GCash and InvestaTrade Partner to Make Investing Easier for Every Filipino

GCash and InvestaTrade launch an upgraded GStocks platform for an easier investing experience within the GCash app.

Redefining how first-time investors enter the market, GCash upgrades its GStocks feature with new partner InvestaTrade, the stock trading arm of Investa, known for its beginner-friendly approach to financial education and stock market awareness.

While the level of Filipinos' interest and adoption toward investing has grown in recent years, participation in the stock market is still not widespread. According to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), the number of stock market accounts in the PSE reached 2.86 million, with 99% belonging to local investors as of June 2024. For perspective, this represents only about 4.1% of the country's roughly 70 million adult population.

The new partnership aims to change that. Powered by InvestaTrade, GStocks introduces a simplified investing experience within the GCash app, allowing Filipinos to easily register, fund their accounts, and start investing in local stocks—all in just a few minutes. 

The upgraded GStocks experience also aims to drive stronger literacy and ease stock selection with a more intuitive platform that features built-in educational content. The platform is also designed to be as user-friendly and accessible as possible, even to first-time investors.

“Financial tools only work if people actually feel ready to use them. This partnership is about meeting people where they are and giving them room to grow at their own pace,” general manager for wealth management at GCash, Arjun Varma, said.

“Our goal has always been to use technology to break down barriers to investing. With GStocks PH and InvestaTrade, we’re making it easier for more Filipinos to take that first step with tools designed to help jumpstart their financial journey,” he added.

The partnership with InvestaTrade brings additional credibility and community-based learning to the platform. Since 2015, Investa has built a reputation for offering accessible tools, market insights, and educational content aimed at helping everyday Filipinos make sense of the stock market.

“We’ve always believed that investing should be made accessible for every Filipino. This has been our mission since day one. This collaboration allows us to take what we’ve built at Investa—tools, education, and a supportive community—and make it available to a wider audience through GCash,” Investa CEO and co-founder JC Bisnar said.

“This collaboration also highlights the importance of technology in making investing more accessible. By leveraging the seamless experience and advanced features of the InvestaTrade platform, in synergy with GCash, we aim to simplify the learning curve and equip first-time and experienced users alike with reliable tools,” said Investa CTO and co-founder Airwyn Tin. 

It only takes minutes to start investing with GStocks. Fully verified GCash users with an updated KYC in the last 3 years just need to register in-app to get approved instantly.

The new GStocks PH powered by InvestaTrade officially launches September 15 as part of GCash’s broader mission to make investing a stronger habit and a part of everyday life for all Filipinos. 

Through this, GCash is helping turn what was once an intimidating topic into a practical step toward financial growth, empowering more Filipinos to build a stronger, more secure future.

For more information, please visit www.gcash.com.

The information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or professional advice. You should always consult a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. All investments carry inherent risks, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Any reliance you place on the information provided is strictly at your own risk.

Sun Life Survey: Filipinos Show Rising Financial Confidence, but Long-Term Challenges Persist

MANILA, PH – August 2025 – Sun Life Asia’s latest Financial Resilience Index reveals a complex yet hopeful picture of Filipino financial behavior, showing increased short-term confidence but persistent challenges in long-term planning and resilience.  

 

The study, conducted across six Asian markets including the Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam, surveyed 1,000 Filipino respondents between April and May 2025.

 

Financial Confidence on the Rise but Long-Term Struggles Persist

 

The study found that 66% of Filipinos now feel financially secure, up from 45% in the previous wave. Confidence in managing monthly finances also rose from 57% to 69%, suggesting improved short-term financial resilience.

 

However, long-term financial confidence dipped, with only 64% feeling capable of meeting future goals, down from 72%. One in three Filipinos say that, in case of income loss or illness, they would not be able to sustain themselves for more than three months without external support. Younger respondents based in rural areas are especially vulnerable, with limited emergency savings and lower access to financial tools.

 

Immediate Needs Take Priority when Inflation Hits Hard

 

Filipinos are prioritizing day-to-day budgeting (61%) and building emergency funds (45%), while long-term goals like retirement and home ownership have become less urgent. This shift underscores the impact of inflation and cost-of-living concerns on financial planning.

 

Nearly all respondents reported that inflation has affected their ability to cover monthly expenses. The biggest cost increases were seen in food, energy, health, and transportation. In response, many are cutting non-essential spending and educating themselves about personal finance.

 

Financial Literacy Shows Promise as Sources of Advice Evolve

 

While banks and family remain the top sources of financial guidance, social media and AI tools are gaining popularity, especially among younger and urban consumers. Trust in banks remains high but has slightly declined, and cost remains a barrier to seeking professional advice.

