TBC News Why industry leaders named RCBC’s Lito Villanueva the 2026 Digital Banking Champion of the Year

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) Executive Vice President and Chief Innovations and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva was named “Digital Banking Champion of the Year” at the World Financial Innovation Series (WFIS) Philippines 2026 Awards, held Aug. 26 at the Manila Marriott in Newport World Resorts, Pasay City.

The award recognizes Villanueva’s leadership in driving RCBC’s digital strategy and expanding access to financial services through the bank’s core platforms: RCBC Pulz, RCBC DiskarTech, and RCBC ATM Go.

Under his guidance, RCBC rolled out several key digital initiatives in 2025:

Social Security Integration: Partnered with the Social Security System (SSS) to launch the MySSS Card powered by RCBC DiskarTech.
Nationwide Banking Reach: Expanded RCBC ATM Go’s agency banking network across all 82 provinces in the Philippines.
Cross-Border Access: Introduced the country’s first U.S. Virtual Account on RCBC Pulz through a partnership with Meridian.

Villanueva noted that the milestone reflects how targeted technology creates practical, real-world opportunities for account holders.

“The greatest recognition is not being celebrated for the change we have made. It is knowing that, because of that change, more lives now have a chance to move forward,” Villanueva said.

“This award belongs to the teams, partners, and communities we serve — together, we keep building a more inclusive financial future,” he added.

The ceremony took place on the second day of the WFIS Philippines 2026 summit, an industry gathering that brought together more than 600 representatives from the technology and financial sectors.

Evaluated by an independent panel of experts — including executives from Deloitte Philippines, KPMG, and the Credit Card Association of the Philippines — candidates were judged on operational performance and measurable industry impact.

The recognition adds to RCBC’s international and regional accolades, marking another milestone in the institution’s ongoing expansion across the country’s digital finance sector.

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