Download MABS October 2009 Highlights
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October 2009 Highlights
October 31, 2009 By Leave a Comment
MABS trains Cagayan Valley Banks on effective disaster management
October 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
To fortify rural banks’ readiness and stability in times of crises and calamities, MABS conducted a Disaster Management Workshop on October 29 at Mallig Plains College in Isabela. Thirty-eight participants from 17 rural and cooperative banks and 3 other microfinance institutions attended the workshop, which covered topics on disaster preparedness, disaster management execution and recovery, and review phase. Following Typhoon Pepeng, which wrought damage to provinces of Cagayan Valley Region, the workshop provided inputs to the participants on preparing their Business Continuity Plan in the face of disaster, and shared various tools to use in preparing their organizations and personnel for readiness, execution and post disaster response.
In close collaboration with MABS, the officers of Mallig Plains Rural Bank led the organization of the training event held at Mallig Plains College. The participants came from provinces affected by Typhoon Pepeng, including Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Cagayan, and Apayao.
MABS technical staff led by Deputy Chief of Party Meliza H. Agabin facilitated the seminar-workshop.
To fortify rural banks’ readiness and stability in times of crises and calamities, MABS conducted a Disaster Management Workshop on October 29 at Mallig Plains College in Isabela. Thirty-eight participants from 17 rural and cooperative banks and 3 other microfinance institutions attended the workshop, which covered topics on disaster preparedness, disaster management execution and recovery, and review phase. Following Typhoon Pepeng, which wrought damage to provinces of Cagayan Valley Region, the workshop provided inputs to the participants on preparing their Business Continuity Plan in the face of disaster, and shared various tools to use in preparing their organizations and personnel for readiness, execution and post disaster response. [Read more...]
Philippine Rural Banks’ Mobile Phone Banking experiences shared at the MMT Summit in Dubai
October 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Taking part in the international mobile money technology (MMT) scene, MABS presented alongside other mobile phone banking leaders on how mobile money works on the “front lines” of microfinance at the 2009 Mobile Money Technology Global Summit held in Dubai on October 26-27. MABS Chief of Party John Owens shared the experience of rural banks in the Philippines who are effectively using mobile money transfer to expand outreach to more than 330 experts and leaders in the mobile money industry who participated in the summit.
Presenting with him in a panel discussion on how mobile money works on the ‘front lines’ of microfinance were Musoni’s Africa Implementation Team Manager Cameron Goldie-Scot, Aikku’s Microfinance Specialist Philippe Breul, and Utiba’s Product and Marketing Director RiteshAndley. They presented on the operational and cultural impact of mobile phone banking on existing practices of MFIs, MMT as a tool to increase productivity and reduce operational costs, and how MMT affects the lives of microentrepreneurs in Africa, India and the Philippines.
The conference also featured visionary case studies from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Kenya, the Philippines, Tanzania and other countries on providing an innovative platform for banks and microfinance institutions to reach out to the unbanked and under-banked market. It featured the work of MABS and the rural banks that have partnered with Globe X-Change Inc,’s GCASH platform to facilitate mobile phone banking as well as Smart’s work with MFIs.
Cameron Goldi-Scot also shared some interesting perspectives on making mobile money work for microfinance, especially for loan repayments in Kenya and Tanzania. There were also some excellent presentations about using mobile money for payroll services including WING in Cambodia and Roshan in Afghanistan. Aside from these presentations, the conference also covered various other topics including mobile money as a tool for financial inclusion and economic growth, and the effective use of mobile money transfer ecosystem for banking on the unbanked, and how to work with regulators.
The MMT conference held in Dubai follows the equally successful MMT conferences previously held in Africa earlier this year and the first MMT Summit last year. This December 8 and 9, the Philippines will be the host of the first MMT Conference and Expo for Asia and the Pacific at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. The conference will highlight the success of mobile money transfer and will feature key industry players such as Globe Telecom’s GCASH, Smart Communications’ Smart Money and mobile money wallet developer Utiba.
Taking part in the international mobile money technology (MMT) scene, MABS presented alongside other mobile phone banking leaders on how mobile money works on the “front lines” of microfinance at the 2009 Mobile Money Technology Global Summit held in Dubai on October 26-27. MABS Chief of Party John Owens shared the experience of rural banks in the Philippines who are effectively using mobile money transfer to expand outreach to more than 330 experts and leaders in the mobile money industry who participated in the summit.
