Landbank waives gov't transaction fees to ease living costs
State-run Land Bank of the Philippines will eliminate transaction fees for online government payments through the end of the year, a move aimed at easing consumer costs amid persistent global economic pressures and accelerating shift toward digital finance.
In a statement on Monday, June 1, Landbank said the state-owned lender will waive fees on eligible person-to-government transactions made via the QRPh platform from June 1 through Dec. 31, 2026.
The waiver applies to transactions processed through three specific QRPh-enabled channels: the Landbank Link.BizPortal, physical QRPh standees at participating government offices, and external government websites that utilize Landbank’s portal.
It covers payments for essential public services, including police clearances, real property taxes, business permits, and apostille certificates. Transactions routing through non-QRPh channels or involving third-party merchant fees will remain subject to existing charges.
“Landbank’s zero convenience fees for online government payments provides convenient access to essential public transactions at no additional cost,” Finance Secretary Frederick Go, who also chairs Landbank, said in the statement. “Transacting with government agencies online is now more affordable.”
The move highlights the Philippine government's aggressive push to modernize its fiscal infrastructure and bring unbanked citizens into the formal financial ecosystem. State lenders are increasingly leveraged to absorb transactional costs to spur digital adoption, even as commercial counterparts maintain conventional fee structures to protect margins.
Landbank President and Chief Executive Officer Lynette Ortiz said the zero-fee program is designed to make state services more accessible while driving digital financial inclusion. The initiative follows Landbank’s decision last month to cut its InstaPay transfer fees to ₱8 from ₱15, effective May 21, as part of a phased reduction in electronic banking costs.
As the Southeast Asian nation's primary state financial institution, Landbank is under government mandate to transition the domestic economy toward a cash-lite model.
The central bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, has been pushing for digital channels to account for at least half of all retail payments, viewable as a critical metric for expanding credit access and broadening the country's tax base.