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Manila Bulletin devider Technews devider UnionDigital Bank, Hapinoy launch financial literacy tools for sari-sari store owners

UnionDigital Bank, Hapinoy launch financial literacy tools for sari-sari store owners

Published Jul 21, 2026 08:20 am
UnionDigital Head of Brand Kim Dy-Tenchavez led the bank's "Usapang Diskarte" session at Hapinoy Caravan.
UnionDigital Head of Brand Kim Dy-Tenchavez led the bank's "Usapang Diskarte" session at Hapinoy Caravan.
UnionDigital Bank (UD) and grassroots entrepreneurship network Hapinoy have strengthened their partnership to help sari-sari store owners and micro-entrepreneurs embrace digital banking through new financial education initiatives unveiled during the Hapinoy Caravan.
Held on July 17 at the Sta. Lucia Covered Basketball Court in Novaliches, Quezon City, the community event brought financial literacy sessions, entrepreneurship training, and digital banking education directly to local communities.
A highlight of the caravan was the introduction of KAIA Ka-Diskarte, a Messenger-based chatbot designed to make financial education more accessible through interactive and conversational learning. The platform offers easy-to-understand lessons on budgeting, savings, negosyo, and financial decision-making, allowing users to build healthy financial habits while becoming more familiar with digital banking.
The chatbot follows a gamified learning journey consisting of five modules, with the first module launched during the Hapinoy Caravan. Through the platform, users are encouraged to open and actively use a UnionDigital account, manage their business finances, establish consistent transaction habits, and eventually gain access to broader financial opportunities such as savings and credit.
UnionDigital assisted participants in opening digital bank accounts during the caravan.
UnionDigital assisted participants in opening digital bank accounts during the caravan.
UnionDigital Bank also introduced HapiSkwela Live, a community learning series featuring live discussions and educational sessions on entrepreneurship, budgeting, savings, and financial wellness. The initiative aims to make financial concepts easier to understand while encouraging active participation among community members.
The initiatives form part of UnionDigital Bank's collaboration with Hapinoy, a nationwide network of more than 50,000 sari-sari store owners and micro-entrepreneurs. Through the partnership, the two organizations seek to expand access to financial literacy, digital banking tools, and entrepreneurship support, particularly for underserved and unbanked Filipinos.
During the event, UnionDigital Head of Brand Kim Dy-Tenchavez led the bank's "Usapang Diskarte" session, which featured interactive financial education activities, including the "Diskarte o Delikado" game. The bank also announced its upcoming Hakot Papremyo raffle promotion and introduced SSS LoanLite, a fully digital lending product developed in partnership with the Social Security System (SSS). Mark Ruiz, CEO and founder of Hapinoy, also shared how the partnership with UnionDigital Bank is helping improve the lives of the organization's grassroots members.
Mark Ruiz, CEO and founder of Hapinoy, with Dy-Tenchavez.
Mark Ruiz, CEO and founder of Hapinoy, with Dy-Tenchavez.
Expected to launch soon, SSS LoanLite will allow eligible SSS members to borrow between ₱1,000 and ₱20,000 through the UnionDigital Bank app, with repayment terms ranging from 15 to 90 days. Approved loan proceeds will be credited directly to the customer's UD Save account, eliminating the need for branch visits or paper-based applications.
UnionDigital also assisted participants in opening digital bank accounts during the caravan through on-site onboarding activities, with incentives offered to encourage adoption of its mobile banking platform.
As the digital banking subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines, UnionDigital Bank offers a range of digital financial services, including its UD Save digital savings account, free InstaPay transfers, QR Ph payments, and digital bill payments. The bank said these products are designed to make saving, paying, transferring, and borrowing more accessible while advancing financial inclusion across the country.
Through the Hapinoy Caravan, UnionDigital Bank said it aims to equip Filipino micro-entrepreneurs with practical financial knowledge and digital tools that can help them grow their businesses and participate more confidently in the country's expanding digital economy.

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