For almost a decade, Security Bank Corporation (SBC) has successfully organized its annual Economic Forum, a “by-invitation only” event that brings together renowned analysts and business leaders from various industries to discuss business perspectives and the general outlook for the economy. Since its inception, the Economic Forum has been well-received by clients and banking industry practitioners.  This year, Security Bank takes this annual client event a notch higher.

Political Factor
SBC’s annual Economic Forum serves as an avenue for the Bank to inform its clients about the changing trends that influence consumer and investment behavior. Through these events, Security Bank provides clients with relevant insights through in-depth discussion of economic trends and latest forecasts from experts.

Security Bank knows how important it is for its customers and partners to be well-informed about new opportunities and threats in the financial sector. “In our past Economic Fora, we limited ourselves to topics that strictly dealt with aspects of the economy — trends, figures, projections. For the Economic Forum Roadshow, we factored in a component that we in the private sector may often overlook: our national politics,” said SBC President & CEO Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr.

With the addition of the political perspective, the revamped Economic Forum seeks to make sense of the country’s current economic condition from both economic and political standpoints. This will hopefully stimulate meaningful and much-needed conversations among experts who have their own economic and political views on the most pressing issues that affect the lives of ordinary Filipinos such as inflation, interest rates, foreign exchange rate, stock market prices, etc.

“This is a step in the right direction. Our political and economic realities are interwoven, and so we must continue to learn about the role of the Philippine business community in national development,” added Salcedo.

The first in this series of Economic Forum was held on 21 November 2018 at The Manila Hotel. For the Manila leg of the roadshow, Security Bank enlisted ABS-CBN News Channel Anchor-Managing Editor Cathy Yang as host/moderator, and Honorable Angelo Taningco, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry and Professor Victor Andres C. Manhit, Founder and Managing Director of Stratbase Group as speakers.

Extended Reach
To widen the reach of this client event, Security Bank will extend the Economic Forum outside Metro Manila, validating the significant economic contributions and potentials of other key investment cities. SBC will be bringing the event to emerging hubs in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao – areas with huge investments and economic growth potential.

With this localized format, each Economic Forum will be more relevant and more engaging. For the first half of 2019 alone, seven fora are already in the pipeline.

“Security Bank has a network of more than 300 branches across the country and it is only fitting that we bring this event to our clients outside Metro Manila. Through this roadshow, we hope to empower them to make better informed financial decisions. It is this expanded holistic customer service that has been our signature throughout our 67 years that truly makes us the bank of choice,” said Salcedo.

(in photo) SBC EVP & Wholesale Banking Segment Head Edu Olbes, Professor Victor Andres C. Manhit, ABS-CBN News Channel Anchor-Managing Editor Cathy Yang, Asec. Angelo Taningco and SBC President & CEO Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr.