BankTech Asia 2025: Manila Series
The BankTech Asia 2025 Conference: Manila Series brings together industry leaders, technology pioneers, and policymakers to navigate the dynamic landscape of financial technology in the island nation. This esteemed platform fosters critical discourse on the latest trends and challenges shaping the future of banking, with a focus on embracing innovation while upholding ethical principles. Fostering partnerships between banks, FinTech startups, and non-governmental organizations is crucial for unlocking the potential of innovative technologies and ensuring inclusive access to financial services. The conference provides a platform for stakeholders to share best practices, explore open-source platforms, and identify synergies for scaling sustainable solutions that benefit both the industry and the wider community. This gathering represents a unique opportunity to address the challenges and embrace the opportunities presented by digital transformation in the financial sector. With its focus on cutting-edge technologies, responsible innovation, and collaborative partnerships, the BankTech Asia 2025 Conference: Manila Series is poised to be a catalyst for charting a transformative path for the nation’s financial future.
Registration of 5th Annual Conference and Exhibition BankTech Asia 2025: Manila Series
Panel Discussion: Beyond Banking – Exploring the Potential of BaaS in the AI Era
- Discuss how Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) enables the integration of financial services into non-financial platforms, creating seamless user experiences and new revenue streams.
- Analyze the role of BaaS in democratizing financial services by reducing barriers such as geographic location and lack of traditional banking infrastructure.
Panelist:
Francis Chiu
First Vice President and Head Information Technology Group, BDO Unibank, Philippines
Opening Remarks by Selva Nagappan, Organizing Chairman, 5th Annual Conference and Exhibition BankTech Asia 2025: Manila Series and Managing Director, Knowledge Group of Companies
Selva Nagappan
Organising Chairperson, BankTech Asia 2025: Manila Series & Managing Director, Knowledge Group of Companies
Keynote Address: Philippines Digital Finance – The Billion Dollar Market through Digital Lending
- Explore the rise of digital banking and its impact on the booming digital lending market, projected to surpass $1 billion USD.
- Showcasing successful digital banking and lending collaborations that drive financial inclusion, empowering SMEs and underserved communities with accessible and user-friendly solutions.
Morning Refreshments and Exhibition Walkabout
Guaranteeing Access to Cash: How ATM Pooling and Outsourcing is Helping in the Digital Transformation of the Banks
Speaker
Anne Richard Schaafsma
Head of Business Development (Global), ATM Managed Services, Brink’s Inc., Netherlands
Loxon’s Presentation
Speaker
Tamás Erni
Chief Executive Officer, Loxon Solutions, Hungary
Networking Luncheon and Exhibition Walkabout
Panel Discussion: Cybersecurity and Trust – Preserving Integrity in the Race for BankTech Digital Dominance
- Discussing the importance of implementing robust cybersecurity frameworks to safeguard sensitive information amidst rapid technological growth.
- Exploring the role of transparency in fostering consumer trust, particularly when deploying AI and other advanced technologies.
Panelist:
Jed Kenley Chua
Chief Information Security Officer, Asia United Bank, Philippines
From Hype to Reality: Building a Robust BankTech Ecosystem with LLMs & Gen AI
- Discuss how large language models (LLMs) and generative AI can revolutionize customer service, fraud detection, and risk analysis in financial institutions.
- Explore the essential steps for implementing LLMs and generative AI responsibly, including addressing data privacy, ethical considerations, and regulatory compliance.
Panel Discussion: Evolving Governance with Blockchain for Unbreakable Security and Resilience
- Explore how blockchain enhances transparency and trust through real-time transaction verification and tamper-proof records, reducing fraud and unauthorized modifications.
- Analyze blockchain’s role in strengthening financial system resilience by eliminating single points of failure and enabling seamless cross-border transactions.
Panelist:
Marlon Sorongon
Chief Information Security Officer, Maybank, Philippines
Synthetic Deception: Battling Deepfake Heist and E-Scams in Banking Cybercrime
- Uncover how deepfakes and AI scams are used in high-trust banking fraud.
- Explore law enforcement tactics to detect and stop digital heists.
Speaker
Jay Guillermo
Chief of Cyber Response Unit, Anti-Cybercrime Group, Philippine National Police, Philippines
Evening Refreshment and End of Day One BankTech Asia 2025: Manila Series
Registration of 5th Annual Conference and Exhibition BankTech Asia 2025: Manila Series
Panel Discussion: Navigating IT Financial Management in the Age of Emerging Technologies
- Emerging technologies present new opportunities for cost optimization, operational efficiency, and smarter financial planning.
