EastWest Champions Retirement Readiness at BSP PERA Forum

CEO Jerry Ngo shares bank’s success story on its employee retirement readiness program

EastWest CEO Jerry Ngo speaks at the BSP-sponsored PERA@Work Forum on advancing retirement readiness among Filipino workers

East West Banking Corporation (EastWest) championed the role of employers in strengthening retirement readiness among Filipino workers at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-subsidized PERA@Work: Powering Employer-led Retirement Security Forum.

Speaking at the forum, EastWest CEO Jerry G. Ngo shared the Bank's experience as the first universal bank in the Philippines to launch a voluntary Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) contribution program for employees.

Why Today's Filipino Workers Are Looking Beyond Salary

Health, security, and peace of mind are becoming just as important as compensation

For many Filipinos, work has always been about more than just earning a living. It is about providing for loved ones, building a better future, and creating a sense of security for the people who matter most. Today, however, the way employees evaluate job opportunities is evolving. While salary remains an important consideration, many are increasingly looking beyond compensation such as healthcare access, family protection, financial security, work-life balance, and overall well-being. 

Recent studies suggest this shift is becoming more pronounced. Aon's 2025 Human Capital Employee Sentiment Study found 64% of Filipino employees are considering changing employers within the next year, highlighting the growing importance of creating a workplace experience that goes beyond a paycheck.

EastWest Builds Smarter, More Relevant Banking for Customers

EastWest is advancing a smarter, easier and more customer-focused model of banking--using data to deliver more relevant financial options, improving everyday service experiences, and helping broaden investor access to one of the country’s landmark public offerings.

These initiatives earned EastWest three major recognitions from Asian Banking & Finance (ABF): Mid-Sized Retail Bank of the Year – Philippines and Analytics Initiative of the Year – Philippines, both for the second consecutive year at the Asian Banking and Finance Retail Banking Awards, and its first IPO Deal of the Year – Philippines award at the Asian Banking and Finance Corporate and Investment Banking Awards.

The awards demonstrate the impact of EastWest’s continued push to make banking more intuitive, accessible, and relevant to customers’ evolving financial needs. The Bank combines digital convenience with personal, advisory-led service across its store network which provides customers with more ways to transact, seek guidance, and manage their money with confidence. In 2025, digital transactions accounted for 51% of total transactions, while new digital onboarding capabilities enabled customers to open accounts and access services with less time and effort.

EastWest also completed customer journey improvements across digital onboarding, dispute resolution, complaints handling, and in-store experience. These enhancements helped drive an eight-point improvement in the Bank’s Net Promoter Score and a lower complaints ratio, reflecting stronger customer experience outcomes.

“Our progress begins with understanding what customers genuinely need and removing the friction that can get in their way,” said Ms. Ivy B. Uy, EVP and Head of Branch Banking Group. “Whether they are opening an account, exploring an investment, growing a business, or planning for the future, we want every interaction with EastWest to feel more relevant, thoughtful, and easy.”

The same customer-first discipline also shaped EastWest’s award-winning analytics initiative. As market conditions evolved and customer preferences shifted, the Bank used data-driven insights to better understand how customers manage savings, investments, and liquidity across different life stages and financial goals.

These insights gave EastWest Stores and relationship managers a stronger basis for meaningful customer conversations, enabling more personalized guidance on fixed-income investment options while supporting both immediate needs and long-term financial planning.

Beyond retail banking, EastWest was also recognized for its role in expanding access to the Philippine capital market as a Domestic Participating Underwriter for the initial public offering of Maynilad Water Services, Inc.

Completed in November 2025, the transaction became one of the largest initial public offerings in Philippine history and drew strong investor interest, reinforcing confidence in the country’s capital markets.

Through its distribution network and client relationships, EastWest helped support domestic and retail investor participation, contributing to a more diversified shareholder base. The offering also strengthened Maynilad’s capital base for long-term water and wastewater infrastructure investments while broadening its access to funding.

