Bankard, Incorporated was organized by PCIBank on December 4, 1981 as the Philippine Commercial Credit Card, Inc. (PCCCI) to operate a domestic credit card operation. It started full commercial operations in June 1982. PCCCI's affiliation with PCIBank gave it the distinction of being the first credit card in the Philippines issued by a commercial bank. In July 1992, PCCCI changed its name to Bankard, Inc.

On June 20, 1991, PCIBank was granted a license by MasterCard International to issue credit cards in the Philippines accepted by the MasterCard network of affiliated banks and establishments worldwide. In 1994, PCIBank turned over the management and ownership of the MasterCard portfolio, both for the issuing and acquiring business, to Bankard, Inc.

Through the years, Bankard, Inc. has built an unmatched track record as the leader in product innovation in the Philippine credit card industry. As a pacesetter, it has compiled many "firsts" over its competitors.

• 1980s
• 1990s
    - 1993-1994
    - 1995-1996
    - 1997-1999
• 2000 to Present

• In 1984, Bankard, Inc. introduced the Bankard Installment Plan, providing a separate credit limit for installment purchases.

• In 1986, Bankard, Inc. redefined payment flexibility with the introduction of its deferred payment plan, allowing cardholders to pay their billings over a period of 12 months.

• Bankard, Inc. launched the first Executive Gift Certificate in 1988, invading the market previously held exclusively by department stores.

• Also in 1988, Bankard, Inc. introduced a unique lost-card protection program for its cardmembers, the first in the industry to offer that card feature. The program came to be known later as the Bankard Card Protection Program.

» Back to Top «


1990s

• Support for the Filipino talent and the local performing arts gave birth to the Bankard Concert Series in October 1993. It is now an annual event, the Bankard TicketCharge Season, a creative showcase yet to be equaled by other credit card companies.

• Bankard Phone Center broke ground in January 1994 as the first computerized phone customer service devoted solely to cardholders.

• Bankard, Inc. redesigned its card in January 1994. Its hallmark-a full hologram overlay-was the first of its kind in the world.

• Ballet, theater, concerts, and other world-class performances are just a phone call away for Bankard, Inc. cardmembers through Bankard TicketCharge, which was introduced in March 1994.

• Bankard, Inc.'s C.H.A.R.G.E. (Children Have A Right to Good Education) Program was launched in March 1994. The annual campaign is a partnership with cardmembers to send streetchildren to school.

• Credit Shield, introduced in November 1994, offered credit protection to the cardmember in case of temporary or permanent unemployment.

• In November 1994, the Cebu Cardmember Service Center was established to bring Bankard services closer to customers in the Visayas and Mindanao.

• Also in 1994, the explosive growth of Bankard, Inc. necessitated bigger, better equipped, and ideally located premises. The corporate headquarters moved from Taft Avenue to the Philippine Stock Exchange Centre, in the Ortigas Center, Metro Manila's newest business district.

• Proving once again that its attention was consistently focused on its chosen markets, Bankard, Inc. in December 1994 celebrated its 13th anniversary with "Bankard's Best, the Nation's Best"-a tribute, not to the company, but to its cardmembers whose accomplishments reflected the standards that drew the best from the Filipino. Bankard's Best is now an annual event.

» Back to Top «


1995 - 1996

• In March 1995, Bankard, Inc. was publicly listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange, becoming the first credit card company to be listed in the Philippines, and only the second to achieve this distinction in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Also in March 1995, Bankard, Inc. became the first credit card company to offer both dollar (PCIBank MasterCard) and peso (Bankard MasterCard) payment billing options.

• In May 1995, Visa International granted Bankard, Inc. the license to acquire merchant billings and to issue credit cards carrying the Visa brand.

• In June 1995, Bankard, Inc. published the maiden issue of AHEAD, a quarterly cardmember magazine featuring articles on Philippine and world issues, travel, the arts, as well as updates on card programs. AHEAD is now on the Web, aptly called AHEAD Webzine.

• In August 1995, Bankard, Inc. reshaped the future of credit cards in the country when it introduced into the market the world's first installment smart card, Bankard One. Using microchip technology, Bankard One provides cardmembers with instantaneous verification and fraud-free security. Bankard One requires no photos, no telephone verification, no charge slips, and no signatures.

• In March 1996, the Davao Cardmember Service Center was inaugurated to complement the existing Cebu Cardmember Service Center and bring the company closer to its customers in the south.

• In October 1996, Bankard, Inc. launched Bankard Airmiles, a unique card-loyalty and air-mileage program that lets cardmembers travel for free or at huge price-offs to a choice destination anywhere in the world without spending a fortune with their credit cards. Bankard Airmiles increases card usage by rewarding cardmembers with substantially discounted or free airline tickets. It is the first of its kind in the industry.

• In November 1996, Bankard, Inc. launched the first reloadable electronic card in the country, Bankard E-Cash. Used for everyday purchases, Bankard E-Cash is loaded with cash value and used at fastfood outlets, movie houses, gasoline stations, supermarkets, audio and video shops, and drugstores.

