ATRAM Trust Corporation (ATC) has completed its merger with UnionBank Investment Management and Trust Corporation (UBIMTC), marking the first-ever merger between trust corporations in the Philippines.
The transaction, which took effect on January 9, 2026, received regulatory approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Under the terms of the merger, ATC is the surviving entity and has assumed all fiduciary and investment management responsibilities previously held by UBIMTC.
The deal represents a major development for the country’s trust and investment management sector, signaling a shift toward greater scale, specialization, and stronger governance structures. It also reflects growing consolidation within financial services as firms seek to enhance operational efficiency and expand service offerings while operating under tighter regulatory oversight.
Deanno J. Basas, president of ATRAM Trust Corporation
For the local fintech ecosystem, the merger highlights how traditional trust institutions are increasingly integrating with digital-first banking platforms to extend their reach and relevance in a rapidly digitizing financial landscape.
“This merger brings together two institutions with complementary strengths and a shared commitment to fiduciary excellence,” said Deanno J. Basas, President of ATRAM Trust Corporation. “With the transaction now completed, ATC is well-positioned to deliver a broader range of investment, wealth, and trust solutions while maintaining the highest standards of governance, risk management, and client service.”
ATC: Bridging trust services with digital banking
The integration combines ATC’s investment management capabilities and diversified product portfolio with UBIMTC’s digital infrastructure and client reach through UnionBank. The merged entity is expected to strengthen service delivery across fiduciary and investment solutions while supporting innovation in trust and asset management services.
This positions the merged entity to embed trust and investment products more deeply within digital banking platforms, potentially enabling seamless access to managed funds, estate planning tools, and fiduciary services through mobile banking apps and electronic payment channels.
As UnionBank continues to expand its digital banking and e-payment ecosystem, the strengthened trust arm could also support the development of new wealth and treasury solutions for fintech users, small businesses, and digitally onboarded clients — bridging traditional asset management with everyday financial transactions.
The merged entity is expected to strengthen service delivery across fiduciary and investment solutions while supporting innovation in trust and asset management services.
Setting consolidation benchmark in fintech-driven trust
Industry observers view the merger as a potential model for future consolidation in the trust sector, particularly as financial institutions respond to rising client expectations, increasing digitalization, and evolving regulatory requirements.
The transaction also underscores a broader trend in Philippine fintech, where banks and asset managers are aligning their infrastructures to support API-driven services, real-time payments, and digitally enabled investment products.
With the completion of the transaction, ATC reinforces its leadership position in the Philippine trust market and sets a new benchmark for institutional mergers within the industry.
It also signals how trust corporations may play a more active role in the country’s fintech-driven transformation of banking and financial services.
