Digital Banking

RCBC’s “Taglish SuperApp” DiskarTech to Target Millions of Unbanked Filipinos

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has launched what they described as the country’s first all-in-one “Taglish” inclusion super app, DiskarTech. Taglish refers to the Philippine language Tagalog infused with American English terms that has been widely used by Filipinos locally and abroad. The app aims to provide sachet banking services to millions of unbanked and underserved Filipinos, especially those living in grassroots communities.

Lito Villanueva

“Our aim has always been to scale consumer adoption by making DiskarTech simple. It talks to every ordinary consumer using our everyday language that is easy to understand and where everyone is most comfortable with. And that quick connection is the use of Taglish,”

said Lito Villanueva, Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer, RCBC.

DiskarTech users can create their own basic deposit accounts through one-time registration using a eKYC digital process in a matter of minutes. No initial amount and no maintaining balance are required to open a DiskarTech digital savings account. In addition, consumers will enjoy 3.25 percent interest through a goal-oriented digital savings feature called #buhayginhawa.

Other DiskarTech features include cardless ATM withdrawals, deposits and cash out from thousands of agent partners nationwide including fund transfers, with just a few clicks. The app’s services also include bills payments to major billers and government services, telemedicine, purchase of airtime load and gaming pins, quick response (QR) code transfers, among others. More services will be introduced soon such as microinsurance and skills marketplace for enterprising Filipinos.

Key partners from the government and non-government organizations also expressed their support during DiskarTech’s virtual launching.

“For sixty years, RCBC has partnered with every Filipino to serve their financial needs. The change brought about by the new normal has challenged us to be even more relevant as we move forward in this new way of banking. DiskarTech will be our legacy to the young and tech-savvy Filipinos,”

Helen Yuchengco Dee, RCBC chairperson said.

Eugene Acevedo

“I cannot truly say that the coronavirus derailed our plans to bring financial inclusion to the underserved members of our society. Instead, it has brought to light the essential services that is more needed by Filipinos under a new digital economy. We accelerated the addition of features as they prove to be more necessary today. More responsive and more relevant than ever. Finally, DiskarTech is here for every unbanked and underserved Filipino,”

Eugene Acevedo, RCBC president and CEO added.

Benjamin Diokno

“DiskarTech is an app that exemplifies innovation and collaboration. Our digital finance ecosystem must be inclusive to ensure that no one is left behind. We must leverage on this momentum to drive technology-driven financial inclusion not only by promoting use of digital financial services but also increasing consumer trust and confidence. And this is what, I believe, DiskarTech, can do,”

Governor Benjamin of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Benjamin Diokno said in his keynote address.

Diokno said that at least half of retail payment transactions will be shifted to digital in three years. A three-year digital payments transformation roadmap has been drafted by the BSP in pursuit of this objective. “One of the priority policy initiatives lined up is open banking,” Diokno added.

The launch is part of RCBC’s commitment to support BSP’s mission to improve financial inclusion in the country. By using the DiskarTech app, people can have free access to a suite of products and services, to enable them to be part of the local banking ecosystem.

Ramon Lopez

“The DTI fully supports DiskarTech as a pioneering app as it is fully aligned with President Duterte’s 10-point socio-economic agenda by helping more than 1.3 million sari-sari stores and market vendors in over 42,000 barangay nationwide. DiskarTech’s complete suite of digital financial services will benefit our micro, small and medium enterprise. DTI will promote DiskarTech through training programs across DTI’s more than 1,000 Negosyo Centers nationwide,”

said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.

Earlier, DiskarTech has rolled out its DiskarTech Lite disbursement platform to aid the government in distributing the social amelioration cash subsidy.

This article first appeared on fintechnews.sg