The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
More than 66,000 students, faculty members and other campus stakeholders in 23 schools nationwide are now using digital financial services under the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) Cash-Lite Campus Initiative.
Launched in April 2025, the program is designed to bring digital banking closer to students while helping them develop practical skills in budgeting, saving and managing everyday transactions.
The initiative allows students to open bank accounts using their mobile phones and pay school-related fees digitally. It also brings campus food vendors, micro-merchants and transport providers into the formal financial system, creating wider opportunities for digital payments and banking services within school communities.
“LANDBANK’s Cash-Lite Campus program goes beyond making payments easier. It gives students and campus entrepreneurs practical financial tools for managing their everyday transactions,” LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz said.
“By introducing digital banking early, we help young Filipinos build responsible financial habits and prepare for an increasingly digital economy,” she added.
The program promotes the use of the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App and the LANDBANK PISO Plus account, which can be opened through a mobile phone without an initial deposit or maintaining balance.
Schools can likewise use Link.BizPortal, LANDBANK’s online payment facility, to collect tuition and other fees, reducing the need for students and parents to make over-the-counter payments.
The initiative has reached campuses of the University of the Philippines, University of Makati, Central Luzon State University, Nueva Vizcaya State University, Southern Leyte State University, Central Mindanao University and other state universities and colleges.
At Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City, LANDBANK recently conducted financial literacy activities covering digital banking safety, budgeting and cyber hygiene. Students also took part in interactive activities designed to strengthen their understanding of responsible digital finance.
WMSU student Shieha A. Malon said the mobile account-opening feature has made banking more convenient while helping her monitor expenses and manage her budget.
“Opening an account through the LANDBANK MBA is very convenient because I no longer have to visit a branch. In just a few minutes, I can open and start using my account,” Malon said.
LANDBANK’s digital banking push has also received international recognition, with the International Finance Awards naming the bank the Fastest Growing Digital Banking Services in the Philippines for 2026.
Through the Cash-Lite Campus Initiative, LANDBANK is combining digital banking access with financial education to help young Filipinos develop sound money-management habits while expanding financial inclusion in school communities.