 

Despite this, most Filipinos rate their financial literacy as “fair” or better, and survey results show a strong understanding of basic financial concepts. It also reveals that literacy improves with age and is higher among urban residents, though gaps remain in rural areas. Additionally, 67% of respondents save or invest at least 10% of their income, and 78% review their investments monthly or more often. These behaviors indicate a growing commitment to financial discipline.

 

“These findings highlight both the resilience and the vulnerability of Filipino households,” said Benedict Sison, CEO and Country Head of Sun Life Philippines. “We are encouraged by the growing financial confidence and commitment to saving, but it’s clear that more support is needed to help families plan for the long term. Sun Life remains committed to empowering Filipinos through financial education, innovative products, and community engagement.”

 

Learn more about Sun Life by visiting www.sunlife.com.ph. Stay updated by following Sun Life Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

 

View the Philippines findings of the Sun Life Asia Financial Resilience Index here: www.sunlife.co/financialresiliencereport-2025  

 

RCBC, Multisys to Bring an All-In-One Virtual Banking App

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has partnered with software and IT solutions provider, Multisys Technologies Corporation, to power the country’s first financial inclusion accelerator virtual bank, DiskarTech. PLDT invested P2.15 billion in Multisys for a 45.73% interest last year.

Through DiskarTech: Kasosyo sa Asenso, RCBC will soon bring banking services and products closer to unbanked Filipinos and grassroots communities. This is in line with the commercial bank’s efforts to further promote financial inclusion in the country.

With Multisys, DiskarTech will become an all-in-one app where users can easily make payments to more than 20 government services and over 2,000 billers, transfer funds via InstaPay, and avail of social services. It will also enable banking consumers to take out loans, buy airtime load and gaming ePINS, as well as apply for insurance and cash in and cash out via respective agent partners.

“We are confident that with our collaboration with Multisys, we would be able to bring inclusive digital banking services to more Filipinos and uplift their lives,” said Lito Villanueva, RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer.

“This is a strategic engagement as it covers the most extensive features and services that RCBC developed and championed, truly the first and the best in the industry,” said David Almirol, Jr. Multisys President and CEO.

RCBC has been building a robust digital ecosystem with over 30 partnerships and collaboration across government agencies and private organizations to push DiskarTech in local communities.

RCBC EVP and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva (right) and Multisys President and CEO David Almirol, Jr., seal a partnership that will make the DiskarTech: Kasosyo sa Asenso into an all-in-one app to bring banking products and services closer to unbanked Filipinos. Looking on are PLDT Chairman and CEO Manny Pangilinan, RCBC Chairperson Helen Yuchengco-Dee and RCBC President and CEO Eugene Acevedo.

DTI, RCBC TO BRING DIGITAL LIVELIHOOD AND BANKING TO SARI-SARI STORES

MAKATI – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and universal bank RCBC will bring digital livelihood and virtual banking services to more than 1.3 million sari-sari stores nationwide through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on 18 October 2019.

Under the MOU, DTI will promote RCBC’s virtual bank-tech app DiskarTech: Kasosyo sa Asenso and provide training programs for entrepreneurs. Said trainings will roll out before the end of this year in more than 1,000 DTI Negosyo Centers around the country.

DiskarTech offers digital financial services such as micro-insurance, microfinancing, bills payment, and airtime and gaming e-load. The app also enables customers to open RCBC basic deposit accounts, withdraw, deposit, and transfer money without going to a bank branch.

DTI and RCBC target enterprising Filipinos as users of the app, including sari-sari store and market vendors in over 42,000 barangays in the country.

"DiskarTech is a pioneering initiative that will level up our sari-sari stores and microenterprises with a complete suite of digital financial services that is well-aligned with the 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda of the Duterte Administration," DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

"Aside from providing additional income, DiskarTech helps achieve financial inclusion by getting more Filipinos to open bank accounts and be part of the formal financial system," Sec. Lopez said.

He also noted that financial inclusion is key to achieving President Rodrigo Duterte’s vision of inclusive growth and a comfortable life for all.

"This will also address informal lenders offering exorbitant interest rates as DiskarTech provides opportunity for new-to-credit Filipinos to access efficient and affordable credit facility through self-help approach," RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva said.

Earlier, the Liga ng mga Barangay National Executive Board approved a resolution adopting DiskarTech as a national financial inclusion accelerator in all 42,000 barangays nationwide.

Signing the agreement were DTI Director Emma Asusano, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, RCBC Chairperson Helen Y. Dee, RCBC President and CEO Eugene S. Acevedo, and RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva.

RCBC, Liga ng mga Barangay work Towards Financial Inclusion

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has taken the first steps to bringing its digital financial inclusion initiative to grassroots communities as it gets the support and commitment of Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (LNB).

The LNB led by National President Eden Pineda, presented its national executive board resolution stating that the organization is adopting DiskarTech: Kasosyo sa Asenso as a growth enabler and capacity-building measure for microenterprises in every barangay and its constituents. DiskarTech is a financial inclusion accelerator platform by RCBC that aims to stimulate economic activity to help uplift the unbanked and underserved Filipinos.   

The strategic collaboration will focus on accelerating financial literacy, promoting inclusive digital economy, and empowering local communities. This supports the government digitalization efforts aligned with President Duterte’s 10-point economic agenda on investing on human capital development, and promoting technology and innovation for self-sustaining and inclusive development towards poverty alleviation.

LNB is the official organization of over 42,000 barangays throughout the country. It is committed to providing avenues and assistance to promote welfare and ensure success of the national government’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and National Retail Payments System.

“This financial inclusion accelerator will be pervasive throughout the country as it would address the huge gaps in financial services while reducing the number of unbanked and underserved communities,” said RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva.

By adopting DiskarTech, LNB will be taking an active role in leading workshops and programs on financial education and literacy with the assistance of the DiskarTech National Coordinating Team. They will also be engaging its member municipalities to appoint their own DiskarTech Community Leader (DCL) who will facilitate participation of residents and entrepreneurs in the program.

“DiskarTech will pave the way for the real transformation of our communities nationwide as it would provide opportunities to our constituents, giving them the chance to be part of the formal financial system through technology,” said Liga ng mga Barangay National President Eden Pineda.

In an effort to encourage economic activity, partner sari-sari stores or microenterprises will also be identified as Barangay Digital Community Centers (BDCCs) to serve as the go-to hub of every resident for their financial needs - whether it’s paying bills, depositing savings to their accounts, buying  micro insurance or sending money to their loved ones.

With this, RCBC hopes to turbocharge the growth of digital financial transactions in the country from the current one percent to a minimum of twenty percent by next year. Through DiskarTech, this initiaitve hopes to bring to realization the vision of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas of creating a cash-lite and digital economy for greater efficiency, security, interoperability, and affordability.

Joining LNB and 20 other existing partners, a number of private organizations have also signed up recently to join the DiskarTech financial inclusion ecosystem to benefit their respective constituents. These partners include Ka-Entrep Micro and Small Entrepreneurs Organization of the Philippines, Bangko Pangasinan, and Rizal Microbank, among others.

Rural bank Bangko Pangasinan and thrift bank Rizal Microbank also share how DiskarTech would empower the agriculture sector with access to basic financial needs and microfinance loans.

“DiskarTech is an open platform and the way it works is that banks like us can communicate with other banks. Similar to an open banking system, there will be no barriers and it will become interoperable to make it easier to reach and assist the underserved market,” said Gregory De Guzman, Bangko Pangasinan president and COO.

Joseph Lumain, Strategic Partnerships and Special Initiatives head at Rizal Microbank, agrees that DiskarTech will be an effective way to reach numerous individuals at the same time. “Basically, what DiskarTech is offering are the basic services of a bank through digital means. And in an era where almost everyone is tech-savvy, DiskarTech can be the perfect solution to present financial services in an understandable way, and eventually helping answer the issue of financial inclusion.”

Deposit and Drive with RCBC

Believe you can turn your savings into your dream car with RCBC and RCBC Savings Bank’s (RSB) new Deposit and Drive promo.

Six units each of brand new Isuzu mu-X SUVs and Honda Civic Sedans are up for grabs. The more you save with RCBC and RSB, the more chances you get of winning in the raffle draw. Turn your saving woes into the ultimate grand prize!

Simply earn a raffle entry by depositing “fresh funds” into your new or existing account, and maintaining the minimum average daily balance of at least Php 50,000 for your personal account and Php 500,000 for your corporate account. The final number of raffle entries per account will depend on the cut-off period.

Fresh Deposit Funds are limited to: (a) funds deposited to open an account during the Promo Period; or (b) additional deposits made to existing accounts during the Promo Period.

Also, by just dropping by your branch of account and updating your account information, an additional raffle entry is given to you.

With RCBC and RSB, each deposit gives you a chance to earn a spot for you to drive away with your dream wheels!

Deposit and Drive is open to all new and existing account holders, from individual, joint and corporate accounts. Mark your calendars for the first draw on February 14, 2019 and April 15, 2019 for the final raffle draw date.

Start believing you can drive home with a brand new car. Saving has never been this exciting with RCBC and RCBC Savings Bank’s Deposit and Drive promo.