Security Bank adopts Microsoft’s 365 Copilot


Security Bank Corp. said it has applied Microsoft’s 365 Copilot Generative AI or artificial intelligence in their systems, one of the first banks to do so in the Philippines, in a bid to be the "most customer-centric bank" in the country.

Security Bank President and CEO Sanjiv Vohra in a statement Tuesday, Oct. 3 said Microsoft 365 Copilot “will enable us to harness the power of Generative AI to engage more effectively with our customers, employees, and stakeholders, as well as generate insights and recommendations that drive better business decisions.”

Vhora said that by using Microsoft 365 Copilot, the bank will improve productivity and creativity, and could focus more on higher-value tasks for better customer satisfaction.

Security Bank participated in the Early Access Program (EAP) for Microsoft 365 Copilot for its new Generative AI tool which was launched on Sept. 26. The bank is one of only two local organizations invited to join the program among 600 other customers worldwide.

Meanwhile, Security Bank’s Executive Vice President Lucose Eralil, also its Enterprise Technology & Operations (ETO) Segment Head, said they plan to become the “most customer-centric bank in the Philippines” with Microsoft and other tech partners.

“We collaborate with leading technology partners such as Microsoft to bring the power of AI to the everyday work experience,” said Eralil. “With increased productivity, enhanced collaboration, improved creativity and streamlined workflow processes, Copilot and GenAI, will enable us to create differentiation in our products and services, including hyper-personalization, instant services, and sustainable banking,” he added.

Security Bank said its early adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot “is another step in its digital transformation journey, building on investments to elevate its banking services for retail, corporate, commercial, and MSME clients.”

Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI-powered productivity tool that combines the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) with an organization’s data to enhance productivity, search, coding, and more. It works alongside popular Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams to provide real-time intelligent assistance, enabling users to enhance their creativity and productivity, the bank explained.

“Security Bank is looking to Microsoft to help further enable and accelerate its digital transformation,” it also said.

Security Bank said it will integrate more advanced technology including blockchain “for secure transactions and cloud infrastructure for scalability and resilience.”

They also plan to develop a digital ecosystem that not only offers traditional banking services but also incorporates fintech solutions, ensuring a one-stop digital banking experience for its customers.

The bank uses Microsoft 365 Copilot in its sales, marketing, recruitment, and other key business units to improve productivity by learning new skills. By incorporating Generative AI across the board, the bank is also planning to leverage the potential of other Microsoft Copilot offerings, namely GitHub Copilot and Copilot in Power platform.

“Microsoft’s EAP is a limited, invitation-only release for select companies globally. Security Bank is rolling out Copilot with 300 users leveraging tools including Microsoft 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Power Platform, and more,” said the bank.

Since 2020 at the height of the pandemic, Security Bank’s digital transformation has been aggressive “with a keen focus on customer-centricity.”

Besides modernizing its operations, collaborating with strategic partners, among others, the bank also invested heavily in cybersecurity “to ensure the safety and privacy of its customers’ data.”