Alsons Dev Earns Top Honors at the BPI Partners Appreciation Night

Manila, Philippines, 2024 April –Alsons Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev) solidifies its standing as an award-winning real estate developer in Davao City by garnering accolades in title delivery and production during the recent Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Partners Appreciation Night. The event, which took place on March 14th at Plaza Moriones, Fort Santiago, recognizes BPI's top performing business partners in various categories.

While Alsons Dev has been commended at the BPI Partners Appreciation Night for the past five years, this year holds particular significance as it clinched the top honors, being the Top 1 Local Developer in Title Delivery Performance. This award underscores the company’s timely turnover of property titles to homeowners. Additionally, Alsons Dev was adjudged the Top 5 Local Developer in Production based on the number of BPI housing loans booked by the company’s clients. The developer's capacity for both speed and volume are a testament of its efficiency and dedication to top-notch customer service. It also underscores that Alsons Dev properties are a trusted choice for numerous homebuyers.

Padayon! The Alsons Dev team, headed by Legal Management Head Gloria P. Concepcion (third from right), receives the awards for the fifth consecutive year. 

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BPI Debit Cardholders can get added Protection with Personal Cyber Insurance

In a strategic move aimed at fortifying security and instilling peace of mind among its clients, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) proudly pioneers Personal Cyber Insurance exclusively tailored for BPI Debit Cardholders. This innovative insurance coverage serves as a robust defense mechanism, providing an additional layer of protection for daily transactions and safeguarding users against potential risks in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Jenny Lacerna, Product & Sales Head for Unsecured Lending and Cards, emphasizes, “Ensuring the peace of mind of our valued BPI Debit Cardholders is our utmost priority with the introduction of Personal Cyber Insurance. This innovative offering provides enhanced security and protection for their daily transactions, underscoring our commitment to their financial well-being.”

Designed to provide assurance, BPI MS Personal Cyber Insurance empowers Debit Cardholders with comprehensive protection. This exclusive offering extends to all BPI debit customers. The coverage includes E-commerce Purchase Protection, which reimburses customers for online purchases using their BPI Debit Mastercard® when items are accidentally damaged or are undelivered by a fraudulent seller. It also covers Lost Card Protection which covers customers on unauthorized/fraudulent transactions on the card that happened up to 12 hours prior to reporting the incident to BPI. Moreover, it also provides protection from Third-Party Unauthorized Transfers which covers unauthorized fund transfers carried out by an external party using their BPI Debit Mastercard® account. 

Starting at an affordable PHP 700 annually, BPI Debit Cardholders can select from a range of coverage options tailored to their unique needs. To further enhance convenience, clients are offered the choice of opting for recurring payments, facilitating seamless annual renewals.

The launch of BPI's Personal Cyber Insurance signifies the bank's unwavering commitment to ensuring the financial security and overall well-being of its clients amid the dynamic landscape of digital transactions. Building upon the robust security features already embedded within the BPI Debit card, this innovative insurance offering serves to fortify and enhance the existing safeguards, providing an extra layer of protection against evolving cyber threats.

For detailed information on BPI's Personal Cyber Insurance and to explore coverage options, you can visit l.bpi.com.ph/DebitCyberInsurance. You may also reach out to the 24-hour BPI Contact Center at (+632) 889-10000 or send us a message at https://www.bpi.com.ph/contactus.

Keep the FLAMES Burning this Valentine’s Day and Protect Yourself from Scammers

Remember the FLAMES—Friends, Lovers, Anger, Marriage, Engagement (Enemy for some), Soulmates—game in the 90’s? It was a popular pen and paper pastime among young teens. They would name their ‘crush’ and be able to ‘predict’ their future by playing with the letters that make up the name.

Fast forward to this day and age, “FLAMES” can guide adults and teens alike. But this time on a more serious note.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) presents a ‘FLAMES’ way—of protecting against scammers. 

“No one can really predict when and how a scammer attacks. We must always be careful not to fall for their schemes,” said BPI Enterprise Information Security Officer and Data Protection Officer Jonathan John B. Paz.

BPI’s ‘FLAMES’ reminder consists of simple cybersecurity tips that account holders can do to keep their accounts safe and secure especially this Valentine’s Day:

• F-riends? Family? It is better to keep confidential details like your PINs and passwords a secret (even) from them.

• L-ove to share your latest updates online? This is okay but be sure to set boundaries. Avoid oversharing, especially on social media, for your and your loved ones’ safety. 

• A-nger, excitement, and curiosity are some of the most common emotional trigger's scammers latch on to for their social engineering scams. Too much of these feelings can also be used as bait to manipulate you. 

