The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Philippine National Bank (PSE: PNB) has teamed up with Japan’s Digital Wallet Corporation (DWC) — the brains behind the popular Smiles mobile remittance platform — to strengthen its international money transfer services for Filipinos worldwide.
The strategic partnership, formalized on July 3, 2025, aims to make remittances faster, more affordable, and more accessible, especially for overseas Filipinos in Japan.
“At PNB, we are proud to align with an organization whose values and vision resonate so strongly with our own,” said PNB President and CEO Edwin Bautista. “Through this collaboration, our kababayans in Japan can now send money home straight from their mobile phones, enjoying the convenience, trust, and security of PNB.”
The alliance combines PNB’s global banking network with DWC’s advanced digital remittance technology, promising a more seamless experience for users. Smiles, DWC’s flagship app, is Japan’s top mobile remittance platform catering primarily to migrant communities.
DWC Founder and CEO Eiji Miyakawa praised the partnership, calling PNB “a cornerstone of the Philippine economy” and expressing confidence that the integration of Japanese tech with PNB’s trusted infrastructure will deliver “a more accessible, economical, and reliable” service for Filipinos worldwide.
The signing ceremony was attended by key figures from both organizations, including PNB Chairman Edgar Cua, Director Isabelita Papa, and DWC Executive Vice President Alex Rapi Milan.
Milan, a former PNB executive, expressed his gratitude and excitement: “Everything I know about banking and remittance, I learned at PNB. With our technologies and shared purpose, we can now serve global Filipinos better—Every Step Together.”
Beyond connecting financial systems, PNB and DWC said their partnership is about connecting lives—empowering overseas Filipinos to support their families, invest in their future, and stay emotionally closer to home.