Mariana Zobel de Ayala believes banks will thrive by embracing the best of both technology and human innovation.
The daughter of Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said it’s been her approach as Vice President for Consumer Bank Marketing and Digital Platforms at the family’s Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).
“We’re really a phy-gital approach,” she said in an ANC interview. “We obviously still have a physical experience in the branches for clients that prefer to really engage with an individual, but we’re realizing that there’s more and more people that really want to be able to manage their time and be able to choose how and when they engage with a bank at their time and their terms.”
“Therefore, our digital platform has been wonderful for that,” she added.
BPI recently launched an all-new mobile app that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to customize client experience. The Zobel del Ayala heiress said the technology studies the spending habits of depositors and provides nudges for when to save money.
“What differentiates us is this app goes beyond the day-to-day transactions, it really helps you manage your finances, helps you towards your goals,” she said, noting that the new BPI app allows users to set and stick to budgets for different spend types and designs product offerings for higher yields.
“The model studies your transactions and habits within the app and is able to then tell you whether you are spending more on a certain category, whether you have a certain inflow you might have not expected. It might invite you to consider a savings account with better interest rates,” she added.
The goal, Zobel de Ayala said, is financial wellness.