• M-arriage between online and offline cybersecurity practices is a good habit to develop. It is not enough to be careful with your actions online only but not offline, and vice-versa.

• E-ngage only with trusted accounts. When planning to use e-commerce, do background checks first and read reviews about the sellers or product. Legitimate Facebook pages have the blue verified badges on them.

• S-oulmate? One-True Pair. Just like them, take care of your One-Time PINs (OTPs) as well by never sharing them with anyone.

BPI named Best SME Bank in the Philippines by Global Finance

For championing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and responding to their specialized needs with its range of products and services, market standing, and innovation, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) was recently proclaimed as the Best SME Bank in the Philippines by prestigious international publication Global Finance.

Headquartered in New York, with offices in London and Milan and with readers in 163 countries, Global Finance selected BPI and the other World’s Best Bank winners for 2022 based on their performance throughout 2021 and other criteria, including their reputation, management excellence, leadership in digital transformation, and corporate citizenship.

“As their trusted partner in growth, BPI is committed to ensuring that Filipino SMEs will have access to opportunities to execute their business plans and achieve what they dream for their businesses,” Dominique “Ococ” Ocliasa, BPI Business Banking Segment Head, said. “This vote of confidence by a prestigious international organization inspires us to empower more SMEs through our simple, convenient and relevant products, services, and programs that will help them maximize their growth potential to provide employment and contribute to the economy.”

BPI recently launched SME-friendly loans such as the Ka-Negosyo Credit Line (KCL) for flexible financing of recurring expenses, the Ka-Negosyo Ready Loan (KRL) for short-term and seasonal working capital requirements, and the Ka-Negosyo SME Loan (KSL) for making bigger capital expenses more affordable and lighter on the pocket as paying the loan can be over a long period of time.

Global Finance’s awards and recognition programs are the trusted standard of excellence for banks and their corporate partners. Global Finance’s readership includes senior corporate and financial officers responsible for making investment decisions. GFMag.com, its website, offers analysis and articles that are the legacy of 36 years of experience in international financial markets.

To know more about the new BPI products and programs for SMEs, visit www.bpi.com.ph/business or its Facebook page and watch BizKit episodes on its YouTube channel.

BPI Partners with GMG Production for ‘We Will Rock You The Musical’, Credit Cardholders to Enjoy Ticket Discounts

Rocking the performing arts scene, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is partnering with GMG Productions as it brings the international hit musical, We Will Rock You, to the Philippines. BPI Credit Cardholders will get up to 15% off when they purchase tickets using their BPI Credit Card. 

We Will Rock You The Musical is an international musical production based on a book by Ben Elton. This brand new, reimagined production directed and choreographed by Olivier Award nominee, Nick Winston, is kicking off a multi-year international tour, with Philippines as its first stop. 

The musical features 24 of Queen’s biggest hits, including Killer Queen, Under Pressure, We Are the Champions, Radio Ga Ga, I Want to Break Free, Don’t Stop Me Now, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites the Dust, We Will Rock You, and more. This will be staged at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater at Circuit Makati from October 27 to November 20, 2022.

“BPI has always been an advocate for both the local and global arts scene. We make it a point to support and push for programs that would further art awareness and appreciation, in its various forms. One way is to make it more convenient and easier for Filipinos and our cardholders to experience arts and enjoy life with their loved ones, through promos and other perks,” said Jenelyn Lacerna, BPI Unsecured Lending and Cards Head. 

The promo for We Will Rock You The Musical—which will run until October 26, 2022—is open to all BPI Credit Cardholders. There will be a 15% discount for BPI Visa Signature Card; 10% discount for BPI Platinum Rewards Mastercard and BPI Amore Platinum Cashback Card; and 5% discount for other BPI Credit Cards. 

“We are incredibly excited to premiere the show in Manila and for us to play host to all the international producers visiting from around the world,” said GMG Productions CEO and We Will Rock You producer Carlos Candal. 

“We want to put the Philippines on the map as a hub for theatrical productions. We know the Philippines has the talent and now we are spoilt for choice when it comes to venues,” Candal added. 

Interested BPI Credit Cardholders may purchase We Will Rock You The Musical ticket(s) via the TicketWorld website (https://www.ticketworld.com.ph/) or outlets only. Upon accessing the TicketWorld portal, choose the date and time of the preferred show schedule. Enter the first 9 digits of your credit card in the “password” field and click “unlock” Tickets.

The promo is applicable on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday evening performances only. A maximum of four tickets per purchase transaction is allowed. 

