BPI Direct BanKo, a savings bank and the microfinance arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), said it selected ACI Worldwide to upgrade its payments infrastructure.
Under the partnership, BanKo will implement ACI’s issuing and acquiring platform to enhance omnichannel transaction processing for banks, fintechs and merchants while complying with regulatory standards.
The new system will replace BanKo’s existing switch, leveraging ACI’s software for improved speed, reliability and scalability, BanKo said in a statement.
It said the modernization initiative aims to meet evolving customer expectations and handle increasing transaction volumes, improving customer banking experience and delivering faster, more reliable payment services across the Philippines.
“Our switching network is one of the most important touchpoints for our customers. This partnership with ACI is crucial in building a reliable, future-ready payments system,” said BanKo president Rod Mabiasen.
ACI’s platform enables real-time transaction processing across multiple channels, including ATMs, point-of-sale systems and mobile devices, offering high availability and a modular architecture to facilitate the fast rollout of new features.
Leslie Choo, senior vice president and managing director for APAC at ACI Worldwide, cited the significance of the collaboration.
“ACI is fully aligned with BanKo’s vision of fostering financial empowerment and together, we are strengthening the foundation for a more inclusive and innovative payment ecosystem in the Philippines,” said Choo.
The new platform is expected to go live by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
