by Eric Montelibano · Published on BusinessMirror March 4, 2026
THE Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines (BMAP) held its first General Membership Meeting (GMM) for the year with an economic briefing titled “2026 Trends and Insights,” on February 27 at the Electric Garden in BGC, Taguig City.
The briefing featured Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Financial Markets Research Group Director Roselle Manalo, Maybank Investment Banking Group Senior Economist Azril Rosli and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Lead Economist Marco Javier.
The speakers shared that while inflation remains manageable, the banking system remains resilient. They also said that care has to be taken when it comes to financial messaging. Clarity and accuracy are essential to sustaining public confidence.
The 2026 Board of Trustees and elected officers of BMAP were presented to the membership.
2026 BMAP President Cathy Santamaria of BPI presented the priorities for the year, stressing that, “responsible communication reinforces trust and supports confidence in the financial system in periods of economic adjustment, where marketing serves a stabilizing function.”
Among the key themes expected to shape banking communications this year include: responsible use of AI, hyper-personalization and analytics; stronger focus on customer protection, cybersecurity, fraud and scam prevention; expanded financial inclusion and financial education initiatives; multi-generational engagement in an increasingly digital environment; and, consistent omni-channel customer experiences
The 2026 Board reaffirmed BMAP’s commitment to advancing financial education, strengthening consumer protection and promoting sustainable banking through sound marketing practices aligned with international standards. Through its 2026 programs, BMAP will continue to convene bank marketing practitioners and hopes to elevate professional standards and respond to evolving economic conditions, considering the current developments that are happening in the global financial stage.
Please stay tuned for BMAP’s forthcoming events and activities.
For more information, visit bmap.org.ph.
Eric Montelibano is a Consultant of Integrated Marketing and Communications at CSBank (Citystate Savings Bank) and the Director for Memberships of the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines. He can be reached at erichmontelibano@gmail.com. The writer’s views and his written piece do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror, CSBank and the BMAP.