CitySavings receives award for sales agent chatbot at the Technology Excellence Awards

‘Talk To Maria’ helped improve engagement to the bank’s social media pages.

City Savings Bank, Inc. (CitySavings) continues to create innovative solutions for customers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The bank focuses on addressing the urgent need of customers for financial services through its relevant products and digital channels.

Talk to Maria was launched in August 2019 as the bank's newest sales team member with the initial ability to answer product inquiries through Facebook Messenger 24/7. The chatbot also provides users with a map to the nearest CitySavings branch or ATM terminal.

The chatbot also has a motorcycle loan calculator which gives the client an estimate of their expected monthly amortization. Clients can simply choose a motorcycle brand, their desired amount of downpayment, and select the preferred loan term.

In May 2021, more features were added such as a loan calculator for salary loans and the ability to accept new loan applications. It provides a quick and easy way for new clients to apply for a loan online from the comfort of their own homes.

For this achievement, CitySavings received the “Philippines Technology Excellence Award for Digital - Banking” in the recently concluded Philippines Technology Excellence Awards 2021.

The awards programme, dedicated to technological projects and innovations, aims to recognise exceptional companies that are riding the digital disruption wave and leading the technological revolution and digital transformation journeys in their respective industries.

Based on its infomercial, applying for a loan via Talk to Maria can be done in a few easy steps. First is to reach the chatbot through Facebook Messenger. When prompted, click or tap on “Get Started” and “Agree” to the Terms and Conditions.

The user will be redirected to a page, wherein the next prompt requires clicking or tapping on “Apply Now” then filling in the loan application details including personal and other details.

Towards the end, the user must attach all requirements then click or tap “Submit.” Once completed, a confirmation message will be sent on Facebook Messenger that the application has been forwarded. A CitySavings Account Officer will thereafter contact the user in the following business days.

CitySavings is a thrift bank subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines and is a member of the Aboitiz Group. It provides a range of mass-market financial products and services. 

This includes providing salary loans to school teachers, pension loans to GSIS and SSS pensioners, local government units salary loans, seafarer loans, motorcycle loans, company employee loans, and traditional deposit products.

It currently has more than 140 branches in the Philippines and is aiming to continue promoting inclusive and sustainable banking across the country.

Watch the interview below to know more about their winning project: