FINTQ named FinTech Company of the Year by Philippines Best Brand Awards 2018.
In Photo (from left): FINTQ Digital Transformation Lead Cristine Mallare; FINTQ Managing Director Lito Villanueva; and FINTQ Digital Transformation Lead Axcel Anonuevo.

FINTQ, the financial technology arm of PLDT and Smart’s Voyager Innovations, was named the ‘FinTech Company of the Year’ at the recently held Philippines Best Brands Awards 2018 last June 8 at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City. 

Holding the award is FINTQ Managing Director Lito Villanueva. “We are grateful for the trust given to us by our partners in helping them grow their business through digital platforms and solutions, which allows them to extend financial services to the public,” Villanueva said. “This award further strengthens our mission of creating sustainable, high impact and socially-relevant inclusive digital finance accelerators,” he added.

The Philippines Best Brand Awards recognizes outstanding brands and marketers who have achieved extraordinary success from effective and innovative marketing practices in the country. Held to promote marketing excellence and foster marketing awareness in the professional community, the award-giving body aims to disseminate and educate the industry on the importance of branding in the Philippines.

FINTQnologies Corp. is the leader and award-winning financial technology provider of customer-centric, demand-driven, mobile-first, value-creating, and inclusive digital financial innovations. It is the largest and the only FinTech business in the country with diverse digital banking and finance portfolio of platforms including lending, security, micro-savings, micro-investments, insurance, disbursements, micro-credit and virtual banking, among others. For more information about FINTQ and all of its products and services, please visit www.fintq.com.

In photo (L-R): Enterprise Asia International Advisory Panel member Cebu Rep. and House Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia; FINTQ Managing Director and KasamaKA Founder and Lead Convenor Lito Villanueva; and Enterprise Asia President Dato’ William Ng.

KasamaKA, the financial inclusion program of FINTQnologies Corp.’s (FINTQ), was recognized as one of the winners from 11 Asian countries for the Social Empowerment Category at the recently held Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards 2018 (AREA 2018). FINTQ, the financial technology arm of PLDT’s Voyager Innovations, is the first and only technology firm from Southeast Asia to receive an award for this category.

KasamaKA is a grassroots-based, self-help, bottom-up digital-enabled social intervention to accelerate financial literacy and inclusive growth. It champions sachet financial services for unbanked and underserved Filipinos through platforms and services for digital lending and microinsurance. With partners, it will also make available microsavings, microinvestments, alternative credit scoring, eKYC, and a farm-to-marketplace digital agricultural value chain platform called Accelerated Growth and Rural Inclusion or AGRI.

“KasamaKA is our solution to address the two biggest barriers to inclusion – low financial literacy among Filipinos and lack of convenient and affordable access to financial services,” said Lito Villanueva, FINTQ Managing Director and KasamaKA Founder and Lead Convenor.“ The financial inclusion program is in line with the goal of FINTQ and Voyager Innovations to build a critical mass of 30 million Filipinos included in the formal financial system by 2020,” he added.

KasamaKA’s approach to financial inclusion is to promulgate financial literacy among Filipinos not primarily through sit-down trainings, but through an innovative digital referral community income builder program.

Becoming part of KasamaKA is easy. One can become a member and get rewards by simply texting KKK to 29292 or by registering at www.kasamaka.com to start referring friends, families. “It is growing financial inclusion starting from very personal and community grassroots level,” Villanueva explained.

AREA 2018, organized by Enterprise Asia, recognizes and honors Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship. It is Asia’s leading award for responsible entrepreneurship. Judging, composed of an international panel, was based on innovation, social impact, and sustainability.

FINTQnologies Corp. is the leader and award-winning financial technology provider of customer-centric, demand-driven, mobile-first, value-creating, and inclusive digital financial innovations. It is the largest and the only FinTech business in the country with diverse digital banking and finance portfolio of platforms including lending, security, micro-savings, micro-investments, insurance, disbursements, micro-credit and virtual banking, among others. For more information about FINTQ and all of its products and services, please visit www.fintq.com.

In photo: FINTQ Managing Director Lito Villanueva presents KasamaKA to the members of 1Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines during their General Assembly at the Royce Hotel in Clark Freeport Zone.

