Mega Link - History

History

MegaLink was formed in September 1989 by Equitable Banking Corporation (now merged with BDO), Far East Bank and Trust Company (now part of BPI), Philippine National Bank, and United Coconut Planters Bank, MegaLink, with its fundamental belief in universal sharing, became the first operational shared ATM network in the Philippines. It was launched on March 19, 1990 with shared resources of 88 ATMs, a base of 130,000 cardholders, and an average of 200 transactions a day. MegaLink is the first Philippine consortium to link with both BancNet and Expressnet.

MegaLink Milestones:

  • 1990 MegaLink became the first shared operational ATM network in the Philippines.
  • 1992 The founding banks of ATM Bersama, an Indonesian interbank network, turn to MegaLink's expertise as their model for a shared services network which eventually led to a partnership.
  • 1993 MegaLink launched the Debit Bills Payment over the ATM, as well as Purchases via POS terminals. MegaLink also received the prestigious Asian Institute of Management Award for Information Technology Management and becomes the only ATM network to gain the distinction.
  • 1994 MegaLink introduced Telephone banking (Phonelink) as the world's first consortium-based phone banking facility.
  • 1995 With its belief of universal sharing, MegaLink forged an alliance with BancNet for ATM transactions, and links up with VISA PLUS and MasterCard Cirrus through Equitable Bank for International transactions.
  • 1996 MegaLink hosted the 1st Philippine Electronic Banking Conference and Exhibition attended by over 300 participants from the industry.
  • 1997 MegaLink interconnected with Expressnet for ATM transactions.
  • 1998 MegaLink activated the Automated Reconciliation and Settlement System as well as MIS with Transaction Query system to its members.
  • 2000 MegaLink successfully migrated through Y2K.
  • 2002 MegaLink launched the Exposure Limit Management System (MELMS) to manage inter-bank settlement risks.
  • 2003 MegaLink launched Electronic Settlement with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and becomes the first non-bank to participate in BSP's PhilPass. MegaLink also established its Disaster Recovery Site.
  • 2004 Mobile Banking Service via Smart Communications, MegaLink Internet Payment Service via Union Bank of the Philippines's the PORT as well as Interbank Funds Transfer (IBFT)service were launched.
  • 2005 MegaLink is the first to implement full ATM Switch Outsourcing in the country with iBank as its pilot bank. Debit Bills Payment via SMART mobile phones becomes available.
  • 2006 ATM Industry Association (ATMIA) signs up MegaLink as founding member in the Philippines counting the Philippines as its 50th member country.
  • 2007 MegaLink opens its membership to non-banks and accepts ENCASH Network Services ENS (The Philippines' first independent ATM deployer) and MASS-SPECC Cooperative Development Center (The Philippines' oldest cooperative federation. MegaLink partners with MediLink, the first and only electronic claims network serving the Philippine healthcare industry, to allow MegaLink cardholders to pay for medical services in accredited hospitals and clinics.
  • 2008 MegaLink was admitted to the Asian Payment Network (APN), which counts ATM networks in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia as members. This membership paves the way for interconnection of ATM networks between member countries.
  • 2009 MegaLink hosted the 5th Asian Payment Network (APN) Forum attended by APN members from Indonesia (ARTAJASA, ALTO, RINTIS), Malaysia (MEPS), Thailand (ITMX) and Singapore (NETS). ATM network form Korea (KFTC) and Philippines (BANCNET and EXPRESSNET, non-members of APN was invited to attended as observers. MegaLink also launched Batch-to-online IBFT service.
  • 2010 MegaLink launched Load Fulfillment, Internet banking and Cross Border acquiring service (Mastercard and JCB). MegaLink interconnected with BancNet and Expressnet for POS transactions.
  • 2011 MegaLink interconnected with Korea Financial Telecommunications and Clearings Institute for Cross Border ATM and POS transactions.
  • 2012 MegaLink signed a Memorandum of Understanding with TelUPay for a Telco agnostic Mobile banking service.

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