GLOBE Fintech Innovations Inc. (DBA Mynt) is positioning digital wallets as ‘financial first responders’ in emergencies, arguing that access to financial services during a crisis is as critical as food and shelter.
‘During times of crisis, access to financial services becomes just as important as access to food, shelter, and other forms of assistance,’ said Mynt Chief Regulatory And Compliance Officer Maria Ceferina M. Sison.
Sison said a digital financial tool must serve as an agile financial lifeline, especially when conventional channels break down. She described digital financial tools as part of a broader shift in how fintech supports disaster and crisis response.
The approach, Sison said, was tested during the Middle East crisis, when traditional financial channels in the region faced heavy disruption.
During that period, the platform waived remittance fees to and from affected countries, allowing families in the Philippines to send financial assistance to relatives abroad at no cost.
It also streamlined onboarding and know-your-customer (KYC) checks by accepting government IDs issued in the Middle East. This helped overseas Filipinos receive emergency government aid and family support faster through digital disbursement, according to Sison.
The interventions, she added, were made possible by its existing digital infrastructure, strong public-private partnerships, and an enabling regulatory environment.
Sison said reliable cross-border payments are tied to both immediate safety and financial survival for overseas Filipino families.
Any disruption in remittances directly affects their ability to afford essential care and maintain stability at home during an emergency.
Part of the first-responder role, Sison said, is making funds immediately usable rather than simply moving them across borders. Recipients can pay bills, buy essentials, purchase mobile load, and access other financial services as soon as the money arrives.