Presenting with him in a panel discussion on how mobile money works on the ‘front lines’ of microfinance were Musoni’s Africa Implementation Team Manager Cameron Goldie-Scot, Aikku’s Microfinance Specialist Philippe Breul, and Utiba’s Product and Marketing Director Ritesh Andley. They presented on the operational and cultural impact of mobile phone banking on existing practices of MFIs, MMT as a tool to increase productivity and reduce operational costs, and how MMT affects the lives of microentrepreneurs in Africa, India and the Philippines. [Read more...]
MABS provides technical assistance to Bangko Mabuhay
October 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment
MABS conducted a 3-day product and operations review of Bangko Mabuhay’s microfinance products and operations for both individual and group loans on October 21-23, 2009.
The review team evaluated the performance of the bank’s microfinance products and operations, the product design and internal processes, their strengths, and areas for improvement. The team also assessed the bank’s microfinance delivery systems, organizational structure, loan implementation and documentation, and Management Information System (MIS).
Bangko Mabuhay has five bank units operating in Cavite and one branch in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.
MABS observed the bank’s daily operations, facilitated focus group discussions with the bank’s staff and clients, conducted client interviews and held meetings with the bank’s management.
MABS conducted a 3-day product and operations review of Bangko Mabuhay’s microfinance products and operations for both individual and group loans on October 21-23, 2009.
The review team evaluated the performance of the bank’s microfinance products and operations, its product design and internal processes, its strengths, and the areas for the bank’s improvement. The team also assessed the bank’s microfinance delivery systems, organizational structure, loan implementation and documentation, and Management Information System (MIS).
Bangko Mabuhay has five bank units operating in Cavite and one branch in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.
MABS trains Bicol rural banks on mobile phone banking
October 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Aiming to assist Bicol-based rural banks in expanding their microfinance products and services, MABS conducted seminar-workshops on mobile phone banking services (MPBS) for Banco Santiago de Libon, Rural Bank of Guinobatan and Camalig Rural Bank on October 21, 22 and 23, respectively. Thirty-nine participants from Banco Santiago de Libon, 10 from RB Guinobatan and 20 from Camalig RB attended the workshops conducted by MABS and Globe X-Change Inc. (GXI), Globe Telecom’s wholly-owned subsidiary that facilitates MPBS using the GCASH platform.
During the past months, Bicol rural banks have been working with MABS in exploring more products and improving their services to facilitate bank growth and to serve their clients better. On September 11 of this year, the South Bicol Federation of Rural Banks initiated a roundtable conference for Bicol banks where MABS introduced the latest trends in the microfinance industry and presented tips on dealing with bank issues such as managing delinquency and expanding their market outreach.
This training consisted of lectures and hands-on exercises to equip bankers with knowledge, skills and means to offer mobile phone banking services such as Text-A-Deposit, Text-A-Withdrawal, Text-A-Bills Payment, and Text-A-Sweldo in their banks. Of these services, Text-A-Sweldo was highlighted as one of the most successful services since it creates a habit among employees, who automatically get their salaries in mobile money and experience the use of it first hand.
Aside from the bank’s staff and officers, ten merchant clients of the banks also attended the orientation and registered to GCASH, planning to accept GCASH transactions in their respective establishments. By encouraging more business establishments to accept GCASH transactions, the banks are be able to build a stable mobile money ecosystem that will allow clients, banks and merchants to sustain and maximize the use of mobile phone banking services.
Aiming to assist Bicol-based rural banks in expanding their microfinance products and services, MABS conducted seminar-workshops on mobile phone banking services (MPBS) for Banco Santiago de Libon, Rural Bank of Guinobatan and Camalig Bank on October 21, 22 and 23, respectively. Thirty-nine participants from Banco Santiago de Libon, 10 from RB Guinobatan and 20 from Camalig Bank attended the workshops conducted by MABS and Globe X-Change Inc. (GXI), Globe Telecom’s wholly-owned subsidiary that facilitates MPBS using the GCASH platform. [Read more...]