In Photo: FINTQ Managing Director Lito Villanueva and MyPhone President and CEO David Lim discussing on how cooperatives can innovate their services during the recent General Assembly of 1Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines members at the Royce Hotel in Clark Freeport Zone.

FINTQnologies Corp. (FINTQ), the financial technology arm of Voyager Innovations, further strengthened its thrust for inclusive digital finance by helping cooperatives understand and undertake digital transformation.

At the recent general assembly of the 1Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines (1CISP) at the Royce Hotel in Clark Freeport Zone, FINTQ Managing Director Lito Villanueva said FINTQ is assisting cooperatives in the country to bridge the gap between their “traditional members” and prospective “younger clients” they cater through the use of different digital platforms.

“We want to close the gap between the digital customers and what the analog business delivers. We want to help cooperatives with old or no IT infrastructure at all to connect with millennials who are the disruptors of businesses because they demand fast services that answer their needs. We want to help the cooperatives disrupt themselves and be ready with what young generations will demand from them,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva, speaking to at least 1,000 cooperative officers from all over the country, said the cooperatives should embrace the digital disruption and reinvent themselves.

“The current and next generation customers will continue to disrupt industries. Fusing technology with the strategy is the way forward,” he said.

Villanueva pointed out that when a company undergoes digital transformation this translates to “cultural and organizational shifts, happy and engaged customers, agility at the core, new mind set, genuine and dynamic collaboration, and an empowered and pro-active workforce.”

For FINTQ, he said, the financial technology firm of PLDT and Smart’s Voyager Innovation will continue to develop and launch platforms and apps to facilitate and enhance digital financial services to a larger number of people especially those living in the 4th,  5th, and 6th class municipalities in the Philippines where the average annual income is Php35 million and below.

“The financial inclusion journey is a gradual program making Filipinos move from being unbanked to semi-banked to banked,” Villanueva said.

“We want Filipinos to be able to avail and have access to affordable financial products and services. The Philippines is leading in Asia in terms of economic development. And the question to every Filipino is – kasama ka ba sa pagbangon ng bayan?” he said.

To further accelerate inclusive digital finance in the country, FINTQ introduced KasamaKA to the members of 1CISP. KasamaKA is a grassroots-based, self-help, and digital-enabled social intervention and last mile solution to promote financial literacy and inclusive growth. At the same time, it is a cost-efficient, convenient, secured, and transparent shared services platform to expand the reach of banks, financial services and insurance sector to the unbanked and underserved Filipinos providing microsavings, microinsurance, microinvestments, and lending products.

FINTQ, through its insurance company partners, is giving away free microinsurance* and all participants of the general assembly of the 1CISP were given the opportunity to avail of this. To avail of the free microinsurance until December 31, 2018, an individual has to register as a KasamaKA member by simply texting KKK to 29292 or signing up at KasamaKA’s website:  www.kasamaka.com. For SMS registration, type in REG <Space><First Name>/<Last Name>/<Date of Birth, MMDDYYYY>/<Address> and send to 29292. For website registration, provide your Full Name (Kumpletong Pangalan); Date of Birth (Araw ng Kapanganakan); Nationality (Nasyonalidad); Present Address (Kasalukuyang Tirahan); Source of Income  (Saan galing ang iyong kasalukuyang kita); and Mobile Number. To know more, visit www.kasamaka.com

FINTQnologies Corp. is the leader in customer-centric, demand driven, evidence-based, and mobile-first digital financial innovations by way of engaging regulators, enabling enterprises, and empowering individuals. FINTQ is committed to accelerating universal digital access to finance at scale via pioneering financial technologies in growth and emerging markets. It is the financial technology arm of Voyager Innovations under the PLDT Group. To know more, visit http://www.fintq.com
*DTI Permit No. 2246.

In photo (L-R) League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) Deputy Secretary-General for Luzon Gov. Imee R. Marcos, LPP National President Gov. Ryan Luis V. Singson, FINTQ Managing Director and KasamaKA Founder and Lead Convenor Lito Villanueva, LPP National Chairman Gov. Al Francis C. Bichara, PLDT Group Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, Voyager Innovations President and CEO Orlando B. Vea, and LPP Board Member Gov. Albert Raymond S. Garcia.

