VYBE, the e-wallet app of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), has partnered with fintech company Pay&Go to expand digital access for Filipinos. The partnership aims to onboard five million customers by next year, offering free and convenient cash-in services through 4,500 kiosks nationwide.
At the partnership launch on Thursday, Nov. 6, Frederick Faustino, Head of VYBE Digital Partnerships and Ecosystems, said they are targeting to double their current 2.5 million users by next year.
The optimism, he explained, stems from the app’s extensive functionality combined with the reach of BPI’s various sales units and the broader Ayala Group ecosystem.
Aside from existing BPI clients, VYBE is also reaching out to young Filipinos who frequently use smartphones for transactions. Even without a BPI bank account, VYBE users can send and receive money, pay bills, buy load, and earn reward points for eligible transactions.
With Pay&Go’s nationwide footprint, even users in remote or underbanked areas can now cash in to their VYBE wallets more conveniently — and with no transaction fees.
Pay&Go investing PHP220M
For his part, Danilo Ibarra, CEO of Pay&Go BTI Payments Philippines, said they plan to expand their network from 3,400 to 4,500 kiosks by next year to reach a broader market, particularly the unbanked sector.
Ibarra said they are investing around PHP200,000 per kiosk, or a total of PHP220 million, for the additional 1,100 kiosks planned for next year.
The new kiosks will be deployed in the Visayas and Mindanao regions to achieve a more balanced nationwide presence. Currently, most kiosks are located in the National Capital Region, with only 10 percent in Visayas and 8 percent in Mindanao. Pay&Go installs kiosks by partnering with establishments or renting spaces in strategic locations.
Ibarra also noted the growing traction of VYBE among the e-wallets available on Pay&Go, even though GCash and Maya remain the most commonly used. “But VYBE, it really picks up, maybe it’s because of the ecosystem,” he said.
He emphasized that many Filipinos remain unbanked, and Pay&Go kiosks offer a simple way to access financial services. Users can cash in through the machines using their account number — which is their mobile number — without paying any transaction fees.
According to Ibarra, most transactions at Pay&Go kiosks are cash-ins, followed by e-load purchases and bill payments. So far, Pay&Go has recorded a gross transaction value of PHP10 billion, serving over 8.8 million customers.
Ibarra added that an estimated 60 percent of their 8.8 million users do not have bank accounts but are actively using the kiosks to cash in.
