At the inaugural “State of the Nation in AI (SONAI) 2025” congress, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) demonstrated its leadership in harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and strengthen cybersecurity.
SONAI 2025 brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to shape a national AI strategy, ensuring the Philippines stays globally competitive in the digital era. Kate Hancock, founder of the Global AI Council, emphasized the importance of AI education and accessibility to bridge the digital divide and prevent disparities.
UnionBank’s AI Center of Excellence head, Dr. Adrienne Heinrich, outlined the bank’s customer-centric approach to AI and its critical role in boosting cybersecurity. “We’re currently using AI to analyze customer transaction behavior, which helps us detect suspicious activities early. It also significantly improves our operational efficiency by providing insights into process optimization,” Dr. Heinrich explained.
She further explained how AI has reduced false positives in suspicious transaction reporting, allowing investigators to focus on real threats. “By embracing AI, we are proactively enhancing our cybersecurity measures. Choosing not to adopt AI would only leave us vulnerable to bad actors who are already leveraging this technology,” she added, drawing a parallel between AI and the evolution of banking, similar to the way ATMs and mobile apps reshaped banking jobs.
Dr. Donald Lim, President of the Global AI Council Philippines, called on the country to become a leader in AI adoption rather than merely being a user of the technology. Global AI Council Philippines Chairman Brian Poe Llamanzares echoed the sentiment, highlighting AI’s critical role in driving economic growth and ensuring the Philippines’ global competitiveness.
UnionBank remains committed to responsible AI adoption, emphasizing ethical and inclusive technological advancements that foster security, innovation, and economic progress.
For more details on UnionBank’s cutting-edge banking initiatives and its commitment to AI-driven innovation, visit UnionBank’s website or follow the bank on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, or YouTube. For any inquiries, customers can reach the bank’s Customer Service Hotline at (+632) 8841-8600. Union Bank of the Philippines is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas BSP.