- Organizations must navigate integration complexities and adapt strategically to fully leverage these advancements.
Panel Discussion: Bridging the Digital Divide – Challenges and Solutions for Rural Banks in the Philippines
- Discuss the critical need for building reliable digital infrastructure in rural Philippines, including internet connectivity, mobile network expansion, and secure data storage solutions.
- Highlight the role of financial literacy and user-friendly banking platforms in driving inclusivity and adoption of digital financial services in rural areas.
Moderator:
Rafael Francisco Amparo
Executive Director, Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines, Philippines
Panelist:
Ronaldo Recto
President, Rural Bank San Antonio, Philippines
Franco Nazareno
, Chief Technology Officer, OwnBank, Philippines
Morning Refreshments and Exhibition Walkabout
Panel Discussion: Bridging the Talent Gap: Cultivating Future-Ready Roles for Digital Banking Transformation
- Redesigning job roles to align with the demands of AI, Gen AI, cybersecurity, and embedded finance, fostering hybrid capabilities that merge technological acumen with financial insight.
- Implementing strategies to reskill and upskill existing talent while attracting next-gen professionals, balancing internal development with external recruitment in a competitive digital landscape.
Panelists:
Noel Gamboa
Managing Director, CapMan Consulting, Philippines
Yu Ming Chin
Executive Director, Viventis Search Asia, Philippines
AI with Principles: Driving Transparent and Inclusive Financial Services
- Explore how principled AI can bridge the gap for underserved populations by enabling access to financial services, such as microloans and digital banking, through inclusive algorithms.
- Examine real-world examples of AI solutions designed to expand access to financial services for marginalized communities while maintaining fairness and avoiding discriminatory practices
Speaker:
Albert Tinio
Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer, GoTyme Bank, Philippines
Networking Luncheon and Exhibition Walkabout
Riding the Wave – The Surge in Digital Payment Streams in the Philippines
- Analyze the key factors contributing to the surge in digital payment adoption, including the rise of e-commerce, improved financial literacy, and government initiatives promoting digital transactions.
- Explore how the increase in digital payments contributes to greater financial inclusion, stimulates the economy, and opens new opportunities for small businesses and the informal sector.
Panel Discussion: The Power of Embedded Finance – Transforming Banking in the Digital Age of Connected Ecosystems
- Navigate the cutting edge of embedded finance, a disruptive innovation seamlessly integrating financial services into non-financial platforms.
- Explore the strategic advantages of embedding banking functionalities within everyday experiences, driving growth and innovation within the financial sector.
Moderator:
Albert Tinio
Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer, GoTyme Bank, Philippines
Panelists:
Biswanath Banik
Chief Data Officer, Tonik, Singapore
Dwitil Mahimkar
Senior Vice President and Regional Product Manager, Liquidity & Investment Product Management, Global Payment Solutions, Asia Pacific, HSBC, Hong Kong
Franco Nazareno
Chief Technology Officer, OwnBank, Philippines
Bridging Borders and Becoming Future Fit: Innovation in Liquidity Management
- Digital tools enhance real-time visibility and forecasting, helping treasurers optimize global liquidity and funding decisions.
- Emerging technologies empower users with greater financial control, fueling innovation and competition in the financial ecosystem.
Dwitil Mahimkar
Senior Vice President and Regional Product Manager, Liquidity & Investment Product Management, Global Payment Solutions, Asia Pacific, HSBC, Hong Kong
Panel Discussion: Reactive to Proactive – AI for Predictive Risk Management and Optimized Banking Operations
- Explore how AI-powered predictive analytics can identify potential risks and opportunities early on, enabling banks to take proactive measures and make data-driven decisions.
- Discuss the various applications of AI in streamlining banking operations, such as automating routine tasks, improving customer service, and enhancing fraud detection.
Biswanath Banik
Chief Data Officer, Tonik, Singapore
Evening Refreshment and End of BankTech Asia 2025: Manila Series
Our Speakers
Anne Richard Schaafsma
Head of Business Development (global), ATM Managed Services, Brink’s Inc.
