Making financial inclusion real

More than 37 million Filipino adults remain unbanked today. That’s not just a statistic– it’s a glimpse into the daily struggles of millions: an OFW who sends hard-earned money home each month, hoping every peso goes where it’s needed most; a TNVS driver who dreams of owning his own vehicle but must prioritize rent, tuition and groceries; a sari-sari store owner who wants to expand her business but can’t get a loan because she has no collateral or credit history.

At UnionDigital Bank (UD), these aren’t case studies – they’re the people we’re here to serve. This is the driving force behind Kaya Mo, our renewed commitment to making financial inclusion not just accessible, but meaningful. We believe that banking should empower people to believe not only in digital tools, but in their own capacity to grow and thrive.

Kaya Mo is more than a tagline or a brand refresh. It is a movement to shift how we think about inclusion – not as a subsidy and not merely as a growth strategy, but as the foundation of genuine, long-term progress. True inclusion begins not with products, but with people – with their daily decisions, trade-offs and ambitions. It means seeing the mother managing inventory in her tindahan by instinct, the construction worker without a formal ID but with a relentless drive to save or the student juggling gigs to afford tuition, often without a single banking relationship.

We cannot reach these Filipinos by simply digitizing traditional banking systems. We must rebuild the idea of banking from their point of view. UD was never meant to be just another digital bank; we were purpose-built to address the gaps that have kept millions in the margins. From our app design to our product offerings, every detail reflects the realities of the underserved. What matters most to our users is what matters most to us: safety, simplicity and tools that actually work for their needs – not more, not less.

Our offerings are intentionally designed to lower the barriers. No-maintaining-balance savings accounts. Time deposits that start at just P1,000. Credit lines that don’t require mountains of documents. And soon, innovations like virtual cards, early wage access and micro insurance will bring even more Filipinos into the fold.

But our goal isn’t just to provide access, it’s to inspire ownership. Financial inclusion must mean more than the ability to transact; it must mean the power to plan, grow and take charge.

Of course, we know that access to tools is only half the challenge. There is a critical gap between knowledge and action – and it is in this space that financial literacy must take root. This is where true empowerment begins. For a sari-sari store owner, financial literacy can mean the difference between breaking even and building capital. For a TNVS driver, it can turn a short-term income into long-term stability. This is why we believe that guidance must go hand in hand with innovation – para akayin ang mga Pinoy sa kanilang paglalakbay tungo sa pinansyal na tagumpay.

But no single institution can solve this alone. Financial inclusion must be a shared responsibility. It requires banks, fintechs, regulators and civil society to work in step – each playing a role in creating not just access, but confidence, education and trust. Because inclusion isn’t measured by how many accounts are opened; it’s measured by how many lives are improved. It’s not about downloads; it’s about outcomes.

When a tricycle driver starts budgeting better because he finally understands his cash flow – that’s inclusion. When a household helper opens her first savings account and begins to plan for emergencies – that’s transformation. These aren’t anecdotes. These are the benchmarks that matter.

We urge those in power – policymakers, regulators, fellow institutions – to continue investing in the systems that will make inclusion real: digital IDs, open finance, credit scoring that uses alternative data. These are not far-off aspirations. They are the infrastructure of a more equitable financial system. The progress being made in these areas is encouraging, and we welcome deeper dialogue to make sure no Filipino is left behind.

And through it all, we must remember: trust is the currency that holds it all together. Technology should serve people, not the other way around. Data must be handled with respect and care. Every app, every loan, every transaction should move people toward dignity, not just convenience.

Kaya Mo is a reminder to every Filipino that they can start, grow and thrive financially. But it’s also a challenge to all of us in the industry – to rethink what we offer, rebuild how we serve and rise to the challenge of doing inclusion right.

Because when we empower one Filipino, we uplift a family. And when we empower millions, we transform a nation.

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Danilo Mojica II is president and CEO of UnionDigital Bank.