Rural Banks Trained on GCASH-Enabled Mobile Phone Banking Services

The United States Agency for International Development-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) – Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program conducted two separate GCASH accreditation trainings for rural banks from the Bicol Federation and National Capital Region (NCR) on May 10 at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Naga City and May 29 at the RBAP Conference Room in Manila.

Five (5) participants from four (4) Bicol Federation banks – Rural Bank of San Jose (Camarines Sur), Bangko Rural ng Magarao, Rural Bank of San Fernando (Camarines Sur) and Rural Bank of Pasacao – attended the training while seven (7) participants from four (4) banks – Bangko Nuestra Senora, Banco Alabang, Country Rural Bank of Taguig and Rural Bank of Karamotan – joined the training for NCR banks.

The training is part of the USAID-supported RBAP-MABS Program’s initiative to assist rural banks by providing a range of solutions that …

Rural Banks Learn Best Practices in Developing Housing Microfinance Products

Fifteen (15) participants from seven (7) Luzon rural banks shared their best practices in developing, marketing, and selling housing microfinance product to their clients at the Training Workshop conducted by the United States Agency for International Development-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services Program, in partnership with the Research and Development Department of GM Bank in Nueva Ecija from March 7-9.

The three-day workshop is part of the technical assistance provided by RBAP-MABS to its participating banks. A Focused Group Discussion (FGD) with GM Bank’s group loan clients was conducted to demonstrate FGD facilitation and validation of data gathered from the market research. Also discussed during the workshop were: Product Promotions, Financial Projections, MIS Enhancement and Reports and Cash Flow Analysis. The participants also showcased their creativity and artistic skills during the session requiring them to develop their respective bank’s HMF promotional materials.

What bankers who …

RBAP Launches Smart Money Accreditation Course for Rural Bankers in Luzon

The Rural Bankers Research Development Foundation, Inc.  in partnership with Smart Communications Inc. and the USAID-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program and partner Seed Finance held the 2nd SMART Money Accreditation Training Course for twenty-seven (27) participants from nine (9) rural banks based in Luzon on March 9, 2012.

The course was designed for qualified rural banks seeking to obtain accreditation as a Smart Money Center in order to offer money-in and money-out services, facilitate distribution of Smart Money Cards, and eventually to offer mobile phone banking services utilizing the Smart Money Platform.  This accreditation training provides the rural banks with the RBAP-MABS mobile phone banking procedures and manuals required to comply with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) electronic banking regulations for the use of mobile phone banking services utilizing the Smart Money platform.  As part of the accreditation process, banks still …

RBAP-MABS Prepares Rural Banks for the New Effective Interest Rate Calculation Rules

The first of a series of seminar workshops to prepare banks for the new rules on effective interest rate calculations was held at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Complex at Pasay City last March 8, 2012 to discuss the new regulations and what banks must prepare for. Attended by participants from fifteen (15) rural banks, the workshop was conducted by the United States Agency for International Development-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program, together with the Rural Bankers Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (RBRDFI). Representatives from the BSP were on hand to answer questions from the participants.

At the seminar participants learned about how effective interest rates (EIR) are calculated based on BSP Circular 730 and BSP Memorandum M-2011-040. The circular, entitled “Updated Rules in Implementing the Truth in Lending Act to Enhance Loan Transaction Transparency”, aims to disclose the effective …

Pricing Transparency Workshop

The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) and the Rural Bankers Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (RBRDFI) with support of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will hold a series of seminars on the new pricing transparency or Circular 730. Seminars for the month of March will be at the following dates and places:

  • March 8 – the Executive Business Center, Visayas Room, 5/F Multistory Bldg., BSP, FB Harrion Street, Pasay City
  • March 14 – Holiday Plaza, Cebu City
  • March 21 – Gov. Licaros Hall, RBAP Building, Intramuros, Manila
  • March 29 – Lenox Hotel, Rizal St., Dagupan City, Pangasinan
  • March 30 – Hotel Ariana, National Highway, Barrio Paringao, Bauang, La Union

RBAP-MABS Participates in the Microinsurance Advocacy Training

In celebration of Microinsurance Month, a three-day Training on Microinsurance Advocacy (TOMA) was held in Tagaytay City from January 18-20. The Microinsurance Teams of the United States Agency for International Development-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) and RBAP-Rural Bankers Research Development Foundation Inc. participated.  The event was the third in a series of workshops under the Financial Literacy Roadshow on Microinsurance Advocacy that will be conducted in sixteen (16) regions of the country. Collaborators include German International Cooperation-Microinsurance Innovations Program for Social Security (GIZ-MIPSS), Insurance Commission, National Credit Council (NCC) of the Department of Finance (DOF) and Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction Program of the Asian Development Bank.