Anne Richard Schaafsma
Head of Business Development (global), ATM Managed Services, Brink’s Inc.Anne has more than twenty years’ experience in CIT and ATM outsourcing. He's been closely involved in the transformation process the cash cycle is undergoing. FI's in North-Western Europe have been leading the way in ATM pooling initiatives and outsourcing of their ATM activities. In Europe they have seen large reductions in the number of bank branches and ATMs, market consolidation and the need for multi-vendor, hardware agnostic hard- and software providers. After fulfilling various roles like MD, banking sales- and solutions development director, He's now responsible for Brink’s ATM Managed Services business development. Brink’s is a global leader in ATM Managed Services. They have managed more than 300.000 ATMsworldwide. Responsible for the operational burden of managing ATM estates, so banks can reallocate capital and manpower to digital initiatives accelerating the digital transformation
Ronaldo Recto
President, Rural Bank San Antonio
Ronaldo Recto
President, Rural Bank San AntonioRonaldo Recto is the President of Rural Bank San Antonio, a rural bank serving clients across Southern Tagalog. With a background in private lending and experience in the adoption of digital initiatives in lending operations, he has spent the last eight years dedicated to driving financial innovation and expanding access to banking services in the countryside. He currently sits on the Financial Cyber Resilience Governance Council of the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, representing the rural banking sector.
Rafael Francisco D. Amparo
Executive Director, Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines
Rafael Francisco D. Amparo
Executive Director, Rural Bankers Association of the PhilippinesAmparo advocates for the digital transformation of rural banks, emphasizing the adoption of neobank models to drive growth and enhance financial inclusion in underserved communities. He also focuses on improving cybersecurity measures and regulatory compliance within the rural banking industry. Beyond his work with RBAP, Amparo is a consultant specializing in regulatory and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance for various financial institutions, including rural banks, thrift banks, cooperative banks, non-stock savings and loan associations, pawnshops, and other financial service providers.
Marlon Sorongon
Chief Information Security Officer, Maybank
Marlon Sorongon
Chief Information Security Officer, MaybankMarlon is a cybersecurity expert with over 25 years of experience in IT, specializing in network security, information security, and cybersecurity strategy. He currently serves as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of Maybank Philippines and has also held the same role at Maybank New York. His previous positions include Division Head of IT/OT Security at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and Senior Manager for Cyber Risk Services at Deloitte. Sorongon has led numerous cybersecurity initiatives, focusing on IT governance, risk management, and information security programs. He is also a strong advocate for cybersecurity education and talent development, mentoring young professionals and sharing insights at industry forums. His work continues to shape the cybersecurity landscape in the Philippines.
Francis Chiu
First Vice President and Head of Consumer Banking Applications, Information Technology Group, BDO Unibank
Francis Chiu
First Vice President and Head of Consumer Banking Applications, Information Technology Group, BDO Unibank
Francis Chiu is a multi-awarded technology executive with over 25 years of experience in digital transformation and innovation within the financial services industry. As First Vice President and Head of Consumer Banking Applications at BDO Unibank, he leads strategic initiatives to enhance customer experiences, optimize operations, and align technology with business objectives.
With expertise in digital banking transformation, risk management, and quality engineering, Francis has a proven track record of delivering results, including reducing system vulnerabilities, driving double-digit revenue growth, and managing multimillion-dollar portfolios.
He has held leadership roles in top organizations like Misys, Avaloq, and Deutsche Bank and has received numerous international accolades, including the Legend CIO and Transformative CIO Awards, to name a few.
Currently pursuing an MBA, Francis remains an active contributor to professional communities, leveraging his vision and expertise to drive financial technology innovation and operational excellence.
Biswanath Banik
Chief Data Officer, Tonik Digital Bank
Biswanath Banik
Chief Data Officer, Tonik Digital BankBiswa is a seasoned data analytics leader known for driving transformational change in the BFSI sector across the North America and Southeast Asia. Currently serving as the Chief Data Officer at Tonik, the Philippines' first fully digital bank, he previously held a similar leadership role at the Indonesian fintech Kredivo Group. Before embarking in the FinTech world, Biswa had an multi-disciplinary background in Data, Product and Consulting at Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, PwC, and Oliver Wyman. Biswa employs an collaborative, and pragmatic approach to leveraging both traditional and generative AI for impactful business solutions. An alumnus from Northwestern University’s prestigious MS in Analytics program and a lifelong learner, Biswa describes himself as someone who is 'passionate about data and compassionate about people.’.