» Back to Top «


1997 - 1999

• In March 1997, Bankard ONLINE, Bankard, Inc.'s own website, came on line at www.bankard.com. Bankard ONLINE is the first website by a credit card company in the Philippines and offers cardmembers links to Bankard TicketCharge, Bankard Travel, the Virtual Mall and Customer Service, which can be accessed at service@bankard.com.

• The same month, BankardPhone Interactive was launched giving cardmembers a convenient way to access Bankard Phone Center and the VIP Service Center. Using a state-of-the-art 24-hour Interactive Voice Response System, cardmembers can get such customer information as account balance and available credit line at the touch of a button.

• Also in March 1997, Bankard Travel Services was inaugurated providing cardmembers their own in-house travel consultant. Its services include: itinerary planning and consultation, airline reservations and ticketing, local and international tours, visa and other documentation processing, worldwide hotel reservations, and travel information programs. Bankard Travel Services is open too to noncardmembers.

• In October 1997, the maiden issue of Bankard News was published. The bimonthly cardmember newsletter updates members on the latest card promos, products and services. Later, it was renamed "What's Happening at the Mall?", aptly featuring latest news, sales events and promo offers from various merchants as well as continuing updates on the latest Bankard card programs.

• In November 1997, the company started issuing Bankard Visa, which allows cardmembers to charge in any currency in over 14 million establishments worldwide and get billed exclusively in pesos.

• In July 1998, Bankard launched Bankard MF1, the first credit card in the country that offers the best convenience features of a credit card and an electronic stored-value cash card. Bankard MF1 can be reloaded with a cash value from P100 to P10,000 at the Bankard Main Office or at any Bankard Reloading Center.

• In September 1998, BCPP was enhanced and relaunched as Bankard Card Protection Plus. Enrolled cardholders get three completely new benefits: QB Protection, providing protection against questionable billings arising from fraudulent or counterfeit transactions; Travel Protection, offering coverage for lost personal baggage, lost passport, and travel-accident insurance; and Purchase Protection, providing coverage for lost or accidentally damaged items.

• In October 1998, Bankard Online was redesigned into an online magazine-Bankard Webzine-to make it more visually engaging and interesting both to cardmembers and to the international audience. Bankard Webzine features articles from AHEAD on travel, lifestyle and major issues of the day. An innovative feature of the site is the inclusion of an online customer service email and card-application service.

• In November 1998, Bankard Phone Center moved closer toward the maximization of its Integrated Voice Response System (IVRS) by fully integrating the VIP Center and the different regional Bankard Cardmember Centers via BankardPhone Interactive and the addition of a toll-free 1-800 number for cardmembers to use. Regional offices and provincial clients can now call and access Bankard Phone Center by dialing 1-800-1888-6644.

• In June 1999, Bankard Online, the company's official website, opened the way to online payment of utilities via its Online Payment System page. This section of its website enabled cardmembers to charge their monthly bill for power, phone, water or cable TV to their Bankard card simply by submitting an online electronic form.

• In line with Bankard's commitment to portfolio quality, Bankard acquired the expertise of Fair Isaac, an internationally respected provider of credit solutions, and in September 1999 started using Fair Issac credit-scoring technology to screen new card applications.

• In November 1999, Bankard successfully migrated its system to the SEMA Group of UK and France (one of the world's leading providers of systems integration, back-room solutions and consultancy) to improve data processing and product delivery. Data stabilization of SEMA systems backbone was completed by June 2000.

» Back to Top «


2000 to Present

• In January 2000, Bankard introduced the innovative Smart Money program, allowing cardmembers to actually earn on their spending! The rebate is loaded into the cardmember's Bankard E-Cash or used to pay his annual fee.

• Building on its reputation as an innovator in credit-card programs, Bankard launched in March 2000 Bankard WorldAccess. The enhanced international calling service provides enrolled members 24-hour access to Bankard Phone Center from any place in the world plus access to many other professional calling services.

• Unwavering in its pursuit of world-class service quality, bankard expanded the facilities of its Bankard Phone Center by using the services of a professional call center in June 2000.

• In October 2000, the Bankard cards acquired a brand new look presaging Bankard's entry into the YGC Group of Companies. The new look reflected the company's new vigor and pride in becoming the latest member of the YGC.

• Fulfilling its commitment to its cardmembers to deliver the best service possible, Bankard in December 2000 officially joined the YGC Group of Companies after 67 percent of the company was officially acquired by RCBC Capital Corporation. RCBC Capital Corporation is the investment bank subsidiary of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, one of the leading banks in the country today. The new partnership was expected to give Bankard the room to grow its business faster, thanks to YGC's dedication of support to high-growth enterprises. Bankard, for its part, brought into the Group the innovative spirit of an industry and technology pioneer, plus a world-class portmanteau of products, services and programs.