Voyager signs up add’l online financial apps

MANILA, Philippines - The digital innovations unit of PLDT Inc. has signed up more online banking and financial apps to its freenet platform, a move which will allow Filipinos to access these services without incurring data charges.

In a statement, Voyager Innovations Inc. said it signed up mobile apps of commercial banks such as Bank of the Philippine Islands and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., as well as fintech startups like Lendr which allows users to scout loan products online.

Online pawnshop PawnHero and digital payments app PayMaya were also added to Voyager’s freenet platform.

Through the platform, users would be able to access the various services of partner sites and apps for free.

“Digital and financial inclusion is at the core of our mission at Voyager, and we are glad to extend these services to as many Filipinos as possible through freenet. By partnering with enterprises for sponsored data and giving customers free access to these financial and banking services, we are enabling our countrymen to participate in the new digital economy that can truly profoundly improve their lives,” Voyager COO Benjie Fernandez said.

For her part, Heidi Garayblas, business unit head for freenet at Voyager, said the platform would allow better customer experience for online banking and digital financial apps by removing the first barrier to enjoying a digital life, which is internet access.