Organized by the University of the Philippines’ Junior Finance Association (UP JFA), select finance students from top universities recently completed a Fintech immersion program with the UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) Fintech Group under The Fintern: Ultimate Finance Challenge.
“Part of UnionBank’s advocacy to Tech Up the Philippines is imparting the next generation of leaders with knowledge and skills in Fintech, Blockchain, and Emerging Technologies so that we as a country are ready for the future of banking and financial services. Through our partnerships with schools and universities, we hope to hone talents as well as spark innovative ideas to improve financial inclusion in the country,” according to Arvie de Vera, UnionBank Senior Vice-President and Fintech Group Head.
The Fintern: Ultimate Challenge is a 5-week intensive training program that immerses 40 top students in various Finance fields to discover ways of improving financial inclusion in the country.
The week-long Fintech immersion with UnionBank included learning sessions on the bank’s transformation journey and how collaborating with fintechs aligns with the Bank’s future-forward vision and financial inclusion advocacy. The students discovered how UnionBank techs up businesses through fintech, and how blockchain and distributed ledger technology are creating new opportunities to make financial services more inclusive and accessible. Meanwhile, the bank’s Human Resources team led a discussion on careers in the Fintech industry and product development.
“UnionBank’s talent acquisition strategies have been instrumental in changing the landscape of the bank’s talent pool. One of the most effective strategy is to build deep skills by providing avenues to candidates that will help them upskill and reskill their capabilities in blockchain, AI, cybersecurity, digital marketing, fintech, and the emerging technologies. Through partnerships such as with UP JFA’s Fintern program or our own Student Mentoring program, we aim to provide pathways for potential talents as they look into possible future-ready careers with the bank,” said UnionBank Talent Acquisition Head Abeegail Caberte.
Students were grouped into teams and assigned challenges on bridging existing financial inclusion gaps in the Philippines as well as developing business and marketing strategies for digital platforms as part of their culmination activity. The teams pitched solutions to the challenges posed using insights gained from the week-long program.
Prizes given to top teams include a slot in UnionBank’s Student Mentoring Program and vouchers for the UnionBank Xcellerator Program’s Blockchain Specialist course. The overall top team also received a cash prize.