The event sought to enhance the knowledge and skills of participants to become advocates of microinsurance in the Philippines. Thirty-eight (38) individuals from various national government agencies, intermediaries, donor agencies, support institutions, local government units and …

More Rural Banks Complete Microinsurance Training Course

Eighteen rural banks based in Luzon and Mindanao recently completed the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) Basic Microinsurance Training during two separate sessions. Twenty-nine (29) bank officers and staff from ten (10) rural bank-members of the Cagayan-Kalinga Federation attended the training held in Cooperative Bank, Tuguegarao City, on November 24-25 while eleven (11) bank officers and staff from eight (8) rural banks participated in the course held on December 7-8 in Manila. Altogether, one hundred and sixty (160) rural banks have been trained under the RBAP Basic Microinsurance Training course since January 2011.

The two-day training covers the fundamental concepts and principles of microinsurance through lecture, group exercises and simulation activities. More importantly, participants are guided on the procedures and requirements of the Insurance Company and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for Microinsurance Agent licensing.

The course is part of the activities of the Rural Bankers Association of …

Northern Bicol Federation Rural Banks Completed Microinsurance Training Course

Thirteen rural bank-members of the Northern Bicol Federation participated in the 16th Basic Microinsurance Training Course on December 16-17 at Café Frederico in Naga City. To date, 354 rural bank officers and staff from 168 rural banks have completed the training.

The two-day course is designed to guide and qualify rural banks to properly complete the licensing and approval process prescribed by the Insurance Commission, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Securities and Exchange Commission. After successful completion of the course training and the examination, participants will be certified as trained by RBAP, qualifying them as microinsurance soliciting officers of their respective banks.

Northern Bicol Federation rural banks represented were: Bangko Rural ng Pasacao, Municipal Rural Bank of Libmanan, Municipal Rural Bank of Nabua, Peñafrancia Rural Bank of Calabanga, Rural Bank of Goa, Rural Bank of Jose Panganiban, Rural Bank of Ocampo, Rural Bank of Paracale, Rural Bank of …

Microinsurance Basic Training Course for Northern Bicol Federation on December 16-17

We are pleased to announce the Microinsurance Basic Training Course for Northern Bicol Federation is scheduled on December 16-17 at Cafe Frederico in Naga City.

This course is designed to help rural banks qualify for licensing as microinsurance agents/brokers in order to market, sell, and service microinsurance services in compliance with BSP Memo Circular 683-2010 and BSP Memo 15-2011.  This training will also provide participants with a step-by-step guide and templates for the licensing and approval process with the Insurance Commission and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Topics covered will include:

Module 1 >  Fundamentals of Insurance & Microinsurance

Module 2 >  Microinsurance regulations on formalization and responsible sales, marketing and distribution (includes a step-by-step guide with all forms and letters required to comply with microinsurance authorization process)

Module 3 >  Effective Marketing and Service Delivery Standards…

Northwestern Mindanao Rural Bankers Complete the Microinsurance Basic Training Course

The Northwestern Mindanao Federation rural bank members participated in the Microinsurance (MI) Basic Training Course held at the Bethany Gardens Resort in Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental last August 11 and 12. Twenty-two (22) officers and staff from eleven (11) rural banks attended the course which covers the fundamentals of microinsurance, including marketing and servicing of clients.

The two-day MI Basic Training Course is part of the Insurance Commissions requirements for Microinsurance Agent Licensing. In addition, participating banks must also pass the qualifying exam administered at the end of the course and amend the bank’s article of incorporation to include microinsurance as its new service.

The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program has been assisting the Rural Bankers Research and Development Foundation Inc. (RBRDFI) in offering a turn-key solution for rural banks to become licensed microinsurance agents. To facilitate rural bank microinsurance agent licensing applications, …