Signing of the Collaboration Agreement between CTB and Smart’s Voyager Innovations

Thursday, December 17, 2015

The Chamber of Thrift Banks (CTB) collaborates with PLDT and Smart unit Voyager Innovations for Lendr. PLDT/Smart Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan shakes hand with CTB and RCBC Savings Bank President Rommel Latinazo.

With them are (from left) CTB Second Vice President and Malayan Savings Bank Second Vice-Chair/CEO George Martirez; Voyager Innovations President/CEO Orlando Vea; and Fintech, Digital Inclusion & Alliances Managing Director Lito Villanueva.

PH’s first 24/7 digital loans marketplace platform now online

Friday, April 8, 2016

China Bank Savings auto loans now available via digital lending marketplace Lendr

Planning to buy a car or a vehicle for your family? Consumers looking to get an automotive loan may now do so anytime, anywhere as Lendr, the country’s first 24/7 digital loans marketplace, goes live with China Bank Savings (www.cbs.com.ph) as inaugural partner. Lendr is the latest financial technology or “FinTech” platform from leading tech company Voyager Innovations.

Initially offering automotive loans from China Bank Savings (CBS) and soon, other consumer loans available through a wide network of partner banks and financial institutions, Lendr (ffintq.wpengine.com) is envisioned to provide consumers the ultimate convenience of applying for a loan and tracking their applications through the Lendr mobile and desktop site.

“Every consumer has the right to access financial services. With Lendr, we aim to be the leading organization in promoting digital financial inclusion in the Philippines and other emerging markets. Lendr is our flagship platform that allows bank partners to reach more customers, while it provides consumers easy, fast and secure access to funding anytime, anywhere, with the use of their mobile devices,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT, chairman of Smart and Voyager Innovations.

“Our partnership with Voyager Innovations is another testament to China Bank Savings’ commitment to providing clients with convenient, responsive and customer-friendly service.  Lendr provides a more accessible channel for our clients to apply for a loan.  At the same time, it allows the bank to service loan applications faster, and give the prospective borrower updates on the status of his loan application. With Lendr, our clients can look forward to greater mobility in banking,” said Alberto Emilio V. Ramos, president of China Bank Savings.

The National Retail Payments System envisions a robust and interoperable payment system that enables efficient and cost effective digital transactions.  Lendr is an initaitve that supports this vision by providing a platform for people to link with their financial providers and access financial services in a convenient manner regardless of time and location,”, said Nestor A. Espenilla Jr, deputy governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

 

Fully digital loans application
Through Lendr, consumers availing of loans from China Bank Savings can now do the following:

  • Complete the loan application process online: once they have chosen the loan products that they want, users can sign up and fill out the application forms via Lendr, eliminating the need to go to the bank to submit paper-based application forms;
  • Track their loan applications: Through the intuitive interface of Lendr accessible via the desktop and mobile site, users will be able to get instant updates and SMS notifications about their loan applications every step of the way; and
  • Monitor their monthly loan payments, balances, and amortizations: Once their loans have been fully approved and released, Lendr also allows users to keep track of their payments and balances, so that they do not miss out on their monthly dues.

 

24/7 convenient access
China Bank Savings is the first bank to have its loan offerings made available on Lendr, but Voyager managing director for fintech, digital inclusion, and alliances Lito Villanueva said that other rural, thrift and universal banks including non-bank credit institutions will soon be onboard. Earlier, Voyager signed a collaboration agreement with the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP), and the Chamber of Thrift Banks (CBT) with 499 and 54 member-banks, respectively. This excludes a number of commercial and universal banks currently in the process of integration.

As more partner banks “go live” using the platform, the Lendr marketplace aims to give banks and consumers an always-available online and mobile platform solution that addresses their respective needs.

“We’re building an ecosystem of partner banks and financial institutions so it will be easy and convenient for consumers to make financial decisions regarding their loans requirements. Our goal is for Lendr to empower consumers with one-stop-loan-shop convenience complete relevant data and information that could help them decide which loans to apply for and which banks provide the best rates and product benefits,” explained Orlando B. Vea, president and CEO of Voyager Innovations. 

