Tacloban: State-run Landbank has expanded its financial education and access to digital banking among young Filipinos with the rollout of its Cash-Lite Campus initiative at Leyte Normal University (LNU) here Thursday. Landbank Executive Vice President Marilou Villafranca announced that LNU is the 26th site of the initiative, aimed at advancing financial inclusion and preparing young Filipinos for the digital economy.

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative is built on a partnership established between Landbank and LNU in August, specifically for the batch crediting of stipends to approximately 4,500 scholars of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through Landbank PISO (Perang Inimpok Savings Option) Plus accounts. Villafranca emphasized that this arrangement supports the efficient and secure disbursement of educational assistance, enhancing accessibility for students.

A key component of the initiative is the Landbank PISO Plus account, which students and first-time account holders can open through the bank's mobile app without an initial deposit or maintaining balance. The Cash-Lite program is set to benefit around 1,500 incoming freshmen, as well as faculty members, personnel, and campus merchants, by providing access to secure digital banking and payment solutions for everyday transactions.

Campus food concessionaires will also be integrated as Landbank QR Ph merchants, enabling students and personnel to make cashless payments for their daily purchases. Prior to the launch, students engaged in interactive account-opening activities and participated in a financial education session covering responsible money management and essential digital banking skills.

The Cash-Lite Campus launch is part of Landbank's broader campus transformations planned nationwide this year, reinforcing its commitment to financial inclusion and digital transformation.