UnionBank’s drive to foster a culture of continuous learning and harness the power of AI, has once again set the benchmark for innovation in financial services. At the 16th Annual Retail Banker International (RBI) Asia Trailblazer Awards, organized with the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), UnionBank received accolades for “Best Learning and Development Programme” and “Trailblazing Use of AI or Machine Learning in Financial Services.” These awards underscore the Bank’s dedication to excellence, showcasing its efforts to equip employees with advanced skills and leverage AI to enhance customer experiences and transform banking operations.
“This year’s winners demonstrated key industry trends, including AI-driven hyper-personalization, cross-border banking innovations, financial inclusion and sustainability-focused banking models,” said MEED Group Commercial Director, Sonia Kerrigan.
As the “Best Learning and Development Programme” award winner, UnionBank was recognized for its groundbreaking AI-augmented workforce initiative that redefined learning and development, equipped employees with essential GenAI skills and fostered a culture of innovation. “Through structured training, a dedicated Champion Network, and real-world AI applications, the programme has enhanced productivity, customer service, and decision-making across the bank.” read the citation of the award.
UnionBank won the “Trailblazing Use of AI or Machine Learning in Financial Services” award for integrating graph network analytics into its fraud and AML framework. This AI-driven approach enhances financial crime detection by identifying hidden transaction patterns, detecting complex fraud networks, and improving risk monitoring. The RBI citation noted UnionBank’s continuing efforts to improve detection speed and accuracy, reinforcing its commitment to security and customer trust.
“These recognitions underscore UnionBank’s ongoing initiatives to utilize technology for enhancing customer experiences, strengthening security, and increasing banking efficiency” said UnionBank Chief Transformation Officer, Dennis Omila. “By continuously enhancing risk monitoring and investing in workforce development, we empower our employees to utilize industry-leading solutions while putting our customers at the center of all decisions.”
UnionBank’s awards at the RBI Asia Trailblazer Awards reaffirm its leadership in digital and AI transformation. Beyond these accolades, the bank actively shapes the future of banking in the Philippines through industry initiatives that drive technological progress.