Keep the FLAMES burning this Valentine’s Day and protect yourself from scammers

Remember the FLAMES—Friends, Lovers, Anger, Marriage, Engagement (Enemy for some), Soulmates—game in the 90’s? It was a popular pen and paper pastime among young teens. They would name their ‘crush’ and be able to ‘predict’ their future by playing with the letters that make up the name.

Fast forward to this day and age, “FLAMES” can guide adults and teens alike. But this time on a more serious note.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) presents a ‘FLAMES’ way—of protecting against scammers. 

“No one can really predict when and how a scammer attacks. We must always be careful not to fall for their schemes. This Valentine’s Day, everyone must be vigilant. Remember, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility.” ~Jonathan John B. Paz, BPI Enterprise Information Security Officer and Data Protection Officer

BPI’s ‘FLAMES’ reminder consists of simple cybersecurity tips that account holders can do to keep their accounts safe and secure especially this Valentine’s Day:

• F-riends? Family? It is better to keep confidential details like your PINs and passwords a secret (even) from them.
• L-ove to share your latest updates online? This is okay but be sure to set boundaries. Avoid oversharing, especially on social media, for your and your loved ones’ safety. 
• A-nger, excitement, and curiosity are some of the most common emotional trigger's scammers latch on to for their social engineering scams. Too much of these feelings can also be used as bait to manipulate you. 
• M-arriage between online and offline cybersecurity practices is a good habit to develop. It is not enough to be careful with your actions online only but not offline, and vice-versa.
• E-ngage only with trusted accounts. When planning to use e-commerce, do background checks first and read reviews about the sellers or product. Legitimate Facebook pages have the blue verified badges on them.
• S-oulmate? One-True Pair. Just like them, take care of your One-Time PINs (OTPs) as well by never sharing them with anyone.

BPI launches new app for a future-ready banking experience

Photo shows (from left): TG Limcaoco, BPI President and CEO; Mariana Zobel de Ayala, BPI Consumer Bank Marketing, Platforms, & Digital Activation Head; Ginbee Go, BPI Executive Vice President and Consumer Banking Head; and, Fitz Chee, BPI Platforms Business Head

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) launched a totally new and future-ready mobile app with innovative features and services that go beyond convenient transactions and help more Filipinos work their way towards financial well-being. This reinforces the bank’s solid footing as a digital banking leader in the country.

“We’re proud of the new BPI app, and we know there’s room to continue improving. While we look at the best technology and digital solutions to ensure that we deliver excellent service, we anchor the designed experiences to what our customers need. Customers are looking for banks that can serve them well. We assure our clients that BPI will continue to constantly change with the times to meet their evolving needs.” ~Mr. Jose Teodoro "TG" Limcaoco, BPI President and CEO

Mr. Jose Teodoro "TG" Limcaoco, BPI President and CEO

According to Maria Cristina “Ginbee” Go, BPI Head of Consumer Banking, the new BPI app is key to the bank’s “phygital” approach to make the bank accessible to more Filipinos through physical branches, and digital channels and platforms.

“Our customers have the option to bank with the app in tandem with BPI branches and ATMs—giving them a choice of their preferred channel with integrated services like online booking of branch visits or cashless withdrawal.” ~Ms. Maria Cristina “Ginbee” Go, BPI Head of Consumer Banking

Ms. Maria Cristina “Ginbee” Go, BPI Head of Consumer Banking

Getting into the core features of the new app, BPI Consumer Bank Marketing, Platforms, and Digital Activation Head Mariana Zobel de Ayala emphasized that the new app goes beyond everyday transactions and helps build towards Filipinos’ financial independence.

Ms. Mariana Zobel de Ayala, BPI Consumer Bank Marketing, Platforms, and Digital Activation Head

“This boasts of a new design and experience, and we look forward to exciting new features that you won't find in the older BPI Mobile app like mobile check deposit, AI-powered insights on your savings and spending, and more. These are core retail products designed not just to be convenient and sustainable but also customer-centric even in the long-term.” ~Ms. Mariana Zobel de Ayala, BPI Consumer Bank Marketing, Platforms, and Digital Activation Head

 

Photo shows (from left): TG Limcaoco, BPI President and CEO; Mariana Zobel de Ayala, BPI Consumer Bank Marketing, Platforms, & Digital Activation Head; Fitz Chee, BPI Platforms Business Head; and, Ginbee Go, BPI Executive Vice President and Consumer Banking Head

The new BPI app highlights the following features: 

Improved User Experience
Users can get things done in fewer taps, with top transactions that are easier to access upon login and faster to finish. Help links are now found within transaction processes for easier access to guides and FAQs.
 

Online Account Opening
New clients can open a BPI #SaveUp account on the app within five minutes with just one ID. They can instantly start banking via the app.
 