In photo (L-R) Voyager Innovations President and CEO Orlando B. Vea, PLDT Group Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, League of Provinces of the Philippines National Chairman Gov. Al Francis C. Bichara, and FINTQ Managing Director and KasamaKA Founder and Lead Convenor Lito Villanueva.

KasamaKA, a pioneering grassroots-based movement aimed at empowering the unbanked population, has been officially adopted as the financial inclusion and social advocacy program across 81 provinces in the country through a resolution signed by the National Executive Board of the League of Provinces in the Philippines (LPP).

Through KasamaKA, FINTQ – the financial arm of PLDT and Smart’s Voyager Innovations – is enabling bank and non-bank financial institutions to offer “sachet” financial services such as microsavings, microinsurance, lending, and micro investment, among others–a first in the Philippines. This initiative will tap millions of sari-sari stores, which can act as correspondent agents of banks. Soon, Filipinos can then access these affordable services and get incentives when they become a KasamaKA member. This initiative will also cover alternative credit scoring for the unbanked and underserved to access affordable financing with corresponding electronic Know-Your Customer (eKYC) capabilities.

Through a National Executive Board Resolution adopted and signed on May 18 by the LPP, composed of the governors of all 81 provinces in the country, pledged to encourage their constituents to become part of KasamaKA by conducting financial literacy and education campaigns. Together with various partners and with the support of the provincial governments, FINTQ is conducting financial inclusion caravans all over the country.

“As governors, our sole obligation is to uplift the lives of our people, particularly the unbanked and underserved. Through our association, we have adopted KasamaKA as an effective and convenient alternative platform that can quickly scale financial inclusion in the Philippines, most especially in the countryside,” said Albay Governor and LPP National Chairman Al Francis C. Bichara.

“KasamaKA is one of our main platforms to make the vision of Voyager to include 30 million Filipinos in the formal financial system by 2020 a reality. This is in strong support of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ National Strategy for Financial Inclusion, and President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s initiative of reducing poverty incidence in the country,” said PLDT and Smart Chairman, President, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.

FINTQ Managing Director Lito Villanueva said: “The adoption of KasamaKA by the League of Provinces will further accelerate financial inclusivity in the country. We are grateful to receive their all-out support and to collaborate with proactive local leaders in providing a more affordable and accessible alternative to build an inclusive digital economy.”

A major component of the initiative that will be implemented in cooperation with the League of Provinces is the digital end-to-end agricultural value chain platform called AGRI (Accelerated Growth and Rural Inclusion) that will connect farmers and fisherfolks to consumers for optimized productivity and greater efficiencies. It includes digital financial services, digital commerce through a marketplace and logistics management.

KasamaKa is an income and community builder platform and program that aims to spread greater access to finance to more Filipinos to steer  them away from informal lenders by giving them access to reasonable cost of credit, and introducing them to a complete suite of digital financial services.

To date, it has received strong support from various sectors. Recently, KasamaKA has also been adopted by the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas, making it as the national program to accelerate financial inclusion across over 42,000 barangays nationwide.

To become a KasamaKa builder, interested individuals only have to register via www.kasamaka.com or text KKK to 29292 to receive their unique Builder ID, which they can give out to family, friends, and community members who would like to avail themselves of various digital financial services such as loans, insurance, micro-savings, and micro-investments, among others. For every successful application, the KasamaKA member  will  earn for himself as much as P300.

Recently, KasamaKA and Lendr–FINTQ’s digital lending platform–were named as the Most Innovative Fintech Collaboration by The Asset Triple A Digital Awards 2017. It also bagged a Gold Anvil at the 53rd Anvil Awards for the Specialized Public Relations Programs: Advocacy Campaign category.

FINTQnologies, Corp. (FINTQ) is the global pioneer in mobile-first financial technology innovations for emerging markets. It is the financial technology arm of PLDT and Smart’s Voyager Innovations. Working in collaboration with partners such as banks, financial institutions and governments, among its key thrusts is to accelerate inclusive digital finance in the era of digital economy. Its platforms and services encompass areas including loans, insurance, micro savings, disbursements, anti-fraud security, and cloud e-banking platforms. For more information, visit www.fintq.com and www. lendr.com.ph.

