BPI's BanKo chooses ACI Worldwide to make payments faster, better
Bank of the Philippine Islands’ microfinance arm, BPI Direct BanKo Inc., A Savings Bank (BanKo), has enlisted NASDAQ-listed ACI Worldwide to advance its payment infrastructure, according to a statement.
Under the partnership, BanKo will implement ACI’s issuing and acquiring platform, which is designed to enable banks, fintechs, and merchants to deliver rapid, seamless omnichannel transaction processing while adhering to regulatory standards.
The ACI platform allows real-time transaction processing across channels including ATMs, points of sale (POS), and mobile devices, ensuring high reliability. Its modular architecture provides the flexibility to support new services and products, facilitating the quick rollout of new features.
“Through this strategic partnership, BanKo is poised to embark on a transformative journey by capitalizing on ACI’s market-leading payment solutions,” BPI said. “This initiative aims to replace the existing switch, thereby enhancing BanKo's business capabilities.”
By managing increasing transaction volumes and meeting evolving customer expectations, BanKo will leverage the speed, reliability, and scalability of ACI's software.
The new platform is slated to go live by the end of the first quarter of 2026. This marks a significant step in BanKo’s digitalization efforts aimed at improving the customer banking experience and delivering faster, more reliable payment services to millions of Filipinos.
“At BanKo, we use technology to improve the way banking works for Filipinos,” BanKo President Rod Mabiasen said. “By advancing digital payment solutions with our customers and communities in mind, we aim to make financial services more accessible and empowering for Filipinos nationwide.”
Mabiasen added that the switching network is a crucial touchpoint for its customers, making the partnership with ACI vital for building a reliable, future-ready payments system.
“ACI’s technology is backed by decades of deep payment expertise, earning the trust of banks and national switches globally to power mission-critical payments at scale,” said Leslie Choo, Senior Vice President and Managing Director – APAC at ACI Worldwide. “With BanKo’s adoption, we’re bringing proven global technology to the Philippines that translates to greater reliability, convenience, and choice in every transaction for Filipino consumers.”
Choo noted that ACI is aligned with BanKo’s vision of fostering financial empowerment and strengthening the foundation for a more inclusive and innovative payment ecosystem in the Philippines.