CSBANK CELEBRATES ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY

CSBank, known as Citystate Savings Bank celebrated its 25th Anniversary on August 8, 2022 at the Citystate Centre in Shaw Boulevard, Pasig starting with a mass.

It was granted the license to operate as a thrift bank by the BSP on August 7, 1997, and established its first branch on August 8, 1997. The bank was publicly listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange in January 2002.

CSBank has grown to 30 branches located in Metro Manila and key provinces. It has been helping the Filipino middle market in several ways: through savings and investments for future needs like children’s education, health and wellness, and entrepreneurship; lending funds for immediate necessities like shelter, mobility, and working capital for businesses. The bank has various types of loans, from consumer to SME, to corporate and commercial. For the most pressing requirements, it has its Jewelry Loans when customers need immediate funds. The bank also has strong products that focus on Teachers, and a growing auto loans portfolio with a varied network of accredited premium motorcycle- brand dealers. “On our 25th year, we are more than ever committed to serving our countrymen with their financial requirements, and growing the Bank,” CSBank President Benjamin V. Ramos said.

After a quarter of a century, CSBank is focused to address the ever-changing and demanding needs of its clients and is embarking on aggressive plans that include online and mobile banking soon.

“We are working on a digital-first platform and automated credit decisioning and other support systems for our core lending business (subject to regulatory approval),” according to Chief Operating Officer Jaime V. L. Araneta. “This aims to provide easier but secure access to bank services, enhancement of products, and simplified processes to enhance customer experience,” Araneta added. CSBank is part of the ALC Group of Companies and shares the availability of complimentary solutions of their affiliates to clients. These include media, pre-need, insurance, automotive, education, real estate, and security.

The ALC Group was founded by the late Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, with a vision to serve the Filipinos by continuously improving their quality of life, from its very beginning to its inevitable end. It is chaired by his son, D. Edgard A. Cabangon. The President of the CSBank is Benjamin V. Ramos, an ALC Group veteran of over 30 years.

In attendance were ALC Group Chairman D. Edgard A. Cabangon, Bank President Benjamin V. Ramos, Chief Operating Officer Jaime V L Araneta, members of the Board, Directors Judge Carlos A. Valenzuela, Mr. Dante T. Fuentes, Atty. Maria Katrina C. Bote-Veguillas, and Ms. Edith D. Dychiao. Also present were CSBANK senior officers led by Branch Banking Group Head Ms. Lizette Cuezon, Branch Network Head Joel Garcia, Cluster Heads, Department Heads and key officers.

Chairman D. Edgard A. Cabangon led the ceremonial toast thanking the stockholders, directors, customers, and employees for its 25th year. He mentioned pagmamahal at pagtitiwala as the guiding principle of the late founder and referred to the Bank’s performance over the past two and a half years as headed towards a positive direction. The Chairman also announced the commitment of support from the Cabangon family. “May the good Lord bless us with more anniversaries,” he said.

CSBank President Benjamin V. Ramos thanked the Chairman for his trust and support. He also narrated the foresight of the founder, Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangong Chua, who opened the first branch on August 8, 1997, a day after the license to operate was granted by the BSP on August 7, 1997. CSBANK Chief Operating Officer Jaime V. L. Araneta opened the event by emphasizing the Bank’s mandate to enable Filipino consumers, households, and entrepreneurs to attain financial success. He also disclosed the Bank’s plans to synergize digital and branch transformation for customer fulfillment and service delivery and expressed gratitude to the Bank’s sharehol­ders.

EUNICE CELARIO