RIZAL MICROBANK TAPS LENDR TO REACH A BIGGER MARKET. In photo (from left) Jing Gusto, Rizal MicroBank FVP for Strategic Management; Orlando B. Vea, Voyager Innovations President and CEO; Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT, Smart, and Voyager Innovations Chairman; Raymundo Roxas, Rizal MicroBank President; Lito Villanueva, FINTQ Managing Director.

Yuchengco-led Rizal MicroBank has tapped Lendr, the award-winning and the country’s largest digital lending platform as a service of FINTQnologies Corp. (FINTQ), to reach a wider market to offer its agricultural and business loans.

“Being in Lendr complements our branches, allowing us to reach more people to avail of our AgriBusiness and Small Business loans. This partnership with Lendr also provides our customers the convenience of applying for a loan which they can now do at the comforts of their home through their computer or mobile device,” said Raymundo Roxas, Rizal MicroBank President.

“We are delighted to have Rizal MicroBank in Lendr and provide them a channel that can expand their reach, particularly in far-flung areas. We always aim to help our partners grow their business through our digital platforms,” said Lito Villanueva, FINTQ Managing Director.

Applying for a loan via Lendr is easy. Prospective borrowers simply need to visit Rizal MicroBank’s Lendr website (rizalmicrobank.lendr.com.ph) and create an account. Once the account is created, click sign up to log-in into your account. Choose what type of loan you want to apply for. Click SME/ Business loan for (PITAKA SmallBiz Term Loan) or Agri Loan for (PITAKA AgriBiz Term Loan). Indicate the details of your loan and Lendr will show a computation of the monthly amortization and interest rate. Complete the application form, attach all required documents and click Submit.

Lendr has the most expansive loan offerings from partner banks and financial institutions in the Philippines. On top of the traditional salary, personal, home and auto loan products, it offers mobile crop loan, medicine loan, mSME loan, Overseas Filipino loan, and truck and equipment loan, among others. It has disbursed loans in excess of P35 billion since it was introduced in 2015 registering compounded growth rate of over 60% compared to industry rate of 17%. Lendr was cited as the Consumer Finance Product of the Year by the Asian Banker, the first FinTech-initiated service to win such recognition.

POWERING THE GROWTH OF PHILIPPINE MICROENTERPRISES THROUGH INCLUSIVE DIGITAL FINANCE. FINTQ, the Financial Technology arm of PLDT and Smart’s Voyager Innovations, is throwing its full support behind the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program through its digital lending platform Lendr. Last April 19, FINTQ executives demonstrated to DTI officials how microentrepreneurs can apply for a loan from RadioWealth–one of the accredited conduits of DTI for the P3 program that is also one of FINTQ’s partners in the Lendr platform–through Lendr. Present during the presentation of the initiative to DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez (third from left) were Voyager Innovations President and CEO Orlando B. Vea (second from right), FINTQ Managing Director and KasamaKA Founder and Lead Convenor Lito Villanueva (rightmost), Small Business Corp. President Ma. Luna E. Cacanando (leftmost), DTI USEC Zenaida Maglaya (second from left), as well as three early beneficiaries of the P3 program (4th to 6th from left) Edgardo Waniwan, Angelyn Avila, and Judith Waniwan.

FINTQnologies Corp. (FINTQ)–the financial technology arm of Voyager Innovations–has rolled out an alternative channel for micro, small and medium enterprises (mSME) to access affordable credit through its award-winning digital lending platform, Lendr. 

This initiative is in collaboration with the government’s Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program under the Department of Trade and Industry. The P3 program is a financing initiative for mSMEs designed in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to replace “5-6” money lenders.

“We cannot overemphasize the importance of mSMEs in our economy. Yet, access to credit still remains very limited. The use of technology and innovation in creating more opportunities for them must be prioritized,” said Lito Villanueva, FINTQ Managing Director and KasamaKA Founder and Lead Convenor. Villanueva is also the chairman of the industry group FinTechAlliance.ph. 

