Insider Spotlight
The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement, will enable RCBC ATM Go agency banking services to be deployed across Tambunting’s nationwide branch network.
The move is expected to strengthen access to essential banking transactions beyond traditional bank locations and support broader financial inclusion efforts.
Why it matters
Despite rapid growth in digital finance adoption, many Filipinos still face challenges accessing banking services due to geographic and infrastructure limitations.
By leveraging Tambunting’s long-established community presence, RCBC aims to extend its reach to more customers outside major urban centers.
With a presence in all 82 provinces, RCBC ATM Go has grown into one of the country’s largest grassroots-oriented agency banking networks.
The platform enables partner establishments to offer services including deposits, QR-enabled withdrawals, international Visa and Mastercard cash withdrawals, bills payment, mobile loading, remittances, fund transfers, account management, and government benefits cash-outs through compact mobile point-of-sale terminals, according to the bank.
The partnership will also allow RCBC accountholders to make cash deposits through participating Tambunting branches, expanding access points for everyday banking transactions.
The expansion plan
At present, 57 Tambunting branches already offer RCBC ATM Go services. The two organizations plan to increase this to 101 branches by the end of July, significantly widening the availability of banking services in communities with limited access to physical bank branches.
RCBC executive vice president and chief innovation and inclusion officer Lito Villanueva said the collaboration highlights the bank’s commitment to making financial services more accessible through partnerships and technology.
“At RCBC, we believe that financial inclusion is a team effort. We cannot do it alone. That’s why we are grateful to work with a trusted institution like Tambunting, a brand that generations of Filipinos know and trust,” Villanueva said.
“By combining Tambunting’s strong community presence and RCBC’s digital solutions, we can help more Filipinos save, transact, and achieve their financial goals,” he added.
Looking ahead
The expansion is expected to bring banking services closer to communities with limited access to traditional banking infrastructure while allowing Tambunting to broaden its service offerings nationwide.
Officials of the pawnshop operator said the partnership supports its long-standing goal of reaching more Filipinos who remain outside the formal banking system.
“We are proud to be your partners. We’re going to do what it takes to make this fruitful and move forward. It has always been our goal at Tambunting to reach as many people as we can, (especially) the unbanked,” Tambunting Pawnshop president and CEO Miguel Tambunting said.
RCBC ATM Go remains a key pillar of the bank’s financial inclusion strategy alongside RCBC Pulz and RCBC DiskarTech. Through these platforms, the bank has expanded access to digital financial services across urban centers, rural communities, and overseas markets. — Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S Narisma
