Trusting Social and Welcome Bank Launch Industry-First eKYC x eSign Integration for Philippine Rural Banking

Manila, Philippines – February 23, 2026 – Trusting Social Philippines and Welcome Bank (Rural Bank), Inc. have announced a landmark strategic integration, debuting the first seamless combination of eKYC and e-signature technology in the Philippine rural banking sector. This pioneering solution effectively eliminates the traditional barriers to credit that have long hindered financial inclusion for consumers and provincial communities.

For many first-time borrowers and individuals, from young professionals seeking salary loans to families applying for auto or condominium financing, time and accessibility are the primary hurdles to formal credit. Traditionally, securing a loan meant navigating a hybrid process: while an application might start online, it often ended in exhaustive manual paperwork, physical branch visits, and wet-ink signatures that could delay critical funding for days or weeks.

By integrating Trusting Social’s eKYC and eMudhra’s e-signing platform, Welcome Bank customers can now complete loan applications in minutes via their smartphones–a 100% digital flow that ensures that capital for a home, education, or business is accessible exactly when it is needed.

Critically, the system eliminates the need for scheduled video calls. Unlike traditional onboarding that requires booking a live agent—a process prone to delays and drop-offs—this automated, 24/7 solution allows borrowers to verify their identity and sign documents instantly, without waiting in virtual queues.

"No matter where you live, you deserve a bank that works fast for you," said Suk Sub Shim, President of Welcome Bank (Rural Bank), Inc. "Our real goal is to earn the trust and love of the families we serve by being a bridge to their success. We’re cutting out the paperwork because a dream is too important to keep waiting. This is just the beginning of how we’re working to bring better, simpler banking to everyone."

The new process utilizes Trusting Social’s AI-powered stack to automate what was once a manual burden. Borrowers simply take a photo of their government ID and a "selfie" for liveness detection. The engine verifies identity with bank-grade precision, followed by an encrypted signing flow that is secure, legal, and tamper-proof.

"Every delay in a loan application is a lost chance for a business to grow or a family to achieve a milestone," said Johnny Escaler, CEO of Trusting Social Philippines. "By streamlining the journey from identity to signature, we are helping Welcome Bank put power back into the hands of the borrower. We win when we bridge the gap between consumers and the life-changing opportunities they deserve. This partnership is proof that we can use our tools to protect people, simplify their lives, and drive true inclusion.”

Trusting Social’s integration also provides the technical framework required for Welcome Bank to mitigate sophisticated risks, including deepfake identity spoofing and high-level phishing. This implementation is strategically aligned with the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA)—reaching full operational readiness well ahead of the national schedule.

AFASA mandates that financial institutions implement robust, real-time measures to prevent and block suspicious account activities. To support this, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has set a firm industry deadline of June 30, 2026, for all banks to deploy automated Fraud Management Systems (FMS). By integrating Trusting Social’s automated verification and behavioral biometrics now, Welcome Bank is meeting these rigorous standards five months early, ensuring the infrastructure protecting Filipino borrowers remains resilient and compliant.

About Welcome Bank (Rural Bank), Inc. 
Welcome Bank (Rural Bank), Inc. is the Philippine arm of the Welcome Financial Group, a powerhouse in the Korean financial sector with 12 subsidiaries and $3.6 billion in total assets. As a subsidiary of Korea’s fourth-largest savings bank, Welcome Bank brings world-class liquidity and technical expertise to the Philippine rural banking landscape. Driven by the mission to "enrich the lives of valued clients," the bank is focused on providing superior service and secure financial growth.