Manila, Philippines, April 2 2003 – SB Equities Inc., the equities brokerage arm of Security Bank Corporation (PSE:SECB), rose to 10th spot in the March 2003 ranking of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), up from 55th overall in the year 2000 to 16th spot in 2002. This was based on the monthly value turnover rankings of the PSE covering all active brokerage house members, which indicates how much business one house was able to generate vis-?-vis the others.

SB Equities” exceptional and steady improvement in its industry position is due mainly to strong growth in its client base. Last year, SB Equities absorbed the sales team of DBS Vickers, a top-ranking foreign member of the PSE, and gained more ground in terms of accreditation with both local and foreign institutional clients. This, together with the continuing patronage of their existing clientele, has helped propel the firm to its current standing.

As is the case with other Security Bank subsidiaries and affiliates, customer service excellence is a key driver of the success of SB Equities. “To date, we continue to gain the favor of more foreign clients that patronize local equities because of timely updates on pertinent news significant to listed companies and personalized service,” explains Warren Sy, SB Equities President and General Manager. “Moving forward, SB Equities remains committed to raising the level of customer service delivery while improving further on our standing as a major player in the industry.