CitySavings digital banking services help MSMEs, teachers

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY -- City Savings Bank, Inc. (CitySavings) continues to create digital financial services to assist the small and medium enterprises and teachers for easy, convenient digital banking systems amid the pandemic via its relevant products and digital channels.

City Savings president and CEO Lorenzo Ocampo said that the bank has always been customer-centric which is essential as one digitally transforms. This is vital in realizing CitySavings’ vision to be the leading mass market bank in the Philippines.

Ocampo added that CitySavings started the rollout of its own Visa Debit Card last year as a safer and more convenient channel to transact online. To date, more than 75,000 of the Bank’s clients have switched to the new Visa Debit card.   All savings account holders are expected to be fully re-carded by October 2021

According to Paula Ruelan, AVP-Reputation and Brand Management Head that CitySavings’ official chatbot, “Talk to Maria” is like a 24/7 sales associate that provides a quick and easy way for new clients to apply for a loan online from the comfort of their own home and can provide information on product and service-related inquiries, bank advisories as well as ATM and branch locations.

Ruelan said that the Bank also recognizes the huge demand for motorcycle loans needed for socially distanced, convenient, and affordable transportation.  It recently launched its 0% interest installment product for education and medical frontliners which allows them to avail of pre-loved motorcycle units at zero interest payable in 12, 18, and 24 months.

Meanwhile, in response to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) call for support from stakeholders, the Bank has pivoted most of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to make them relevant and accessible online.

CitySavings continues to enhance its capability-building programs to support educators in transitioning to blended teaching and learning modalities.  To date, over 200,000 educators have benefitted from these intensive online training programs.

According to Ruelan that the Bank currently provides tools and courses to upgrade educators’ online teaching skills through Project Agile: Learning Series for Teachers and HEROES 2021 (Help Educators Rise to Online Education SY 2020-2021) in partnership with Thames International School, EduRescue Philippines, and Akadasia Singapore.

 

City Savings’ CSR programs such as HEROES 2021 and Project Agile continue to support educators in transitioning to blended teaching and learning modalities.  The Bank is also focused on providing other learning opportunities for educators specifically on financial health as well as physical and mental well-being, Ruelan said.

 One of its core programs, Ruelan bared is “Project Peraparasyon” which is instrumental in strengthening the Bank’s advocacy on financial literacy to educators and non-teaching personnel across the country.  The program highlights the simple steps on saving, building an investment, and managing debt as keys to practical wealth management.

CitySavings also partnered with MentalHealthPH and introduced Project #BetterMe, a mental wellness program for the frontliners in education. The initiative aims to help teachers develop self-care strategies and provide practical ways to take better care of their mental well-being amidst the challenges they face in the new normal, Ruelan added.

Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, CitySavings stays true to its promise of straightforward banking through innovative products for its clients and sustainable CSR programs for its communities. (Photos: CitySavings)