Electronic Network Cash Tellers, Inc. (ENCASH), the Philippines’ first independent ATM Deployer (IAD), held its annual Partners’ Update last March 4, 2011 at the Philexim Conference Rooms in Citibank, Paseo de Roxas, Makati City.Sixty-two delegates from rural banks and cooperatives attended the whole-day event; some of whom were new partners from Romblon, Samar, and Quezon.
Guests included current Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines President Cora Miller of Country Rural Bank of Taguig; and past RBAP Presidents Tomas “Mitch” Gomez IV of GM Bank, and Jose “Pong” Lustre of Rural Bank of Jaen.
Among the guest speakers were: Mr. Ray Estioko of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Mr. Ernie Gementera of MICRA and Mr. Marcos Perez, Jr. of Seedfinance.
Aside from the guest speakers, several ENCASH partners gave their personal testimonies on how ENCASH affected their business. Among them were: Mr. Abner Covar of Rural Bank of Majayjay, Engr. Orlando Roces of Rural Bank of Pilar (Sorsogon), Inc., Ms. Lea Ero of Palapag Teacher Employees Community Cooperative (PATECI), Mr. Robert Mapa of Bangko Buena and Ms. Gigi Navera of Rural Bank of Mabitac.
One of the most unforgettable testimonies came from Ms. Lea Ero who talked about the difficulties of the townspeople in obtaining their money. She said that members of the community would spend as much as P500 per person just to hire a boat to go to the nearest ATM found in another island in Samar. She added that the deployment of the ENCASH ATM in PATECI had simplified and secured the lives of the townsfolk.
Ms. Gigi Navera of the Rural Bank of Mabitac on the other hand, talked about the marketing strategies employed by the bank to increase the withdrawal transactions in their site found in Siniloan. She opined that by posting directional signages to their ENCASH ATM, and by giving away flyers, they increased people’s awareness of the existence of the ATM. At the same time, the bank was able to increase its withdrawal transactions.
As well, ENCASH discussed the directions that the company was taking for the year, putting emphasis on giving back to the community where ENCASH ATMs are located by means of the ENCASH Pangkabuhayan Promo and the Corporate Social Responsibility Programs.
Given the success of the event, ENCASH looks forward to next year’s Partners’ Update with more interesting speakers.
