The Credit Card Association of the Philippines is your trusted partner for responsible credit card usage because they empower you to think right, choose right and spend right when using your credit card for you to achieve good financial standing.
We are a professional organization aimed at mediating between the credit card industry, merchant establishments, and most importantly, the consumer. Its objective is to promote wider ownership and acceptance of credit cards in the Philippines as a safe, reliable, and beneficial payment instrument. Ultimately, this will enhance purchasing power, thus contributing to the economic development of the country.
Part of CCAP’s mandate is to initiate measures for the protection of credit card holders and merchants, as well as to encourage the responsible use of credit cards in the local, global, and e-commerce sphere. Likewise, CCAP aims to inform the public about credit management, foster discipline among consumers, and eventually guide the Philippine credit card industry towards self-regulation.
To achieve this, CCAP engages itself in cooperative and collaborative efforts with government agencies such as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); as well as law enforcement agencies and private organizations like the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP).
A Brief Organizational History of CCAP
On October 7, 1980, a group of representatives from American Express, Bank of America, Diners Club, Equitable Bank, PCI Bank, Pacific Card and Manila Banking Corporation met at the El Comedor Restaurant in Ermita, Manila, to talk about the formal creation of an association. They decided to name the association Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP). The objective of the group was to maintain closer cooperation among credit card companies in the Philippines and to foster fellowship in the attainment of mutual and common interests.
Shortly after, the CCAP’s incorporation papers were submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the CCAP was incorporated on January 6, 1981.
The first set of officers were Antonio Pahati, President; Reodino Crescini, Vice President; Celso Dayrit, Treasurer; and Cynthia Valenzuela, Secretary.
Since then, the organization has grown to include, in the 1980’s, Bankard, RCBC/JCB, Unicard, BPI Card Corporation, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Far East Card and Citibank. The 1990’s saw the entry of PNB Card, City Trust, Jardine Finance, MBF Card, Solid Bank Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank and AIG Philam Bank. In the year 2000, Union Bank of the Philippines and United Overseas Bank joined, as well. In the last 15 years, five more banks have joined CCAP — Eastwest Banking Corporation, Allied Banking Corporation, Equicom Savings Bank, Maybank Philippines and China Banking Corporation. Recently, three more banks have joined the Association: Banco de Oro, Land Bank of the Philippines and Robinson’s Bank.
Today, the Credit Card Association of the Philippines is composed of 16 regular members and 2 associate members.