BTI Payments partnered with Southstar Drug to install Pay&Go service kiosks in their outlets nationwide to boost the financial accessibility of Filipinos.

The partnership has already seen the deployment of 50 Pay&Go kiosks across various Southstar Drug locations, including 20 stores in Luzon, 5 in Visayas, and 25 in the National Capital Region.

This latest deployment complements over 1,700 existing Pay&Go kiosks throughout the Philippines. These kiosks make available a wide range of financial transactions, including bill payments, mobile top-ups, and e-money cash-ins, making essential financial services more accessible to customers.

Dan Ibarra, CEO of BTI Payments, highlights the significance of this collaboration: “The deployment of Pay&Go kiosks in Southstar Drug stores is a critical move towards enhancing financial service accessibility in the Philippines. This partnership reflects our commitment to empowering Filipinos with convenient financial services and aligns with our vision of building an extensive network to support the country’s financial ecosystem.”

Southstar Drug general manager Mariel Crisostomo is also optimistic about the partnership, emphasizing Pay&Go’s role in advancing the company’s customer service goals.

Incorporating Pay&Go services into our network will significantly improve customer service and accessibility. This integration not only enriches our offerings but also positions us to meet the progressive needs of our customers better, enhancing their overall experience in our stores,” says Crisostomo.

This collaboration represents a significant step in combining retail and financial services, catering to the evolving consumer preferences in the Philippines. Indicative of this trend, the latest statistics from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas indicate that digital payments are on track to reach 50 percent of total retail payments in the country by the end of the year.

Integrating Pay&Go kiosks into Southstar Drug stores marks the companies’ shared effort to provide convenient and accessible services to Filipinos.

Looking ahead, BTI Payments and Southstar Drug are dedicated to expanding this initiative, aiming to increase the reach of these essential services. This partnership is expected to set a precedent for future collaborations in the retail and financial sectors, paving a model that can bring greater financial access to the Philippines.