Clients of the Land Bank of the Philippines can now open a savings account using their mobile phone and without the need to go to a physical branch. The state-run bank launched the Digital On-Boarding System Mobile or DOBS Mobile which facilitates online savings account opening in as fast as 10 to 15 minutes.
Using the Landbank Mobile Banking App (MBA), clients only need to fill out online application forms and upload a valid identification card such as UMID, Passport, PRC ID, SSS (Social Security System), company ID or even school ID to open a digital Landbank ATM Savings Account.
Landbank recently said that the DOBS Mobile eliminates the need to line up in branches to open an account, in support of the National Government’s Ease of Doing Business (EODB) initiative, as well as safety protocols amid the ongoing pandemic.
The DOBS Mobile underscores Landbank’s continued commitment to providing accessible, convenient, and safe digital solutions. The financial institution’s digital banking initiatives remain centred on balancing service delivery while ensuring the health and safety of their clients which is of utmost priority, said Landbank branch banking sector head and executive vice president.
The digital bank account, using the Landbank DOBS Mobile offers features such as cardless withdrawal via the mobile app, and funds transfer and bills payment through both the MBA and the Landbank iAccess, among others. Clients can also upgrade the digital bank account to a regular Landbank Visa debit card by visiting their branch of account and requesting a physical card anytime.
Before the launch of the DOBS Mobile, Landbank introduced DOBS in December 2018 as the first online account opening portal among universal banks in the Philippines. The pioneering Web application raked in various accolades for the bank. As of April 30, 2021, a total of 1.53 million accounts have already been opened through DOBS, which is accessible through Landbank’s website or the “digital corner” of selected Landbank branches for walk-in clients.
As reported by OpenGov Asia, The Full Digital Transformation Act of 2020 mandates all government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), instrumentalities and Local Government Units (LGUs) to adopt a digital plan that aligns with the Philippine Digital Transformation Strategy 2022.
The law of full digitalisation of government services promotes a zero-contact policy and facilitates ease of procedures. All of this is meant to streamline government services following Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, Republic Act No. 11234, the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop Act, and other applicable laws.
Also, lawmakers in the country spoke about the e-Gov Master Pan and the related e-Gov and Integrated Government Philippines (iGovPhil) programmes that have been launched by the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Office. However, lawmakers believed that the Philippines has been slow in integrating digital technology to improve the delivery of services and experience a sense of modernisation in the country.
With COVID-19, digital transformation in the government has taken on a sense of urgency. Contract tracing and distribution of aid could be smoother if data is harmonised, and digital systems are put in place more comprehensively. The proposed law plans to harmonise the collected personal data of Filipino citizens, businesses, land, and transactions, among others. Further, it will open opportunities that will likely drive the government to invest in developing additional organisational capability and staff competencies.
With all these plans taking on urgency in the light of the pandemic, the government predicts it will be expedient to build a Digital Transformation Department to manage the ambitious and yet highly practical investment. The department would be expected to support and roll out the office’s digital transformation strategy.