Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) has launched a new automated payroll account opening solution as part of its strategy to reach a customer base of 20 million by 2026.

The bank’s Zero-Touch Onboarding system aims to streamline the payroll process by removing manual intervention from Human Resources (HR) departments.

According to UnionBank, the solution cuts the standard account opening turnaround time from up to two weeks to under 24 hours.

Employees can scan a QR code via the bank’s portal and complete the setup through the UnionBank Online app in minutes, allowing for salary crediting the following day.

Erika Denise Dizon-Go, Senior Vice President at UnionBank, described the tool as a precursor to democratised payroll, where employees have greater autonomy over their salary accounts.

“With Zero-Touch Onboarding, we’ve reimagined one of the most time-consuming parts of HR operations. We’re giving companies back valuable time while making banking simpler and more seamless for their employees,” Dizon-Go said.

The launch supports UnionBank’s broader growth targets.

Chief Marketing and Experience Officer Albert Cuadrante reported that the bank added approximately two million customers this year (including 300,000 new credit card holders), bringing its total retail base to over 18 million.

The bank aims to add another 1.5 to 2 million customers next year to reach the 20 million mark in 2026.

To support this expansion, UnionBank plans to introduce several new digital features, including online joint account opening and GPay integration for debit cards.

The bank also announced the upcoming launch of “RIA” (Respondent Intelligent Agent), a voice AI customer service tool designed to reduce contact centre wait times and provide 24/7 support.

Senior Vice President Rene Aguirre stated that the experience of calling the bank’s contact centre is expected to become significantly more convenient and pleasant in the near future.

Featured image by stocksbuddy via Freepik.