BPI taps COL Financial for funds distribution

BPI taps COL Financial for funds distribution

Investment funds managed by the wealth management arm of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) will be accessible via COL Financial’s platform next month, providing more options for investors looking to diversify their portfolio.

BPI Wealth has forged a partnership with the country’s largest online stockbroker to widen the distribution of the unit investment trust funds (UITFs) it manages.

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“By collaborating with fund distributors like COL Financial, we are extending our reach to more Filipinos and making expertly managed funds more accessible,” says Yvette Mari de Peralta, BPI Wealth head of institutional business.

UITFs pool funds from investors with similar investment goals. They are managed by professionals.

Investment funds managed by the Ayala-led bank include equity and fixed-income funds “with exposure to local and global markets, catering to various risk appetites and investment goals.”

“The inclusion of BPI investment funds on the COL Financial platform allows investors to diversify their portfolios further, leveraging on the expertise of one of the country’s most trusted asset management firms,” BPI Wealth says.

BPI Wealth earlier announced plans to grow its assets under management (AUM) to P3 trillion by 2026, riding on the robust growth of the banking sector as the country continues its post-pandemic recovery.

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As of end-2023, the AUM of BPI Wealth stood at P1.22 trillion, a 40-percent surge from 2022.

BPI Wealth currently has around 700,000 customers of the total 11 million served by the entire BPI Group.

Its units include BPI Private Wealth, the rebranded private banking business launched in 2023 that offers exclusive and “instant access to liquidity without compromising long-term investment strategies.”

BPI Private Wealth, whose customers are those whose net worth range between $1 million to $30 million, sees loans this year reaching P12 billion as it launches new projects meant to improve the various “experiences” of its clients, which now include a younger generation of professionals.