“To show our support, we will conduct financial literacy caravans for mSMEs in partnership with DTI’s Negosyo Centers and GoNegosyo in Leyte, Occidental Mindoro, and Sarangani, the first three pilot provinces of the government’s P3 program,” he added. This will be undertaken through KasamaKA, FINTQ’s social advocacy for inclusive growth.

Villanueva noted that FINTQ through its digital lending platform Lendr will also offer on-site loan application assistance for mSMEs during these caravans. 

“Lendr allows microentrepreneurs to apply for business loans anytime anywhere and compare interest rates and other offers from among our partner bank and non-bank partners,” Villanueva said, adding: “Since Lendr is digital, mSMEs need not travel to go to branches or offices of lending companies to be able to access loans.”

Lendr is the country’s largest digital lending service covering 100% of provinces with over Php30 billion in loans released since it was launched in 2015. It extensive reach benefited the 20 poorest provinces accounting for 11% of loan transactions and 12% of loan volume.

It has registered double digit growth in the first quarter compared to the same period last year. It posted over 60% compounded annual growth rate. It now has almost a hundred bank and non-bank partner financing companies. On top of the traditional salary, personal, home and auto loan products, it offers mobile crop loan, medicine loan, mSME loan, Overseas Filipino loan, and truck and equipment loan, among others.

In response, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said:“At DTI, we always seek ways to improve the business environment for mSMEs and one aspect is providing immediate access to finance that is why President Duterte launched the P3 program. And now, having a technology partner that provides a digital lending platform like Lendr that is secure, efficient and easily accessible, presents more options to microenterprises with regard to their financial needs. 

For his part, Victor Belgar, Project Manager, Radiowealth Finance Co., Inc. said: “Digital platforms like Lendr accelerates our mission to provide financing to microenterprises. It makes the reach of financial inclusion so much wider and I must say, that ‘exponential,’ to describe Lendr’s impact to our business is an understatement.  The high influx of loan application via this digital channel compels us to level up with our backroom operations.” Radiowealth is one of accredited conduits of DTI for the P3 program that is also one of FINTQ’s partners in the Lendr platform. 

“Among our initiatives include our efforts to empower mSMEs, that is why we are continuously developing digital platforms and services to make Filipino entrepreneurs globally competitive in this day and age of technology,” said Orlando B. Vea, Voyager Innovations President and CEO.

FINTQ–the financial technology arm of Voyager Innovations–projects loans processed through digital platforms to grow faster as more borrowers find it convenient and lending companies benefit from lower costs.

This, as loan disbursements processed through Lendr, FINTQ’s digital lending platform, recorded a double-digit growth in the first quarter from the same period last year. This brings the total volume of loans booked and released through the platform to over Php30 billion since Lendr was launched in 2015. Lendr has posted over 60% compounded annual growth rate in loans booked.

Lendr’s total loan portfolio mainly comprised of salary, personal, microfinance, mSME, and agricultural loans.

“These encouraging results manifest Filipinos’ rapid digital adoption. This forms part of our metrics to leapfrog digital financial transactions to a minimum of 20 percent from the current one percent.  Lendr surely provides the impetus to provide alternative and affordable access to finance even in hard-to-reach areas in the country,” said Lito Villanueva, FINTQ Managing Director.

“Customers want a fast and easy access to money, anytime they need it, wherever they are. At the same time, we provide platforms for financial institutions, allowing them to go beyond their brick and mortar branches and tap a bigger market at a lower cost,” he added.

FINTQ is engaging more than 100 bank and non-bank institutions.

Millennials continue to dominate the digital lending market

In 2017, majority of Lendr’s borrowers comprised of the millennial market segment. In the first quarter of this year, this scenario remained as millennials are the ones who prefer digital platforms in terms of doing their financial transactions due to its convenience.

“Majority of those who have borrowed through Lendr are single, female, employed, and are the so-called millennials or those born from 1982 to 2004. Nearly a third of our borrowers work in the government sector and the customer service industry,” Villanueva shared.

He noted that seven out of 10 Lendr borrowers reside outside Metro Manila, signaling that even in an environment where there is a proliferation of bank branches in urban areas, consumers are shifting towards digital platforms that can provide faster and secure access to funds.

