Banking & Finance

Banks widen exposure to small, medium firms

By Jerry Maglunog As the market for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) remains so big at about 92 percent, more banks have pledged to increase their exposure to MSMEs as an admission that the sector is too huge to ignore.

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Banks seek options as BSP closes SDA

By Jerry Maglunog With the closure of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) special deposit account (SDA), banks are now scrambling to have alternatives where to put their money.

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Removal of branching limit spurs competition

By Jerry Maglunog When the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) removed restrictions in opening branches of banks in Metro Manila in July 2014, it changed the competition in unibanking in the country’s main district.

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More ODA funds were spent last year–Neda

The disbursement of Official Development Assistance (ODA), or low-cost bilateral funds for government projects and programs, tripled in the fourth quarter of last year compared to the same period the year before, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) figures showed.

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Absence of pin pad shields bugs ATMs

Jerry Maglunog Seventy percent of all ATMs (automated teller machines) in the country or over 7,000 ATMs are magnets for skimmers who victimize unsuspecting depositors of their cash via unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts. The reason: most of the ATMs are not equipped with pin pad shield, the most basic element to prevent skimmers from taking advantage of the ATM …

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Mismanagement, insider abuse kill rural banks

Jerry Maglunog Most rural banks (RBs) collapse due to mismanagement and cruel dynasty led by kin who run the bank, according to Sen. Sergio Osmena III, chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks and Financial Institutions.

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