SSS, EastWest Rural Bank expand MySSS Card access

QUEZON CITY — The Social Security System on Wednesday announced that its MySSS Card will soon reach members in unbanked areas after EastWest Rural Bank became its first rural bank card issuer, expanding financial inclusion in underserved communities.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph M. de Claro and EastWest Rural Bank President Shiela Marasigan-Bajado led the signing of a memorandum of agreement authorizing the bank to issue MySSS Cards, primarily for members in rural areas while remaining accessible to qualified members nationwide.

De Claro praised the partnership as a key initiative that will simplify disbursement account enrollment and improve convenience for members by allowing the card to serve as both an official SSS identification card and a debit card.

“The MySSS card also allows SSS to provide digital payment facilities for our registrants, members, pensioners and beneficiaries,” De Claro added.

According to the SSS, the MySSS Card allows members to open a bank account that is automatically linked to SSS for the receipt of benefits, loans and other proceeds, eliminating the need for separate enrollment through the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module.

The SSS said it uses National ID database checks to confirm that applicants are registered members, helping secure card issuance by partner banks and support accurate benefit disbursement through linked accounts.

Bajado said a streamlined MySSS Card application process will be available at EastWest Rural Bank’s 112 branches and branch-lites nationwide this year, most of them in the provinces, particularly in Mindanao and the Visayas.

The card may also be offered through cross-selling desks inside EastWest Bank branches, the rural bank’s parent company, through a digital channel.

“We will waive maintaining balance requirements for MySSS cardholders, who may also earn interest once their balance reaches at least ₱500, allowing them to grow their savings while enjoying flexible account features,” Bajado said.

EastWest Banking Corp.’s 2024 annual report said its rural banking subsidiary operated 76 branches and 23 branch-lites as of Dec. 31, 2024, for a total of 99 locations, so the stated figure of 112 branches and branch-lites may refer to a more recent count that was not independently detailed in the report.

De Claro said SSS has maintained a long-running collaboration with EastWest Rural Bank, which he said began in 2017 when the bank was recognized in the rural category of the SSS Balikat ng Bayan Awards.

“We hope our collaboration will help SSS better serve members wherever they are,” he said.

The partnership supports the SSS push to widen digital access to its services as the agency continues to promote online transactions and direct benefit disbursements through enrolled bank accounts.