RCBC's Cards Division Powers Holiday Spending Wave with Digital Innovation

governance_ghost · 2026-01-15T21:51:13+00:00

RCBC's CEO Arniel Vincent B. Ong emphasizes the bank's strong position in the evolving payments landscape, highlighting a 37% surge in card billings and expanded cardholder base. The RCBC Pulz app enhances customer experience, while integration with Google Pay underscores digital innovation. The bank anticipates continued growth in its cards division.

governance_ghost

2026-01-15 21:51:13

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RCBC Credit Cards President and Chief Executive Officer Arniel Vincent B. Ong highlighted the bank’s strategic positioning in the evolving payments landscape, emphasizing how cardholders are leveraging exclusive benefits across travel, dining, and online retail. The momentum reflects broader consumer confidence reshaping the banking sector’s retail segment.

By end-September, the numbers told a compelling story: issuing billings surged 37% year-on-year while receivables climbed 32%, demonstrating the scale of transaction activity. The active cardholder base expanded by 19%, reaching 1.4 million accounts. These metrics underscore how RCBC’s ending card portfolio has become the centerpiece of its consumer lending strategy, representing 39% of total retail loan exposure.

Digital enablement driving the cards renaissance

The uptick in purchase behavior extends across multiple categories, with travelers booking trips, diners exploring restaurants, and shoppers navigating e-commerce platforms. Year-end promotional campaigns and merchant installment flexibility have further accelerated electronics and gadget acquisitions. The RCBC Pulz app exemplifies how mobile-first account management—featuring on-demand installment conversion (Unli Installment) and UnliPay capabilities for non-card merchants—has become central to customer retention.

“What we’re seeing is that discerning customers want more than a payment tool; they want a lifestyle companion,” Ong noted in his statement. The bank’s ending card solutions now encompass 24/7 real-time payment controls, positioning RCBC at the forefront of customer-centric innovation.

Cementing leadership in emerging payment channels

RCBC joined the first cohort of domestic card issuers to integrate Google Pay, rolling out the feature to the public on November 19 and 20 across Visa and Mastercard products. This move positions the ending card ecosystem within the broader digitalization wave sweeping consumer finance.

Management expects the cards division to maintain 30-40% annual growth momentum through next year, buoyed by sustained consumer confidence and technological infrastructure investments that differentiate RCBC’s ending card offerings from market competitors.

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