help paying bills, such as your parents or your kasambahay. If you’re able to, chipping in for bills can go a long way in this time of need. Fortunately, it’s also incredibly easy to pay a wide variety of billers on the PayMaya app, like Meralco, Smart, Manila Water, and a lot more.

You can do this with a few taps on your PayMaya app’s Pay Bills function in just a few minutes – and in the comfort and safety of your home to boot.

3. Buy a hearty snack for a friend

Some of us may be having a hard time emotionally during this crisis, so a favorite snack could do a lot to cheer our friends up. Why not have milk tea delivered to a friend who’s craving for it? You can pay for food delivery services with your PayMaya card, and restaurants like Domino’s Pizza, Goldilocks, Burger King, and Army Navy with your PayMaya number. So it’s definitely easy to do!

4. Treat a delivery person to a meal

You might have some food delivered every now and then during the quarantine, so why not take the time to treat your hardworking riders to an extra meal or snack to keep their energy up? When you pay for food delivery using PayMaya, consider ordering another item for your rider to show them how much you appreciate what they do. Angkas, for example, has launched a PayMaya QR code where you can donate directly for the benefit of their drivers.

5. Donate to organizations providing response and relief

If you’ve got some money to spare, especially some Balik Bayad from PayMaya, why not consider donating it to organizations that need your help? There are a lot of organizations raising funds to provide protective equipment, food, and other essentials to both frontliners and Filipinos affected by COVID-19, and you can immediately donate to any of them through the PayMaya app or donate.paymaya.com as part of the #OneAgainstCOVID19 initiative. These organizations have collectively raised P11 million in a week through this platform, proving that all it takes is extra left over to be pledged for a good cause.

With all these little acts of kindness, we can help each other out in this crisis and stand as #OneAgainstCOVID19. If you don’t have a PayMaya account yet and would like a faster and more convenient way to help, you can easily make one by downloading PayMaya for iOS or Android from the App Store or Google Play.

For more information and updates on PayMaya’s donation drives, follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To help you maximize your PayMaya account, just visit https://www.paymaya.com/quick-guide.

BDO Unibank finds ways for clients to bank during quarantine

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Amidst the lockdown and enhanced community quarantine prevailing in Luzon,  and ever since the extended community quarantine was implemented to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, banks have been serving their customers in new ways.

BDO Unibank remains open to service the banking needs of clients. BDO Unibank encourages the heightened use of online banking service to protect the public from the spread of the pandemic.

The number of open branches is reduced, banking hours are shortened, and skeletal force is in effect where possible. While the objective is to keep serving the urgent banking needs of clients, the adjustments in operations aim to protect the health and safety of both the customers and the front liners.

In this unprecedented situation, customers’ understanding and openness to adapt to the “new normal” is valuable. BDO Unibank, for instance, is offering alternatives to branch banking, from promoting its online and mobile banking services to keeping its other channels available.

This way, even if the branch near them is not available or handling heavier than usual transactions, their banking activity will not be hampered.

Online and mobile banking

BDO encourages its clients to bank from home via its online and mobile banking services. Using its digital channels, clients can pay bills, send money, load up their prepaid mobile phones, and check account balances.

To sign up for online banking, visit www.bdo.com.ph, click on “Online Banking Login,” then “Enroll Now!” on the login box. After filling out the forms, expect an ATM activation code. Use this code to confirm enrollment at the nearest BDO ATM.

Clients with an activated online account can enjoy the ease and convenience of banking using their mobile devices. They can download the BDO Mobile App and access its features using their registered username and password. A One-Time PIN (OTP) will be sent via SMS to add their device for further security.

To learn more about BDO Online Banking, click here: https://www.bdo.com.ph/personal/ebanking/online-banking

BDO reminds its clients to never give away their personal information to anyone when banking online. Personal information consists of bank account numbers, usernames, passwords, and One-Time PINs (OTPs). The bank will never ask for this information.

Other banking channels

BDO has it wide network of ATMs and Cash Accept Machines available. Here clients can withdraw and deposit money, and even pay bills.

Cash Accept Machines also allow card-less transactions like cash deposits to Peso savings/ check accounts or cash cards. To learn more about its other services, visit: https://www.bdo.com.ph/ebanking/cash-deposit-marchine.

“Over the past few days we have taken steps to ensure, as best we can, continued and uninterrupted service you have grown accustomed to. Given the enhanced quarantine procedures and the limited transportation available, we have taken steps to ensure continuity of service and ease of adjustment on your part during this difficult period,” the bank said in a statement.

Keeping banking channels open. BDO ATMs and Cash Accept Machines are open for clients to withdraw and deposit money, and even pay bills.

BDO, a full-service universal bank which provides a wide range of corporate and retail banking services. 

For more information, please visit www.bdo.com.ph.