Accepting the award on behalf of Security Bank were its retail banking executives (4th and 5th from left): Leslie Cham, Senior Vice President and Branch Banking Group Head and Patricia Tan, First Vice President and Retail Marketing Division Head. Joining them were members of The Asian Banker’s International Advisory Council (from left): Wilson Chia, Executive Vice President, SME and Commercial Banking, Fullerton Financial Holdings; Philippe Paillart, former Vice Chairman, CEO of DBS; Gai McGrath, member of the Council, State Library of New South Wales; Varun Sabhlok, Regional Audit Director, Citibank Global Consumer Banking Division (Asia Pacific) and current director, AVS Asia Ventures; and Foo Boon Ping, Managing Editor, The Asian Banker.
The Asian Banker’s Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards 2016 named Security Bank Corporation (SBC) as Best Improved Retail Bank in Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Africa and the Gulf Region during the awards night held on March 16 at the W Hotel in Hong Kong.
This recognition underscores the soundness and effectiveness of Security Bank’s retail strategy as it validates its strategic direction to strengthen Retail Banking as a strong third pillar to its two solid business segments – Wholesale Banking and Financial Markets.
Security Bank’s retail journey began in 2014 with an intensive and extensive rebranding campaign that sought to transform every facet of its retail banking business to become more focused, more responsive and more customer-centric.
The Bank’s innovative rebranding strategy has been receiving wide acclaim from both local and international award-giving bodies. This award, however, is most significant because Security Bank is the only bank to be distinguished with the regional award among over 250 banks from across a bigger global banking community.
“It is truly an honor to be adjudged Best Improved Retail Bank in the entire Asia Pacific and other parts of the global banking community,” says Security Bank President and CEO Alfonso Salcedo, Jr. “Knowing that our accomplishments are recognized not just in the Philippines is important to us because it is a validation of the progress we have made in building a stronger retail business. It further motivates us to keep developing BetterBanking products and services for our customers and to aim for consistency and excellence in every aspect of operations.”
The Asian Banker Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards is the most rigorous, prestigious and transparent awards program for consumer banking in Asia Pacific, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. It is dubbed as “the undisputed performance benchmark of the best retail banks in an increasingly fierce marketplace”. Since 2002, the program has been built on the premise that an outstanding institution in consumer banking demonstrates as a long-term sustainable franchise, based on strong business processes that lead to a consistent and profitable performance.
In previous years, The Asian Banker has distinguished Security Bank as Best Managed Bank in the Philippines for the period 2011-2013 and one of the Strongest Banks in the Asia Pacific and the Philippines for 2011. It is also the same prestigious publication that awarded Security Bank for Best Branch Innovation Initiative in the Philippines in 2015.