Freeman Cebu Business

BDO named Bank of the Year

The Freeman

January 7, 2020 | 12:00am

Bank of the Year in the Philippines. Luis Reyes Jr. (center), Executive Vice President and Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Planning Group of BDO Unibank, Inc. receives the Best Bank of the Year in the Philippines Award from Kimberley Long, Asia Editor of The Banker and Michael Buerk, BBC Correspondent.

CEBU, Philippines — BDO Unibank, Inc. emerged as the Bank of the Year in the Philippines given its “focused approach on bringing the best services and loans to customers,” The Banker said in a statement.

The London-based financial publication underscored BDO’s far-reaching retail network, which enables it to serve the unique banking needs of its clients. It also lauded the bank’s financial education program and support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) through its relevant loans, as well as its diverse range of financial services, which cover life insurance and online stock trading. Beyond banking, BDO was also recognized for getting the approval of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for integrating sustainable development into its best practices.

The Banker identified the best banks in 138 countries based on their overall performance for the past 12 months for The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2019. Six regional awards as well as the best bank in the world award for the Agricultural Bank of China were also given away.

True to its “We Find Ways” philosophy, BDO continues to expand its network to give more Filipinos convenience and access to financial services. For the bank, every branch and ATM helps contribute to a more financially inclusive nation. While its ATMs are open 24/7, select branches have longer banking hours and weekend banking to accommodate clients who may be unavailable during regular banking hours.

BDO now has more than 1,300 branches and over 4,400 ATMs nationwide. This includes the branches of its rural bank subsidiary, BDO Network Bank, which are located in the archipelago’s most remote areas, particularly in Mindanao.

BDO Network Bank offers financial solutions, particularly loans for MSMEs like owners of sari-sari stores, water stations, and carinderias to expand their businesses, and salary loans for teachers and government employees to provide for their families.

An advocate of financial education, BDO upholds the value of saving and investing for the future.