Billease expands to digital-centric banking with the acquisition of Rural Bank; set to integrate Google Pay and everyday transactions and savings

Billease, the Philippines’ top-rated consumer finance and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platform, announced a major leap in its expansion strategy. Following the acquisition of the Rural Bank of Sta. Maria – Ilocos Sur (RBSM) by its parent company, Billease is formally integrating regulated banking infrastructure to complete its ecosystem.

Since its launch in 2017, Billease has served over 10 million customers and disbursed over ₱100 billion in loans. This strategic acquisition marks the next phase of growth, transforming Billease from a consumer finance app into a comprehensive digital-centric banking app. By combining its technology with a regulated banking license, the group is transitioning from serving only BNPL needs to supporting customers’ everyday transactions, and soon, their savings and deposits.

Modernizing a legacy: RBSM’s transformation

Founded in 1969, RBSM has served its community for over five decades. Under the new group structure, the bank is undergoing a radical modernization to serve a digital-first market.

To steer this transformation, the group has appointed Dennis Valdes as the bank’s president and CEO. Valdes has a proven track record, having previously led one of the largest rural banks in the Philippines.

“We are marrying the heritage of a bank founded in 1969 with the speed of modern fintech,” said Valdes. “We are now in the process of completely transforming our core systems to get ready for digital-centric banking, with plans to launch our new suite of banking products next year.”

Georg Steiger, co-founder and CEO of Billease, highlighted the preparatory work undertaken to ensure stability: “Over the past months, we have focused heavily on improving the bank’s capitalization, strengthening governance, and bringing in a top-notch leadership team like Dennis. We are building a foundation that ensures safety and trust as we scale.”

From BNPL to everyday transactions

While Billease built its reputation on accessible consumer finance and BNPL services, the company is aggressively expanding into daily use. The goal is to be the primary payment method for everything from morning coffee to groceries, bills, and top-ups.

Billease is currently rolling out features that rival traditional credit cards, including:

• 0% interest for daily spend: Customers can use their credit limit for everyday transactions via QRPh and NFC at no cost, with the flexibility to convert to installment plans later.
• Google Pay integration: Billease is actively preparing to support Google Pay, enabling users to tap-to-pay securely using their Android devices nationwide.
• Billease deals: A new in-app feature aggregating discounts from top merchants to maximize customer purchasing power.

“Our vision is to support our customers through every financial moment—whether it’s a major purchase or a simple daily transaction,” said Kurt Molina, head of POS Product. “With the upcoming support for Google Pay and our expanded QRPh network, Billease is becoming a true digital wallet for the uncarded Filipino.”

Service as a cornerstone

As the platform scales, Billease remains committed to the differentiator that fueled its initial growth: best-in-class customer service.

“Technology provides the access, but service builds the trust,” Steiger added. “As we roll out deposit products and digital-centric banking services, our customers can expect the same responsive, human-centric support that has made us the highest-rated consumer finance app in the country.”

* * *

Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Billease.