“These recognitions reflect different strengths of the Bank, but they are connected by one purpose: creating meaningful value for the people and institutions we serve,” Uy added. “They encourage us to keep listening, learning, and finding better ways to help our customers move forward.”

EastWest’s latest ABF wins validate its customer-focused growth strategy: using insight to make financial decisions more relevant, improving access across physical and digital channels, and connecting more Filipinos to opportunities in banking and investment.

Security Bank and Security Bank Capital clinch nine wins for landmark infrastructure deals at The Asset Triple A Awards 2026

Security Bank and Security Bank Capital Investment Corporation won nine awards for landmark infrastructure deals at The Asset Triple A Awards. Seated (L-R): Yvonne Joanna P. Marcelo, EVP and Corporate Banking Group Head, Security Bank; Victor Lee, President and CEO, Security Bank; Virgilio Chua, President and CEO, Security Bank Capital. Standing (L-R): Nescy Joy Mendoza VP and Team Lead, Security Bank; Kimberly Malka Soner, AVP and Relationship Manager, Security Bank; Angelica Alonzo, Enterprise Risk Analyst, Security Bank; Roberto Tejuco, VP and Relationship Manager/Team Lead, Security Bank; Serafin Del Rosario, FVP and Enterprise Risk Evaluation Head, Security Bank; Michael Patrick F. Cruz, VP and Relationship Manager/Team Lead, Security Bank; Maria Margarita Antoinette C. Lee, FVP and Executive Director and Coverage and Origination Team Head, Security Bank Capital; Marie Jeanine Lansang, AVP and Associate Director and Deal Execution Team Head, Security Bank Capital; and Daisy Garcia, SVP and Managing Director and Deal Execution Team Head, Security Bank Capital

Security Bank marks ArteFino’s 10th anniversary with exclusive cardholder privileges

Security Bank is celebrating the 10th anniversary of ArteFino with exclusive privileges for its cardholders, while continuing its longstanding support for Filipino artisans, designers, and homegrown brands.

From July 30 to August 2, 2026, ArteFino's Isang Dekada edition will bring together more than 100 Filipino brands across The Fifth, North Court, South Court, and Lifestyle Hall at Power Plant Mall in Makati City.

Throughout the four-day event, Security Bank cardholders will enjoy complimentary admission upon presentation of their Security Bank card, a dedicated payment lane for faster checkout, and flexible payment options, including 0% ChargeLight Installment for up to 12 months or Charge Now, Pay Later on a minimum single-receipt purchase of PHP10,000.

"ArteFino has always been about celebrating the people behind the craft. The makers, the stories, and the traditions they carry forward. That's something we're proud to support," said Tanya Deakin, Corporate Communications Division Head of Security Bank. "As we celebrate 75 years of BetterBanking, we're grateful to partner with organizations that create opportunities for Filipino entrepreneurs while giving our clients access to experiences they'll genuinely enjoy."

Sun Life Philippines wins two awards at Insurance Asia Awards 2026

King Domingo, Client Experience Lead, Sun Life Philippines; Daureen Andal, Chief Product Solutions Officer, Sun Life Philippines; and Tim Charlton, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Insurance Asia Magazine

Sun Life Philippines has been recognized for excellence in both innovation and employee engagement, winning two honors at the Insurance Asia Awards 2026:

Insurance Product Innovation of the Year – Philippines for Sun Life EasyLink Protect

Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. Reaffirms Commitment to Helping OFWs "Come Home for Good"

Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc., in partnership with the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute and the Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), brought its continuing advocacy to life by co-presenting a two-leg Overseas Filipinos Health and Financial Wellness Expo.

Held in Cebu and Iloilo, the initiative brought together migrant workers, seafarers, dependents, and stakeholders for a day focused on health, financial literacy, and community support. 

On-site services and informational sessions were provided by government agencies, including the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, and PhilHealth. Meanwhile, healthcare services were delivered by Physicians Diagnostic Services Center Inc., which offered physical examinations, blood sugar testing, and a wellness lecture addressing the unique health challenges faced by seafarers.