Asia United Bank (AUB), one of the country’s fastest-growing publicly listed banks, is making big bikes more accessible to Filipinos through its pioneering Big Bikes Loan (BBL) program.
Mirroring the downtrend in interest rates in the market, AUB dropped the rate on its BBL program to 0.54% per month from 0.64% in 2020. This is currently among the lowest in the market. The bank also offers zero interest on Italian big bike brand MV Agusta for 12- and 24-month loans in a promo that runs from July 1 to September 30, 2021. Interested borrowers may check out the Facebook page of AUB Big Bike Loan for more details.
Since 2016, AUB has been providing the best deals on bikes with a minimum engine displacement of 400cc. It has a wide portfolio of 22 big bike brands and the iconic Vespa to a target clientele that aspires for leisure travel and adventure. The BBL program offers a loan amount of at least P200,000 and flexible loan payment terms of 12 to 36 months. Interested borrowers may go to the Facebook page, AUB Big Bike Loan, for more details.
Thanks to freedom-loving Filipino bikers and dreamers, the riding spirit was left undamped, even by the COVID-19 pandemic. “In fact, there has been a dramatic increase in AUB motor vehicle loan applicants since the pandemic,” said Leo Intalan, head of AUB’s Consumer Lending division. “We expect an increasing trend in new loan applicants with the easing of quarantine restrictions and the changing dynamics in urban mobility.”
While the pandemic has dampened consumer appetite in 2020, AUB has managed to book new loans at nearly the same level as in the previous year. For 2021, the Bank is on track to beat its past year’s performance, as new loan bookings as of end-May were already more than double the year-ago levels, Mr. Intalan added.
AUB has also tied up with social media influencer Zach Lucero to further boost awareness among big bike enthusiasts and the younger crowd. The bank is able to ride on the social media clout of the 42-year-old media personality and rock band founder whose YouTube channel Makina commands more than 380,000 subscribers and has become a major go-to for motorcycle news, features, and power rides in and outside the Philippines. Makina’s Facebook page, Makina (@makinamotoph), has nearly 700,000 followers as of end-June.
AUB is also keen on sustaining its support to Zach’s Makina Moto Show in 2021, alongside its online motorcycle custom show Moto Builds Pilipinas. This is aligned with the bank’s “Ride Solo” digital marketing campaign that promotes the use of big bikes to help boost local tourism by touring on a bike while observing health and safety protocols.
“Makina’s initial aim was to communicate and promote big bikes. With AUB’s drive to support that segment, everything came into place and was hand in glove. AUB made big bikes reachable to more people and made our mission easier,” Mr. Lucero said.