Albert Tinio
Co-Chief Executive Officer, GoTyme Bank
Albert Tinio
Co-Chief Executive Officer, GoTyme BankAlbert has several years of experience in the fields of fintech, banking, telecommunications, and logistics. He started his career in logistics working for American President Lines and Federal Express. He then moved into telecommunications with two major Philippine telco players, Globe Telecom and Smart Communications. Albert earned Globe’s Leadership Award for significant gains made in growing and expanding broadband services nationwide. He transitioned from telco to fintech after being chosen to lead GCash as President and CEO. During this time, Albert became the founding president of the Philippine E-Money Association. Immediately before joining GoTyme Bank, he was SVP, Digital Payments and Agency Banking for Robinsons Bank. Albert has a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from the University of the Philippines and completed the Oxford FinTech Program from the University of Oxford Saïd Business School. At the launch of GoTyme Bank in October 2022, Albert explained its differentiator which is providing accessible and affordable products and services with a human touch. He mentioned that to keep the human connection always, GoTyme Bank has kiosks supported by bank ambassadors that are strategically located across the Gokongwei retail ecosystem as well as personal bankers who address customer concerns or issues thru phone calls, emails or chats.
Tamás Erni
Managing Partner, Loxon Solutions
Tamás Erni
Managing Partner, Loxon SolutionsTamás joined Loxon in 2001 following a successful career in banking and macroeconomic modelling. Drawing on his broad experience, he was entrusted with establishing the company’s business consulting team and leading numerous projects aimed at enhancing the IT support of lending and risk management processes at various financial institutions. These efforts included managing the implementation of the Loxon Collateral Management, Rating/Scoring, Retail and Corporate Lending systems, as well as Basel II preparation projects across the EMEA region. His contributions played a pivotal role in positioning Loxon as one of the market leaders in lending, collections, and risk management business solutions. Today, the company’s systems and implementation services are used by clients in more than 25 countries. Tamás currently serves as the Managing Partner (CEO) of Loxon.
Our Sponsors & Partners
Event Organiser
Gold Sponsor
Brink’s Inc.
Brink’s is a global leader in ATM Managed Services. We manage more than 300.000 ATMsworldwide. Responsible for the operational burden of managing ATM estates, so banks can reallocate capital and manpower to digital initiatives accelerating the digital transformation
Gold Sponsor
Mbanq
Founded in 2016, Mbanq is a global leader in digital banking solutions, empowering banks, Fintechs, and businesses to launch and scale modern Financial services with agility and compliance at the core. Mbanq's strengths lie in its technology leadership, offering scalable, cloud-based banking platforms for rapid deployment and modular growth, and its regulatory excellence, providing Compliance-as-a-Service and Regulatory-as-a-Service to navigate complex Financial landscapes. With a global reach, Mbanq tailors solutions for clients across the US, South America, Europe, and Asia. Key solutions include digital banking platforms, AI-driven tools for credit scoring and fraud detection, custom payment and prepaid card programs, embedded banking services, expert regulatory support, and extended "As-a-Service" offerings such as payments, dispute resolution, and revenue collection. Mbanq's mission is to drive financial inclusion and innovation through cutting-edge, efficient, and compliant technology.
Gold Sponsor
Samsung Electronics
Samsung Business Indonesia, a part of Samsung Electronics, delivers innovative, tailored technology solutions across various industries, including education, finance, government, and healthcare. Committed to supporting digital transformation, we offer advanced mobile devices, digital displays, home appliances. Complete with multiple solutions tailored for your business such as comprehensive Knox security certified by government agencies for MDM, MagicInfo to manage content on all display/signage across the nation, and VRF Air solutions. With a strong distribution network and reliable after-sales services, Samsung Business Indonesia aims to be a trusted partner, helping businesses maximize technology for growth and long-term success.
Gold Sponsor
Sandhiguna Widya Proteksi
Founded in 2021, Sandhiguna Widya Proteksi is an IT rm specializing in cyber security and software production services. The company develops a core cryptographic key management system designed to mitigate information breach risks for businesses. Leveraging hardware-based security technology, Sandhiguna supports high-performance real-time applications that deploy cryptographic tools and services, ensuring the separation of concerns between cryptographic services and audit log services. Headquartered in Batam, Indonesia, Sandhiguna aims to protect condential data from possible breaches caused by improper cryptographic implementation and management. The company is backed by UMG Idealab and serves clients across various industries, providing robust network management and business productivitysoftware.
Media Partner