Personal Finance Management (Coming in May)

BPI will be the first bank app to feature AI-powered tracking and insights. The app will offer financial advice, payment reminders, and actionable tips to help millions of Filipinos improve their financial wellness.

Other exciting features that are coming soon are mobile check deposit, real-time bill payment, cash withdrawal via QR, save favorite transactions, and more product applications.

Old to New
BPI Consumer Platforms Head Fitzgerald Chee pointed out that BPI Mobile app users do not have to delete their old app yet. He also explained that QR codes generated on the older BPI Mobile app are still going to work on the new BPI app. 

“You can continue to log in the older BPI Mobile app with your current username and password. Users that want to start enjoying the new BPI app can find easy-to-follow guides on our Facebook and YouTube channels. You can also view all your personalized settings, previous transactions, and statements right away on the new BPI app. For your security, the Mobile Key works within the new BPI app or the older BPI Mobile app. Users can choose which app version to activate their Mobile Key.” ~Mr. Fitzgerald Chee, BPI Consumer Platforms Head

Mr. Fitzgerald Chee, BPI Consumer Platforms Head

All these form part of the bank’s goal to further enable high-quality customer experiences in line with one of its core values to be a customer-centric organization. 

The BPI App is now available for download on the App Store and on Google Play <link to: https://bpi.onelink.me/Lrdg/appstore>.

“May BPI dito! May BPI kahit saan!” Shopping and Banking, all in one place with BPI and Lazada

BPI President and CEO TG Limcaoco; Lazada CEO Carlos Barrera; BPI Agency Banking Head, Rally Jereza

Blazing yet another trail in Philippine banking, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), in partnership with Lazada, launches the official BPI Flagship Store in LazMall.

The first-of-its-kind partnership between the Philippines’ oldest bank and one of the largest e-commerce operators in Southeast Asia delivers the most sought-after products of BPI through the platform. With this initiative, Filipinos who want to open a deposit account, apply for a credit card, or avail auto, housing, and personal loans may do so wherever they are. 

“We envision our partnership with Lazada as a stepping stone in BPI’s strategy – extend the Bank’s reach and presence, and provide access to our products and services to more Filipinos. We started with the core products of the Bank: #SaveUp, credit cards, and auto, housing, and personal loans, but we intend to expand both the BPI products available in our Lazada Flagship Store and our distribution partnerships, be it physical or digital.” ~Jose Teodoro K. Limcaoco, BPI President and CEO

BPI CEO and President, Teodoro Limcaoco

Shopping and banking in the BPI Flagship Store feel intuitive as it follows the usual purchasing process in the platform. Filipinos can now “add to cart” and buy BPI products in Lazada the same way as they would a new pair of shoes or a fresh stock of their essentials. The easily accessible 5-step application process for these products is also coupled with rewards in the form of Lazada gift cards once applications are either approved or booked.

Lazada Philippines CEO Carlos Barrera

This initiative is part and parcel of BPI’s promise to expand its products and services to more Filipinos. Alongside more than 750 branches and over 2,000 ATMs of the Bank and the rapid evolution of mobile banking technology, partnering with platforms like Lazada expands the reach of the Bank and opens more access points for Filipinos to avail of banking products and services.

Through its Agency Banking Group, BPI aims to change the way Filipinos bank by integrating banking in their daily lives through new channels. By supplementing its traditional brick-and-mortar branches and its robust online channels with established agent stores that are convenient stops for Filipinos, BPI will ultimately redefine the standard of convenience and accessibility in banking.

"We trust that, through the Agency Banking model, Filipinos will be able to bank the way they want to, wherever they are, giving them their channel of choice. Banking will be naturally integrated in their daily lives – from buying medicine in the nearest drugstore to online shopping in Lazada, BPI will be there.” ~Rally Jereza, Head of BPI Agency Banking

The pioneering partnership of BPI and Lazada seeks to provide value to both BPI and Lazada customers by integrating shopping and banking, all in one place. With more groundbreaking partnerships to look forward to, BPI Agency Banking’s battle cry rings loudly: “May BPI dito! May BPI kahit saan!”.

BPI shares six ways to do a digital clean up

Sharing personal data may be inevitable when we do various online transactions. However, it is best if we make it a habit to wipe clean the digital trail we create as we use gadgets and applications 24/7. 

