Becoming a great retail bank is a journey and not a destination.

In the current business environment with a sluggish global economy, the Union Bank of the Philippines believes digitization could play a critical role in enabling policymakers to spur economic activity and growth.

Bannering its "Tech Up Pilipinas" advocacy that is the cornerstone of its digital strategy, UBP participated in the recent Singapore Fintech Festival as the lone Filipino bank to promote the digitization of the Philippines and offer the country as a viable investment destination for technology-based investments.

UnionBank has been part of the annual festival since 2018, working the room with the biggest banks in the region. This year, more than 60,000 participants, 850 speakers, and more than 500 exhibitors attended the event, a testament to its status as the "world's most impactful fintech event."

The UnionBank delegation, headed by chairperson Erramon Aboitiz and president and CEO Edwin Bautista, showcased vital business units that are the pillars of its digital journey through a two-story exhibit booth at the priority sponsors area of the expo.

Trailblazing technologies developed by UnionBank for blockchain, data analytics, and Artificial Intelligence were featured on the booth's Patent Wall. At the same time, the bank's digital journey was prominently displayed at the booth's central area. Noteworthy was the video showing UnionBank's game -changing acquisition of Citi's "crown jewel."

The multiple screens on the booth highlighted how UnionBank's technological innovations touched clients while top-level UnionBankers were on hand to tell the more profound stories behind these.

Aside from engaging with clients, entrepreneurs, investors, government, financial services, and technology leaders, UnionBank executives led discussion panels and speaking sessions in the various stages of the 2022 SFF. Corporate clients were also hosted to listen to globally and locally relevant presentations affecting the financial industry at the festival.

Dignitaries from the Philippine government who visited the UnionBank booth include Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas officials Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan, Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier, Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and Director Mhel Plabasan, Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Kelvin Lester Lee; and Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Maria Francesca Montes-Del Rosario.