For more information about the offer, visit the www.bpi.com.ph/creditcards/promos. No BPI Credit Card yet? Apply now at www.bpi.com.ph/cards/pq/landing 

BPI to Level Up Savings with #Coins Program

In the last two years, neobanks—or digital banks that don’t have physical

branches—have been disrupting the market by offering unprecedented high interest
rates for a basic savings account.
 
“People who immediately benefit from the high rates are usually those who are able to
maintain high balances and can afford to open another deposit account outside of their
current banks. Beyond the introductory rate, unusually high interest rates are not
permanent, nor sustainable,” explained Carmina Marquez, BPI Deposits Head.
 
This is the reason the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is introducing honest-to-
goodness savings products that are not only easy-to-open but also uniquely and
sustainably rewarding—the #SaveUp digital deposit accounts.  #SaveUp is now
available not only through the BPI mobile app but also via GCASH app’s GSAVE
feature called BPI #MySaveUp.
 
These BPI products offer a convenient and trusted option for digital natives and banking
newbies, with low initial deposit, affordable maintaining balance, and more attractive
savings rate than what one gets from typical savings accounts opened via bank
branches.
 
“What makes this BPI product unique is instead of participating in accounts with high
interest rates that usually benefit the more affluent depositors, it provides an easier,
more fun way of saving through a gamified rewards program that can benefit more
people from all walks of life,” said Marquez.
 
Called #Coins, this program rewards depositors with virtual game coins as they
save. The #Coins can be used to win prizes such as cash vouchers and wallet credits,
an automatic KIA Stonic Style Edition car, or an Avida Vireo Studio condominium unit.  
 
“BPI introduces another first with our #Coins rewards program for #SaveUp
depositors. We want to make saving more affordable, more convenient, more fun and
more rewarding. This is our way of making saving more inclusive and encouraging
those who have not yet tried banking to do so easily. This is also our way of giving our
depositors a chance to own a brand-new SUV or a prime condominium unit as they
grow their savings—things that remain aspirational for so many Filipinos. Through
#SaveUp made rewarding with #Coins, we hope to invite more Filipinos to experience
banking and begin their journey towards achieving their dreams,” said Ginbee Go, BPI
Consumer Banking Head.

The #CoinsProgram rewards clients with one coin per month if their BPI #SaveUp or
#MySaveUp account has at least P3,000 worth of transactions each month that include
branch and digital deposits, remittance, funds transfers, and similar services. Depositors
may also earn extra coin for every P10,000 saved in their BPI #SaveUp or #MySaveUp
account by end of the month.
 
Game perks
Through the #COINS Program, BPI rewards its depositors with virtual game coins every
time they save, which they can use to win prizes such as electronic gift certificates.
Every month, there are 5,000 eGCs worth P100 available for clients, 500 winners of
P500 eGC, and 100 winners of P1,000 eGC; add to that two major prizes: an automatic
KIA Stonic Style Edition car and an Avida Vireo Studio condominium unit in Arca South.
 
Depositors will be able to enjoy these game perks in the #Coins microsite, which
features a Winners Gallery that display the users who already won a prize. It also shows
how many total #Coins are at play, and how many available eGC prizes there are to
help users strategize and control their game luck.
 
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently reported that “savings deposits had the
biggest share of total deposits at 48.7 percent.” This is as the Philippine banking system
(PBS) sustained its solid footing amid the pandemic, according to the “Recent Trends in
the Philippine Financial System” report released by BSP in January 2022.
 
“Especially during this time of high inflation, it is important to sustain the growth
momentum of the deposit and savings segments. BPI will continue to do its part and
launch new innovative products and programs with convenient digital options, as well as
easy access, and a more rewarding experience. A more financially inclusive economy is
how we, in BPI, can help build a better Philippines,” said Go.
 
To earn #Coins while saving, interested depositors may open a #SaveUp by
downloading the BPI mobile app, or open a #MySaveUp account from the GSAVE
menu of the GCASH app.

ABOUT BPI

The 171-year-old Bank of the Philippine Islands is the first bank in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. We are licensed as a
universal bank by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to provide a diverse range of financial services: deposit taking and cash
management, payments, lending and leasing, asset management, bancassurance, investment banking, securities brokerage, and
foreign exchange and capital markets. BPI has significant financial strength, with robust Tier 1 capital adequacy ratios and
profitability, underpinned by stringent compliance and risk management regimes. E-mail: Media: mjsilvestre@bpi.com.ph Investors:
Investorrelations@bpi.com.ph. Bank of the Philippine Islands l Ayala North Exchange Tower 1, Ayala Avenue corner Salcedo St.,
Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229 PH l +632 8246 6364l www.bpi.com.ph