The USAID-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines – Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) program in coordination with RBAP International Study Visit Program once again organized a study tour on Mobile Phone Banking for UTIBA, the supplier of Globe’s GCASH platform and representatives from Digitel Venezuela and Grupo Mas, Coca Cola, and DIPOR from Ecuador.  Apart from visiting RBAP, the group also visited G-Xchange Inc (GXI), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and GM Bank from July 18-20, 2011.

The goal of the study tour was to learn about the country’s mobile money platforms and the use of these platforms by rural banks to promote mobile financial services for clients and customers in rural communities. The visitors came away with a unique appreciation of how mobile money platforms can be used to improve the lives of people in the rural communities who previously had limited access to financial services. The group also learned how rural banks have been able to promote greater access to banking services using mobile money platforms such as GCASH.  They also witnessed how banks and mobile money issuers are able to collaborate in a way that provides opportunities for both parties as well as their clients and customers.

UTIBA is developing mobile money platforms and enabling mobile financial services with partners in a variety of countries around the world.