[ BSP CIRCULAR NO. 683, S. OF 2010, February 23, 2010 ]
MARKETING, SALE AND SERVICING OF MICROINSURANCE PRODUCTS
In order to better serve microfinance clients pursuant to the financial inclusion thrust of National Strategy and Regulatory Framework for Microinsurance, a rural, cooperative or thrift bank, including its authorized branch/es, extension office/s and other banking offices (OBOs), can present, market and sell microinsurance products as defined under the Insurance Commission s Memorandum Circular (IMC) No. 1-2010[1] , provided that the microinsurance product is duly approved by the Insurance Commission.
The presentation, marketing and sale of microinsurance products by rural, cooperative and thrift banks has been determined to be a necessary and complementary component of the primary business of rural, cooperative and thrift banks considering the relationship of the latter with their microfinance clients. For this purpose, the Monetary Board has defined that for rural, cooperative and thrift banks, microinsurance products as defined under IMC No. 9-2006[2] and 1-2010[3] shall serve as a financial product of an allied undertaking under Section 20 of the General Banking Law.
A rural, cooperative or thrift bank can also service (i.e., collect premiums and pay claims) microinsurance products as collection and payment agents pursuant to Section 53.3 of the General Banking Law.
A rural, cooperative or thrift bank which intends to avail of the option to market or sell microinsurance products shall ensure that microinsurance products presented and marketed are clearly distinguishable from bank products. Towards this end, all organic documents, informational and promotional materials used in the presentation and sale of these products shall prominently display both the name of the issuing insurance provider and a clause stating that the insurance product/s of (name of issuing insurance provider) is/are not insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation and is/are not guaranteed by the (name of bank) . The bank shall also ensure compliance with pertinent laws and rules on the sale of microinsurance products set by the Insurance Commission. As part of product due diligence, the bank should check whether the microinsurance product-issuing insurance provider has a functioning customer care and claims-handling mechanism to handle consumer protection issues.
A bank, prior to selling and/or marketing microinsurance products, shall submit the following documents to the BSP as bases for the latter s evaluation:
1. Copy of the approval of the bank s board of directors on the presentation, sale and servicing (i.e. collect premiums and pay claims) of microinsurance products;
2. Copy of duly executed written agreement between the bank and the insurance provider on the presentation, sale and servicing by the bank of the financial products of the latter, including the terms of compensation for the services;
3. Copy of the letter of approval from the Insurance Commission covering each of the microinsurance product to be marketed or sold by the bank;
4. Copy of the corresponding Certificate of Authority from the Insurance Commission of the insurance provider/s issuing the microinsurance products to be marketed or sold;
5. Bank s license from the Insurance Commission as a microinsurance agent or broker, as may be applicable.
6. Certification from the bank president that he/she ascertained and will ensure continuing compliance with the following:
This Circular shall take effect 15 days followings its publication in either the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Adopted: 23 Feb. 2010
FOR THE MONETARY BOARD
(SGD.) ARMANDO L. SURATOS
Officer-In-Charge
[1] Dated 29 January 2010
[2] Dated 25 October 2006
[3] Dated 29 January 2010
The presentation, marketing and sale of microinsurance products by rural, cooperative and thrift banks has been determined to be a necessary and complementary component of the primary business of rural, cooperative and thrift banks considering the relationship of the latter with their microfinance clients. For this purpose, the Monetary Board has defined that for rural, cooperative and thrift banks, microinsurance products as defined under IMC No. 9-2006[2] and 1-2010[3] shall serve as a financial product of an allied undertaking under Section 20 of the General Banking Law.
A rural, cooperative or thrift bank can also service (i.e., collect premiums and pay claims) microinsurance products as collection and payment agents pursuant to Section 53.3 of the General Banking Law.
A rural, cooperative or thrift bank which intends to avail of the option to market or sell microinsurance products shall ensure that microinsurance products presented and marketed are clearly distinguishable from bank products. Towards this end, all organic documents, informational and promotional materials used in the presentation and sale of these products shall prominently display both the name of the issuing insurance provider and a clause stating that the insurance product/s of (name of issuing insurance provider) is/are not insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation and is/are not guaranteed by the (name of bank) . The bank shall also ensure compliance with pertinent laws and rules on the sale of microinsurance products set by the Insurance Commission. As part of product due diligence, the bank should check whether the microinsurance product-issuing insurance provider has a functioning customer care and claims-handling mechanism to handle consumer protection issues.
A bank, prior to selling and/or marketing microinsurance products, shall submit the following documents to the BSP as bases for the latter s evaluation:
1. Copy of the approval of the bank s board of directors on the presentation, sale and servicing (i.e. collect premiums and pay claims) of microinsurance products;
2. Copy of duly executed written agreement between the bank and the insurance provider on the presentation, sale and servicing by the bank of the financial products of the latter, including the terms of compensation for the services;
3. Copy of the letter of approval from the Insurance Commission covering each of the microinsurance product to be marketed or sold by the bank;
4. Copy of the corresponding Certificate of Authority from the Insurance Commission of the insurance provider/s issuing the microinsurance products to be marketed or sold;
5. Bank s license from the Insurance Commission as a microinsurance agent or broker, as may be applicable.
6. Certification from the bank president that he/she ascertained and will ensure continuing compliance with the following:
a. The product is authorized for cross selling under existing BSP rules and regulations;7. A letter of undertaking from the bank president that he/she will ensure the retention of the following :
b. The microinsurance product is approved by the Insurance Commission and issued by an entity duly licensed and held in good standing by the Insurance Commission;
c. The bank conducted product due diligence to be suitable to its customers;
d. The organic, informational and promotional materials for the microinsurance products comply with BSP requirements; and
e. The bank personnel concerned has undertaken the necessary training and passed the qualifying examination for the presentation and sale of microinsurance products, in compliance with the requirements set forth by the Insurance Commission on marketing personnel for insurance products.
a. Copies of the latest Certificate of Authority from the Insurance Commission covering all insurance companies whose microinsurance products are being marketed or sold by the bank;8. Such other information that may be required by the Bangko Sentral.
b. Copies of the letters of approval from the Insurance Commission covering all the microinsurance products to be marketed or sold;
c. Bank s license from the Insurance Commission as a microinsurance agent or broker or in lieu of a bank s license as a microinsurance agent or broker, copies of the license from the Insurance Commission covering all its marketing personnel for microinsurance products; and
This Circular shall take effect 15 days followings its publication in either the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Adopted: 23 Feb. 2010
(SGD.) ARMANDO L. SURATOS
Officer-In-Charge
[1] Dated 29 January 2010
[2] Dated 25 October 2006
[3] Dated 29 January 2010