Lendr has the most expansive loan offerings from partner banks and financial institutions in the Philippines. On top of the traditional salary, personal, home and auto loan products, it offers mobile crop loan, medicine loan, mSME loan, Overseas Filipino loan, and truck and equipment loan, among others.

FINTQnologies Corp. is the leader in customer-centric, demand driven, evidence-based, and mobile-first digital financial innovations by way of engaging regulators, enabling enterprises, and empowering individuals. FINTQ– the financial technology arm of PLDT and Smart’s Voyager Innovations– is committed to accelerating universal digital access to finance at scale via pioneering financial technologies in growth and emerging markets. It is the financial technology arm of Voyager Innovations. To know more, visit http://www.fintq.com.

POWERING THE GROWTH OF PHILIPPINE MSMES THROUGH INCLUSIVE DIGITAL FINANCE.
FINTQ, the Financial Technology arm of PLDT and Smart’s Voyager Innovations, is throwing its full support behind the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program through its digital lending platform Lendr. Through Lendr, the reach of the program’s conduit financial institutions will be expanded nationwide because prospective borrowers and business lenders can easily apply for loans through partner banks online. Present during the presentation of the initiative to DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez (third from left) were Voyager Innovations President and CEO Orlando B. Vea (second from right), FINTQ Managing Director Lito Villanueva (rightmost), Small Business Corp. President Ma. Luna E. Cacanando (leftmost), DTI USEC Zenaida Maglaya (second from left), as well as three early beneficiaries of the P3 program– Edgardo Waniwan, Angelyn Avila, and Judith Waniwan.

FINTQnologies Corp. (FINTQ)–the financial technology arm of Voyager Innovations–has expressed its support for the government’s Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program through its forthcoming financial literacy caravans in the program’s first three pilot provinces.

“MSMEs are responsible for 35% of the gross domestic product of the country, providing work to around 60% of the total employed population. We know how they can further propel growth, thus we are one with the government in uplifting Filipino businesses,” said Lito Villanueva, FINTQ Managing Director.

“To show our support, we will conduct KasamaKA for MSMEs financial literacy caravans in Tacloban, Occidental Mindoro, and Sarangani, the first three pilot provinces of the government’s P3 program before it was made available nationwide in April 2017,” he added. KasamaKA is the umbrella financial inclusion program led by FINTQ in cooperation with partners.

“At DTI, we always seek ways to improve the business environment for SMEs and one aspect is providing access to finance that is why we launched the Pondo Para sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso program. And now, having a technology partner like FINTQ that provides a digital lending platform like Lendr that is secure and easily accessible, presents more options to microenterprises with regard to their financial needs,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.

For his part, Victor Belgar, Project Manager, Radiowealth Finance Co., Inc. said: “Digital platforms like Lendr accelerates our mission to provide finance to microenterprises. It makes reach of financial inclusion so much wider and I must say, that ‘exponential,’ to describe our impact is an understatement.” Radiowealth is one of the accredited conduits of DTI for the P3 program that is also one of FINTQ’s partners in the Lendr platform.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and its microfinancing arm Small Business Corp. allocated Php1 billion for the P3 program that seeks to assist microentrepreneurs financially and enable them to grow their businesses. The agency has partnered with various bank and non-bank institutions to provide MSMEs better access to funds.

Villanueva noted that FINTQ through its digital lending platform Lendr will also offer on-site loan application assistance for MSMEs during these caravans.

“During these financial literacy caravans, we will also assist participating MSMEs to apply for loans on-site through Lendr, our digital lending platform, which is a marketplace where they can choose from our various bank and non-bank partners to apply for credit,” he added. “Since Lendr is digital, MSMEs need not travel to go to branches or offices of lending companies to be able to access loans.”

Through its Voyager DX program, Voyager Innovations will also offer other enabling platforms and services to MSMEs who will participate in these caravans. These include access to digital payments via PayMaya, digital commerce through TackThis! and digital marketing technologies via Hatch. As a whole, Voyager Innovations aims to provide digital and financial inclusion for both consumers and enterprises through its emerging market platforms.

“Among our initiatives include our efforts to empower MSMEs, that is why we are continuously developing digital platforms and services to make Filipino entrepreneurs globally competitive in this day and age of technology,” said Orlando B. Vea, Voyager Innovations President and CEO, adding: “We recently inaugurated DigiHub in our headquarters, which is a learning space for entrepreneurs.”

