Over 211,000 open accounts with no physical ID

More than 211,000 new accounts have been opened through LANDBANK and the Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank) without customers presenting or uploading a physical government-issued ID, just a month after the launch of a National ID-enabled digital onboarding service.

The milestone highlights the growing demand for faster and more accessible banking services, particularly as government agencies expand the use of digital identity verification.

The service, launched in July 2026, allows customers to open LANDBANK and OFBank accounts through the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App or digital onboarding website using real-time verification powered by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The initiative was formalized on Aug. 14 through the ceremonial signing of the National ID Authentication Services (NIDAS) Subscription Contract at the LANDBANK Plaza in Malate, Manila.

The agreement brings together LANDBANK, OFBank, PSA and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in adopting NIDAS as the primary proof of identity across their digital account-opening platforms.

LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz said the initiative demonstrates how technology can help remove barriers to financial services.

“Together with OFBank, PSA, and DICT, we are leveraging technology to make banking accessible to every Filipino. Enabling real-time National ID verification marks a major milestone in digital onboarding, reinforcing LANDBANK’s leadership in driving financial inclusion,” Ortiz said.

The service also extends the convenience of digital banking to Filipinos living overseas through OFBank, the country’s first branchless, digital-only bank.

“As the country’s first branchless, digital-only bank, OFBank was established to serve Filipinos overseas and their families wherever they are in the world. Through secure and reliable identity verification powered by the National ID System, we can now make account opening simpler, faster, and more convenient, regardless of distance,” OFBank President and CEO Leila C. Martin said.

PSA Assistant Secretary Rosalinda P. Bautista said reliable identity authentication is becoming increasingly important as the Philippines moves toward a more digitally driven economy.

“As we continue to build the country’s digital economy, trusted identity authentication will remain at the heart of secure digital transactions. This achievement is a testament to what we can accomplish when institutions come together with a shared purpose,” Bautista said.

DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda also joined Ortiz, Martin and Bautista in the formalization of the partnership.

The rapid uptake of the service underscores the potential of National ID authentication to simplify financial onboarding by allowing customers to establish their identity digitally rather than relying on physical documents.

For LANDBANK and OFBank, the initiative forms part of a broader push to expand secure digital banking access to Filipinos both within the country and abroad, while supporting the government’s financial inclusion and digital transformation goals.