“Doing so will protect you from identity theft, loss of funds, even damage to your reputation by the use of stolen personal data. Your digital footprint might be there to stay, but you can limit your vulnerability to scammers and fraudsters. Consider these tips to keep your personal information safe from their craftiness that grow by the year. Make digital clean-up a habit today.” ~Jonathan John B. Paz, BPI Enterprise Information Security Officer and Data Privacy Officer

To protect your privacy and avoid being a fraud victim, here are six ways to do a digital clean up:

1. Delete your personal data from old devices before disposing, reselling, or donating them. For computers, use a disk cleaning software to permanently delete information. For smartphones and tablets, do a factory reset. For other devices, in addition to doing a hard reset, remove hard drives and memory cards, if any. 
2. Secure your smartphones by uninstalling apps that you do not need because they not only waste energy but could also be exploited to leak information. Clear storage space of files and remove duplicates—check for downloads, media files, and messages that you do not need anymore. 
3. Deactivate or close the accounts you registered in the apps before uninstalling them. Purging those that you no longer use is a good way to minimize your digital footprint and lessen the likelihood of data leakage. Think twice before installing an app and creating an account, and ask yourself if it will serve your purpose. Do not reuse passwords across online services, especially passwords that you use for online banking.
4. Do a digital clean up of your computers to prevent data from loosely lying around. Delete all files that you no longer need and organize those you will keep. Uninstall unused programs. Uninstall unimportant web browser extensions that you might have inadvertently enabled. Clear your cache to delete personal information you may have used in answering online forms.
5. Organize your email inbox by categories: promotions, chat message notifications, social media notifications, past events or announcements, etc. Be cautious in sharing your email address and make a note to whom you do. Unsubscribe from newsletters that no longer serve your purposes. Reply to new emails at once so they don’t pile up.
6. Use your social media accounts wisely to prevent scammers from harvesting your personal information. Review your privacy settings and enable multi-factor authentication wherever available. Delete old and unused accounts. Delete posts that reveal too much of yourself or are not relevant anymore. Do not overshare. Be cautious of what or with whom you engage online.

Sy receives warm welcome from BPI family

The 31st SEA Games silver medalist and BPI Unibanker Marie Alexis Sy was welcomed with warm cheers as she paid a courtesy visit recently to BPI President and CEO TG Limcaoco at the company’s head office in Makati City.

“The full support of BPI and Ayala Corporation has been really overwhelming. That is why I make sure to find a balance between work and sport to show them that even though I am an athlete, I can still do well at work. I want to give back to the company and my workmates because they supported my bowling career. We want to make you all proud that we are Filipinos. What we have accomplished is not just ours but it’s for the whole country.” ~Marie Alexis Sy, 31st SEA Games silver medalist and BPI Unibanker

Limcaoco said BPI takes pride in Sy’s relentless effort and perseverance in effectively managing her responsibilities as an athlete and as a BPI Unibanker.

“We are immensely proud of Alexis for bringing glory to our country and to BPI. She works a full-time banking job, helping large corporations grow, and at the same time, excels in a sport that requires discipline, strength and mental focus. Alexis earned our respect, and we will continue to support her.” ~TG Limcaoco, CEO and BPI President

Sy is currently a Cebu-based marketing associate under BPI’s Corporate Banking group. 

UnionBank joins PSE Investment Forum 2022, talks crypto as future of banking, finance

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Operations Officer and Chief Transformation Officer Henry Aguda joined discussions on digital and crypto assets as the future of financial investments at the recently concluded PSE Investment Forum 2022.

As the country’s first bank to successfully carry out financial transactions through blockchain, UnionBank attests to the use of the technology in banking securely and efficiently. Blockchain can thus, be applied in a wide array of use cases.

“In fact, one of the very good applications we started with early on, was how to address the problem where rural banks don't have access to one another; and to the basic banking requirements in the industry. We found a cheaper solution, and we gave this to the rural banks in the form of i2i, a platform that allows us to provide them a channel to interconnect with each other. And we wouldn't have been able to do that if not for blockchain, specifically because of its low-cost operations and how easy it is to program. If you follow trends in history, we went from gold to paper, now it's moving toward digital. So, if you go by that trend, everything is going to be digitized form of transactions. It's no longer going to be a transfer of record of value, it will be a digital transfer of value. Yes, but subject to the following. First, keep it to the top 10 coins. Second, it shouldn't be above five percent of your total investible portfolio, meaning it's money that you can afford to lose. And third, do your own research. First, on blockchain technology, it's something that every company should explore. We've proven that it's useful in terms of increasing efficiency in operations, and it's easy to use. Second, as an investment instrument, (crypto or currency based on blockchain) it's in the early stages. If you want to experiment and include it in your portfolio, it's at your own risk. The regulation is still evolving, so treat it as a high-risk instrument and then explore. Hopefully, venues like these where it is discussed, help the regulators form the right risk management framework and policies around it..” ~Henry Aguda, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Operations Officer and Chief Transformation Officer

Asked whether blockchain-based transactions are the future of banking and finance, Aguda agreed. "If you follow trends in history, we went from gold to paper, now it's moving toward digital. So, if you go by that trend, everything is going to be digitized form of transactions. It's no longer going to be a transfer of record of value, it will be a digital transfer of value."

As to crypto being a viable investment, the UnionBank executive answered in the affirmative but expounded.