Insider Spotlight
The Palawan Group of Companies has formalized a strategic partnership with BDO Unibank Inc., combining the bank’s cash management capabilities with the pawnshop giant’s extensive nationwide footprint to improve access to financial services, particularly in underserved and cash-based communities.
Millions of Filipinos still rely heavily on physical financial touchpoints, especially in provincial areas where bank branches remain limited. By integrating BDO’s corporate billers and payment systems into Palawan’s network of branches and its PalawanPay platform, the collaboration aims to bring banking-adjacent services closer to communities that need them most.
The move also supports broader financial inclusion efforts as digital and traditional financial channels converge.
The partnership
Through the agreement, BDO’s billers, customers, and employees can process over-the-counter payments and transactions through Palawan Pawnshop–Palawan Express Pera Padala branches nationwide, as well as through the PalawanPay e-wallet.
The setup allows customers to complete bill payments, remittances, and related transactions outside traditional bank branches, while businesses benefit from streamlined collections and improved payment processing.
Palawan’s reach is central to the effort. The company operates more than 3,500 branches nationwide, many open on weekends and holidays, along with a rapidly growing PalawanPay user base exceeding 23 million.
What they’re saying
Karlo M. Castro, president and chief executive officer of Palawan Group, said in a press statement on March 16, 2026: “This is especially helpful for cash-based customers and those in provincial and underserved areas, which the Palawan Group has always endeavored to serve. Many of our kababayans still rely on physical touchpoints for their daily transactions, and this partnership ensures they are not left behind as financial services continue to evolve.”
Third Librea, president and chief executive officer of PalawanPay, shared, “By combining BDO’s scale with Palawan’s reach, and with PalawanPay serving as the digital bridge, this collaboration enables faster, more convenient, and more inclusive payment solutions. It allows us to extend financial services to the last mile by seamlessly integrating physical access with digital capability.”
Carlo Nazareno, senior vice president and head, TBG-Cash Management Services of BDO Unibank Inc. added, “BDO brings comprehensive pillars representing a diverse portfolio across sectors such as utilities, telecommunications, government agencies, education, and more. Through this partnership, Palawan Group customers will have access to a broader range of bills payment options, making everyday transactions easier and more seamless.”
The bottom line
The collaboration underscores how partnerships between banks and alternative financial service providers are reshaping the country’s financial infrastructure—bridging the gap between traditional banking and communities historically left outside the formal financial system. —Vanessa Hidalgo |Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