DigiHub is a physical facility in its Launchpad headquarters in Mandaluyong City that entrepreneurs can use as a space for consultation, mentoring, learning and sharing.

Lendr has the most expansive loan offerings from partner banks and financial institutions in the Philippines. On top of the traditional salary, personal, home and auto loan products, it offers mobile crop loan, medicine loan, mSME loan, Overseas Filipino loan, and truck and equipment loan, among others.

FINTQnologies Corp. is the leader in customer-centric, demand driven, evidence-based, and mobile-first digital financial innovations by way of engaging regulators, enabling enterprises, and empowering individuals. FINTQ– the financial technology arm of PLDT and Smart’s Voyager Innovations– is committed to accelerating universal digital access to finance at scale via pioneering financial technologies in growth and emerging markets. It is the financial technology arm of Voyager Innovations. To know more, visit http://www.fintq.com.

In Photo: Leaders from various tech companies, banks, and government agencies come together at the 10th Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit to celebrate Women’s month.

Financial technology or “FinTech” is already helping more women advance economically through easier access to payments, insurance, savings, investments, and loans.

“Financial inclusion is gender neutral, but we recognize the important role of women as head of households and drivers of microbusinesses. Pushing for financial inclusion is key in empowering women, especially Filipina entrepreneurs. Towards this end, KasamaKA is providing women with more opportunities in terms of better access to financial services ,” said FINTQ Managing Director Lito Villanueva at a panel during the 10th Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit organized by GoNegosyo.

Villanueva shared that about 64% of Lendr’s borrowers, FINTQ’s digital lending platform, are female. This reflects the data of the latest edition of the World Bank Global Findex, which revealed that the percentage of formal account ownership—including both bank accounts and mobile money wallet— in the country is still dominated by women at 37.9% than men (24.4%).

Having a full ‘financial armament’ is key to growing business

In particular, better access to financing is one of the core needs of women entrepreneurs in the country. Based on Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data, microenterprises constitute nearly 85 percent of bank microfinance loans as of end-September 2017. Majority of these microenterprises are owned by women.

Beyond financing, Villanueva underscored the need to having a full “financial armament” in growing one’s business.

“Women entrepreneurs should not only focus on having access to loans when growing their business, they should also know and have other financial products such as savings, insurance, and investments to ensure they have other sources of cash flow to expand their business,” he said.

He also pointed out that as a businesswoman, one should be keen on all details and aspects of the financial products they are availing. Villanueva emphasized the importance of thoroughly reading and understanding the terms and conditions for financing and to avail of services of reputable financial institutions.

FINTQ’s partners now number to over 70 bank and non-bank institutions. FINTQ is now working with CoopHub to make digital lending more accessible to over 26,000 cooperatives nationwide.

Lendr has the most expansive loan offerings. On top of mSME loans, it offers the traditional salary, personal, home and auto loan products, as well as, mobile crop loan, medicine loan, overseas Filipino loan, and truck and equipment loan, among others.

Meanwhile, it has partnered with over five insurance companies for its digital insurance initiative.

Growing movement for financial inclusion

To further empower Filipina entrepreneurs, particularly those in rural areas where there is limited access to banks, FINTQ through KasamaKA— a grassroots-based, self-help, and digital-enabled social intervention and last mile solution to promote financial literacy and inclusive growth— will be introducing a slew of programs this year, namely, KasamaKA Microsavings; KasamaKA Microinsurance; KasamaKA Lending via Lendr; and KasamaKA Microinvestments. Through these, Filipina entrepreneurs will be able to open  a deposit account for PHP20, get a three-month microinsurance for PHP25, or make an investment for PHP50.

During the conference, Villanueva also announced that women entrepreneurs attending the conference can avail of the free 1 million microinsurance policies to unbanked and underserved Filipinos across the more than 42,000 barangays nationwide from FINTQ. This is an initiative under the KasamaKA Ka-Barangay sa Kaunlaran, a capacity-building initiative in collaboration with Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas.

Voyager aims to include 30 million Filipinos in the formal financial system by 2020 through its digital platforms, which is in line with the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion.