TAGUIG CITY — FinTech Alliance PH and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) formalized a strategic collaboration to advance digital financial innovation and inclusion across Southeast Asia, supporting the Philippines’ role as ASEAN Chair in 2026.
The partnership was announced during the FinTech Alliance PH 2026 General Membership Meeting held on March 11 at Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City, where industry leaders, regulators, and policymakers gathered to discuss priorities shaping the region’s digital financial future.
Under the collaboration, FinTech Alliance PH will work closely with ASEAN BAC to help strengthen fintech cooperation across ASEAN economies, promote responsible digital finance innovation, and support initiatives aimed at expanding financial inclusion throughout the region.
FinTech Alliance PH Founding Chairman and RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva said the partnership comes at a critical time as ASEAN continues to accelerate digital transformation across financial services.
“As the Philippines prepares to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, fintech will play a vital role in advancing regional financial inclusion and digital connectivity. Strengthening cooperation across ASEAN will help unlock opportunities for innovation, investment, and economic growth,” Villanueva said.
ASEAN Business Advisory Council Chairman Joey Concepcion emphasized the role of fintech in making economic growth more inclusive across Southeast Asia.
“The Philippine economy must be inclusive. It cannot be just for people who already have access to technology, capital, and networks. If we want a vibrant and thriving economy across ASEAN, we must ensure that digital finance expands opportunities for everyone,” Concepcion said.
The collaboration between FinTech Alliance PH and ASEAN BAC is expected to support regional initiatives that promote interoperable digital payments, fintech-enabled financial inclusion, and stronger cooperation between governments and the private sector.
The initiative also aligns with broader regional efforts to strengthen digital trust, cybersecurity, and regulatory cooperation as digital financial services continue to expand across ASEAN.
The agreement was among several partnerships announced during the FinTech Alliance PH General Membership Meeting, reinforcing the Alliance’s role in convening industry and government stakeholders to advance digital finance development in the Philippines and the region.
FinTech Alliance PH represents more than 150 corporate members responsible for over 95 percent of retail digital financial transactions in the Philippines, collectively serving more than 110 million digital financial accounts.
