RCBC exec shares key takeaways from Visa Payments Forum
RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer and FinTech Alliance.PH Founding Chairman Lito Villanueva shared key insights on the future of financial technology following his participation in the Visa Payments Forum 2026, held from June 9 to 11 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.
The annual gathering brought together financial institutions, technology companies, developers, merchants, and industry leaders from around the world to discuss emerging trends shaping the future of payments, commerce, and digital finance.
Villanueva joined global discussions on payment technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fraud prevention, digital commerce, and cross-border financial services.
Among the key themes discussed during the forum were the evolution of customer experiences through personalization and rewards, the growing adoption of generative artificial intelligence, the need for stronger fraud and security frameworks, the transformation of cross-border payments, and the increasing importance of global interoperability in financial services.
Reflecting on the discussions, Villanueva said the conversations extended beyond payments and offered valuable insights into the broader direction of the global fintech industry.
“What struck me was how the conversation was not just about payments. It was about the future of commerce, trust, technology, and global connectivity,” Villanueva said.
He noted that many of the trends highlighted at the forum are already becoming increasingly relevant across the Philippines and the ASEAN region.
“These priorities strongly resonate with what we are seeing across the Philippines and ASEAN. AI is rapidly transforming customer experiences. Stablecoins are moving from concept to reality. Cross-border payments continue to become faster and more interconnected. At the same time, trust, security, and financial inclusion remain at the heart of sustainable innovation,” he added.
Drawing from discussions at the forum, Villanueva said the Philippine fintech industry is entering a critical stage of development after successfully bringing more than half of adult Filipinos into the formal financial system.
He emphasized that the next phase of growth would require greater investments in trust, security, interoperability, and customer-centric innovation to sustain momentum and reach the remaining unbanked population.
“The challenge before us is no longer simply adoption. It is ensuring that innovation translates into meaningful impact, greater trust, and broader access to financial services for every Filipino,” he said.
Villanueva also noted that developments in artificial intelligence, stablecoins, digital identity, and cross-border financial infrastructure are expected to shape future conversations at the upcoming ASEAN Fintech Summit and other regional industry platforms.
