I recently tried applying for a BanKo InstaCash loan—yes, that BanKo, the one that’s a subsidiary of BPI. Since I’ve been exploring digital loan options for emergencies or quick funding, I thought I’d give this one a try. Spoiler alert: It was not as smooth as I hoped, but let me walk you through it.
🏦 What is BanKo InstaCash?
BanKo offers various financial services aimed at self-employed individuals, micro-entrepreneurs, and people who may not have access to traditional banking. InstaCash is their personal loan product available through the BanKo mobile app.
Sounds promising, right? Especially since it’s backed by BPI—it gives a sense of legitimacy and security.
📲 My Application Process
I downloaded the BanKo app, created an account, and followed all the steps. It was lengthy, to say the least. Aside from the usual selfie and ID, I had to upload a proof of income certificate—which not all loan apps require, by the way.
I thought, okay, no biggie. Maybe this means they’re more thorough and responsible with who they lend to. After I submitted all my info, the app told me to wait 10 minutes for verification.
But here’s where things got frustrating.
❌ What Went Wrong
After that 10-minute waiting screen, I suddenly got logged out of the app. No warning, no error message—just kicked out. I tried logging in multiple times, even uninstalling and reinstalling the app, but nothing worked.
I felt like the app just got my information and dipped.
Out of curiosity (and growing suspicion), I checked the reviews on the Play Store. Turns out, I’m not the only one who experienced this. There are similar complaints from other users who were also logged out or locked out after submitting their documents.
🧠 My Thoughts
I’m not saying BanKo is a scam. Again, it’s a BPI subsidiary, so I don’t think it’s out to steal identities. But the experience? Not user-friendly at all.
For something branded as “InstaCash,” the process felt far from instant—and ended up being a complete dead end for me.
✅ Final Verdict
Would I recommend it?
If you’re curious, sure—proceed with caution.
But if you need urgent cash, you might want to look into other apps that are faster, more transparent, and don’t randomly lock you out after collecting your data.
