FINTECH FRONTIERS 2026 – Advancing Financial Inclusion Through Risk and Regulation

June 20, 2026 - Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Campus, Makati City - The Philippines’ financial technology sector continues to evolve as one of the country’s most dynamic drivers of digital transformation and financial inclusion. Against this backdrop, FinTech Frontiers 2026 gathered regulators, banking leaders, fintech executives, academics, and students at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) to explore how innovation, governance, and responsible regulation can work together to create a more inclusive financial ecosystem.

Centered on the theme “Advancing Financial Inclusion Through Risk and Regulation,” the conference examined the growing role of fintech in reshaping financial access while addressing the operational, regulatory, and governance challenges that come with rapid digitalization.

The event also featured insights from representatives of Manchester Metropolitan University (United Kingdom), AIM’s academic partner, who highlighted the increasing need for locally grounded fintech education that prepares future leaders to navigate both innovation and regulation in emerging financial ecosystems.

The morning keynote, “The Pulse of Philippine FinTech,” was delivered by Mr. Lito Villanueva, Executive Vice President and Chief Innovations Officer of RCBC and Founding Chairman of FinTech Alliance Philippines. His presentation provided a comprehensive overview of the Philippine fintech landscape, highlighting the accelerating adoption of digital payments, embedded finance, financial inclusion initiatives, and ecosystem-wide collaboration among banks, fintech startups, and regulators.

A succeeding session on institutional readiness featured Mr. Christian Lauron, Ecosystems & Knowledge Leader, Client Relationship Leader – Financial Services and FS Sector Leader at SGV & Co. He discussed the growing importance of governance frameworks, reporting readiness, operational resilience, compliance, and internal controls as fintech firms scale and integrate more deeply into the broader financial system.

One of the conference highlights was the panel discussion titled “Scaling Innovation within Regulatory Boundaries.” The session brought together leaders from both the regulatory and private sectors to discuss how organizations balance growth, innovation, and compliance in a rapidly evolving environment.

Panelists included:

• Mr. Art Tanseco, Vice President for Business Management of Real Time Payments at Mastercard Philippines and former Chairman of the PESONet Steering Committee
• Mr. James Patrick Bonus, Chief Financial Officer of Singlife Philippines
• Ms. Mary Rose Rebadulla, Chief Compliance Officer of Maya Bank Philippines
• Mr. Melchor Plabasan, Senior Director of the Technology Risk and Innovation Supervision Department (TRISD) at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
• Ms. Anna Theresa Licaros, Chief Compliance Officer of BDO and former Chief Compliance Officer of HSBC Philippines

Discussions focused on regulatory expectations, governance maturity, operational scalability, and the challenges of sustaining innovation while maintaining consumer protection and financial stability.

The afternoon sessions shifted focus toward financial inclusion and responsible innovation. Ms. Maria Georgina Carmel O. Fabreag from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Financial Inclusion Office presented the country’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI), emphasizing the role of digital financial services and ecosystem collaboration in expanding financial access to underserved communities.

Another key panel, “Innovating for Impact – Financial Services for the Underserved,” explored how fintech platforms and alternative financial service providers are helping bridge accessibility gaps across the Philippines.

Featured panelists included:

• Mr. Christo Georgiev, Founder and CEO of Lenderlink Philippines
• Mr. Jonathan Bryan Salcedo, Head of Business Management – e-Wallet at Maya Philippines
• Mr. Luis Acuna, Senior Product Manager – Credit & Virtual Limit at Home Credit Philippines
• Ms. Tanya Hotchkiss, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Cantilan Bank

The discussion highlighted the importance of accessible digital financial products, data-driven customer insights, scalable lending models, and inclusive innovation strategies that address the realities of underserved and unbanked communities.

A special session titled “FinTech Spotlight on Rural PH” was delivered by Professor Daniel Broby, PhD, Academic Program Director of the Master of Science in Financial Technology at AIM. His presentation focused on the persistent digital divide affecting rural communities and examined how fintech solutions can improve access to finance, digital payments, agricultural support systems, and financial literacy outside major urban centers.

The conference concluded with closing reflections from Ms. Zyra Mae Salvador, Class President of the AIM MSc FinTech 2026 program, who synthesized the day’s key insights and emphasized the shared responsibility of students, regulators, industry leaders, and innovators in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable financial future for the Philippines.

Overall, FinTech Frontiers 2026 showcased how the Philippine fintech ecosystem is steadily maturing—not only through technological innovation, but also through stronger governance, collaborative policymaking, and a growing commitment to inclusive growth. As digital finance continues to expand across the country, conversations around responsible innovation, risk management, and equitable access will remain central to the future of Philippine fintech.

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About the Author:
Raphael Quisumbing as a Co-Host of KaKaComputer, is a seasoned technology expert with 20+ years of experience in the industry. He has several hour long videos in Youtube as YoungCTO with over 37.1K Views, 2.6K Hours Watch Time and 1.3K Subscribers. He is recognized Cloud Enthusiast and leader (AWS Hero) with genuine enthusiasm for effectively mentoring a usergroup of over 18,000 members in the Philippines. He comes from a family of teachers and educators, serving in the academe as well as being a former AWS Authorized Instructor.