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Facade shot of China Bank (with logo)

China Bank to sustain loan expansion program, invests P2 billion in its thrift bank division

Listed China Banking Corp. is injecting an extra P2 billion into its thrift banking division to support continued loan growth and increase its capacity to service new banking population segments.

The capital infusion to China Bank Savings Inc. (CBSI) was approved by the board of directors of the Sy-led bank recently in order to support its “sustained loan expansion and enhance its ability to cover and serve more segments of the banking and unbanked population.”

IMAGE CREDIT: https://www.chinabank.ph/

In 2007, the Puyat family sold their 87.51 percent ownership in the Manila Banking Corp., which was later renamed CBSI, to China Bank.

After merging with Unity Bank in 2012 and with Planters Development Bank in 2014, it has since become one of the top thrift banks in the country.

Based on the latest information from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), as of the end of March this year, CBSI was the third-largest thrift bank in terms of assets with P132.68 billion and the fifth-largest in terms of capital with P14.08 billion.

James Christian Dee, president of CBSI, is upbeat despite high inflation and sluggish economic growth because the bank’s net income increased by 15% and above expectations by 4%.

With a focus on customer-centric initiatives, CBSI Chairman Ricardo Chua is also optimistic that the bank would maintain its outstanding performance in the second half of 2023.

“I believe we can overcome all of these if we have a strong, cohesive, and well-prepared organization, one that is focused and engaged with our customers, one that not only is good at bringing them excellent banking services but also one that is ready for the digital economy,” Chua said.

Ralph Fajardo

Ralph, the Editor-in-Chief of FintechNewsPH.com, brings over 15 years of writing and editorial experience that make him a strong fit to lead the publication’s mission of delivering credible and compelling fintech stories. Before joining FintechNewsPH.com, he served as editor of Hello Philippines, a UK-based news magazine for the Filipino community abroad, where he covered stories on culture, business, and the global Filipino experience. He also contributed as a writer for The International Filipino, profiling Filipinos making an impact worldwide, and later worked as copy editor for Malaya Business Insight, one of the country’s respected business newspapers, where he refined his eye for accuracy, clarity, and style. Ralph’s editorial journey began at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he was Editor-in-Chief of Kampus Dyornal. There, he developed a keen sense for storytelling that informs and connects — a passion that continues to define his work today. Through the years, Ralph has written across diverse subjects, from finance and technology to culture and communication, consistently weaving insight with narrative depth. His solid newsroom background and commitment to quality journalism position him to guide FintechNewsPH.com in highlighting the stories that shape the country’s rapidly evolving fintech landscape. Discover more about Ralph's professional journey on his LinkedIn profile.