“Banks, on the other hand, will be able to save on costs and expand their clientele to reach individuals without investing heavily on brick-and-mortar branches. Over 100 million mobile subscribers could now become the bank’s customer touchpoints in accessing financial services. And since everything is online, customers can transact and apply for a loans loan even outside of banking hours using only their mobile devices. This is branchless banking in action.,” Villanueva added.

Once more loan products are available, Lendr will also enable consumers to compare loan products and interest rates of various banks and financial institutions as well as get the best pricing and terms in one go.

Digital transformation of banks
The commercial availability of Lendr is expected to further enable banks with their digital transformation, allowing them to reach customers beyond the traditional brick-and-mortar banking establishments.

 

Voyager Innovations launches Lendr to rural bank partners

PLDT News | Monday, May 16, 2016

Voyager Innovations, the digital innovations arm of PLDT and Smart, introduced Lendr, the country’s first online marketplace platform for consumer loans, to members of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) during the group’s 58th Charter Anniversary Symposium held at the Mariott Hotel, Pasay City.

Lendr is a fully digital, multi-channel, telco and bank agnostic solution that financial institutions and credit providers can use to reach consumers planning to avail of loans. Through Lendr, consumers will be offered a convenient, transparent, fast and secure service through a marketplace that provides an all-in-one account and multiple loan options, delivered straight to the mobile device.

Any consumer can apply any time whenever they need money for emergencies, minor house repairs or school tuition via SMS, mobile app or online with any device or telco provider.  Consumers are in full control as they can keep track of their loan application status, loan repayments and amortization schedule.

In the event attended by more than 500 rural bank presidents and CEOs from across the country, PLDT, Smart and Voyager Innovations Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan led the launching of the service and the signing of the partnership agreement with RBAP together with Voyager Innovations President and CEO Orlando B. Vea, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla, Jr. and RBAP President Enrique Abellana.

Voyager Innovations is collaborating with RBAP and its individual member rural banks to further expand its reach and drive financial access in the countryside through Lendr. Aside from the partnership with RBAP, more than 50 individual rural banks already signed up to be part of Lendr.

“PLDT and Smart strongly believe in enabling broader financial access to Filipinos.  By bringing digital services to the countryside, we help our partners like RBAP extend their reach and enhance their efficiency,” said PLDT and Smart Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan during his keynote speech.

“Leveraging on mobile technology is a great equalizer where small banks could compete with even large industry players; it simply levels the playing field,” Pangilinan added.

“The BSP welcomes digital financial innovations that are responsive to consumer needs while further promoting interoperability, which is one of the pillars of our soon-to-be rolled out National Retail Payments System,” said BSP Deputy Governor Espenilla.

“As the leader in digital financial innovation, we’re committed to helping the unbanked and underserved segment of the population so they can participate in the economic mainstream,” said Voyager President and CEO Orlando B. Vea.

In data published by the BSP for 2014, rural banks are seen as growing despite the smaller individual reach and scale.  Rural bank industry assets grew to P203.8 billion in 2014 from P188.4 billion in 2013. Total loan portfolio also expanded to P128.3 billion last year from P121.9 billion in the previous year. Total domestic deposits increased to P144.5 billion in 2014 from P135.6 billion in 2013.

“With this digital partnership, we are helping enable and optimize the reach of rural banks and at the same time, empower customers who want to avail of loans to make informed decisions as to the best offers and competitive interest rates by just checking out Lendr via their mobile phones or devices,” said Lito Villanueva, Vice President and Head of Fintech, Digital Inclusion, and Alliances at Voyager Innovations.

“Lendr removes the inconvenience of having to download multiple mobile banking apps or even visiting various bank websites just to look for any consumer loan product — it is a one-stop-loan shop,” Villanueva stressed.

PLDT Smart SME Nation, a long-time partner of RBAP, will also be collaborating with both RBAP and Voyager Innovations to help provide a wide range of technology and connectivity solutions for rural banks across the country.

Go to publication

RBAP collaborates with Voyager for new loan app

Manila Times | Thu, Nov 26 2015 | Business | p S2-6 | by Manny V. Pangilinan

 

The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) welcomed a strategic partnership with Voyager Innovations, a unit of telecommunications provider Philippine Long Distance Co. (PLDT) for a new mobile application called Lendr that will serve as an online consumer loans marketplace.