More BSP easing seen this year

Foreign banks expect the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to follow its surprise rate cut in October with another quarter-point reduction, pointing to slowing global growth and the need for earlier easing to cushion the pullback in spending.

- BY DERCO ROSAL

AUB, SSS LAUNCH MYSSS CARD VIA HELLOMONEY - Asia United Bank (AUB) and the Social Security System (SSS) have collaborated to launch the MySSS Card, a new digital solution aimed at making benefit and loan disbursements more convenient for the SSS's over 40 million members. The MySSS Card functions as both a valid ID and an ATM card, linking directly to AUB's HelloMoney e-wallet app. In photo (from left): Abraham T. Co, AUB vice chairman; Jacob C. Ng, executive vice president, chief transformation officer, and Branch Banking Group head; Wilfredo E. Rodriguez Jr., EVP and Operations and Technology Group head; Manuel A. Gomez, AUB president; Robert Joseph Montes De Claro, Social Security System president and CEO; Commissioner Victor Alfonso A. Limlingan, representing SSS' Employer's Group; Elvira G. Alcantara-Resare, EVP, Corporate Services Sector, and acting head, IT Management Group, SSS; Joy A. Villacorta, VP for Benefits Administration Division and acting head, Member Services and Support Group, SSS.