Developed with Microsoft, “Pera Coach” converses in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Hiligaynon to make financial services easier to understand for all Filipinos.
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| PERA Coach brings always-on access to clear and tailored financial education to millions of Filipinos directly within the GCash app. |
Reinforcing its role in advancing financial literacy and inclusion nationwide, finance super app GCash introduces the Philippines’ first artificial intelligence–powered financial coach to be embedded in an e-wallet. Developed with support from Microsoft and powered by enterprise-grade AI, it converses in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Hiligaynon to make financial services easier to understand for all Filipinos. Pera Coach responds contextually to user prompts like financial goals, budget considerations, and risk appetite, delivering guidance personalized to each user’s financial journey.
Despite improvements in the country’s financial inclusion agenda in recent years, the ability to meaningfully use a broader range of financial services, like insurance and investments, remains limited. Persistent gaps in financial literacy contribute to this low adoption, with many Filipinos lacking access to clear and credible guidance. According to a 2021 survey by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), just 2% of Filipino adults were able to correctly answer six basic financial literacy questions.
Pera Coach aims to address these challenges by providing always-on access to clear and tailored financial education within a platform millions of Filipinos already use daily.
“Financial literacy should not feel intimidating or out of reach,” said Winsley Bangit, Group Head of New Business at Mynt, the parent company of GCash. “With Pera Coach integrated directly into the GCash ecosystem, Filipinos can receive real-time guidance that’s practical, contextual, and easy to understand, helping them make more confident financial decisions.”
“Even everyday moments like deciding how much to set aside for a weekly budget, comparing different savings accounts, or choosing a potential stock, can shape long-term outcomes, and we want to support users through those moments,” he added.
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| To access PERA Coach, users just need to open the GCash app, go to “Save” or the “Invest” tab, and tap the Pera Coach banner. |
Leveraging AI for inclusion
Beyond the launch itself, the launch signals a broader GCash strategy aimed at leveraging emerging technology to solve real-world financial challenges. “We firmly believe innovation should go beyond adopting the latest technology. Rather, the true value of innovation is measured by the impact it has on the lives of everyday Filipinos, especially the underserved,” Bangit continued.
Likewise, Microsoft echoes the transformative potential of generative AI when applied to real, everyday use cases.
"Millions of Filipinos already carry a financial platform in their pockets, but only one in four is financially literate. We've made real progress in financial access, but access without understanding isn’t inclusion—it’s an empowerment gap. And closing that gap is nation building," said Microsoft Philippines Country General Manager Jonathan Que.
"In working with GCash, we are putting a personal AI financial coach in the hands of every user, from the sari-sari owner in Davao to the OFW family in Pampanga. Responsible AI, built into the app millions already trust, turns everyday transactions into everyday learning. When every Filipino can understand their finances, save with confidence, and invest in their dreams, we don't just strengthen households, we strengthen the nation." he added.
To access Pera Coach and begin receiving personalized financial education content, GCash users need to open the app, go to ‘Invest’ and tap the Pera Coach banner. For more information, visit the Help Center.
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