Philippine Veterans Bank
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| Type | Private |
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| Industry | Finance and Insurance |
| Founded | Manila, Philippines (1963) |
| Headquarters | Makati, Philippines |
| Key people | Emmanuel V. De Ocampo, Chairman Ricardo A. Balbido, Jr., President and CEO |
| Products | Financial Services |
| Net income | PHP 509 million ( 20%) (2010) |
| Employees | 700 |
| Website | www.veteransbank.com.ph |
Philippine Veterans Bank, also known as PVB and Veterans Bank, is a medium-sized commercial bank in the Philippines. PVB is owned by Philippine World War II war veterans and their families and caters to both corporate and retail financial markets. As part of its charter, PVB provides 20% of its annual net income for the benefit of its shareholders.
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[edit] History
The concept of a bank for veterans of World War II was conceived in 1956, when a war reparations agreement was signed between Japan and the Philippines. The agreement provided for twenty million dollars in cash, five million pesos in capital and ten million dollars in services. Under Republic Act No. 1789[1], better known as the Reparations Act, the cash reparations were set aside into a special trust fund for the use of World War II veterans and their families. There were plans to split the funds evenly among all veterans, but legislators say that it is in the higher interest that the funds be invested in a bank that would service their needs. If the fund were split at the time, each veteran would get only one hundred pesos at the then-prevailing exchange rate of two pesos per U.S. dollar.
Through the stirring words of Senator Camilo Osias, as shown in the excerpt below, the Philippine Veterans Bank was born on June 18, 1963 through Republic Act No. 3518[2], which would become its charter.
| “ | True patriotism seeks no reward for services rendered to the State at great sacrifice even at the cost of life itself; but it is also the duty of the State to create the necessary atmosphere and incentives for her citizens. | ” |
Under the PVB charter, the bank's subscribed capital of one hundred million pesos would be divided into 510,000 common shares and 490,000 preferred shares, all with a par value of one hundred pesos. All common shares were subscribed by the government on behalf of the veterans, their families and descendants, while the preferred shares were distributed for free among the veterans.
Unfortunately, the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos proved disastrous for the bank. Subsequent amendments to the PVB charter made through the use of presidential decrees enabled government control over the appointing of PVB's officers, even though the veterans would receive the right to elect their own board members five years after the organization of the bank through the transfer of PVB's common shares. That effectively curtailed the right of the veterans to choose their own board of directors even after all common shares were transferred to them. In essence, the veterans became PVB shareholders in name only. Due to capital deficiencies (and political excesses during the Marcos era), PVB was ordered closed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on April 10, 1983, placed under receivership, and subsequently liquidated on June 17, 1985.
By the closure of PVB, a common and a preferred PVB share, worth a combined two hundred pesos, was reduced to a worthless piece of paper. After twenty-three years, each veteran only received twenty-eight pesos worth of dividends as a return on their investment, or fourteen pesos per share.
With the EDSA Revolution and the subsequent ouster of Marcos, the new Philippine government passed Republic Act No. 7169[3], which would rescind all amendments made during the Marcos era to the PVB charter. The law would revert the PVB charter back to its original state. Through the law, the veterans regained their rights as rightful shareholders of the bank, which were denied during the Marcos era. Since the law also understood that the veterans took no role in the failure of PVB, it allowed the restructuring of its locked government deposits, totaling 1.48 billion pesos at the time, into a seven-year loan. Unlike other banks of its classification, which were bailed out by the government, PVB had to rely on internal funds to keep its commercial banking license. Because of that, its authorized capital was raised to one billion pesos from the previous 100 million. Today, PVB has an authorized capital of five billion pesos.
On May 6, 1992, the Bangko Sentral granted PVB the authority to operate as a private commercial bank, giving up all government control of the bank, and a month later, on June 3, was symbolically re-opened by then-President Fidel V. Ramos, himself a veteran (although not of World War II). The bank re-opened its doors for commercial operations a month after the symbolic re-opening with the opening of its new headquarters in Makati.
Since its re-opening, the bank grew rapidly, opening new branches in the countryside, even with a conservative investment stance. It arranged a conduit agreement with Union Bank of the Philippines to serve veterans who receive their veterans benefits checks but live in areas where there are no PVB branches. With its recapitalization, the original two shares of each veteran grew to 54 common and ten preferred shares, with a combined value of 6,400 pesos. PVB also embarked on goodwill programs for its veterans, such as free medical care. The bank also places preference to veterans in banking transactions, and places preference to their descendants when applying for PVB jobs. Even with a troubled history, the bank has not failed to only inspire, but also to stand strong in times of crisis.
[edit] Veterans Bank Today
Since reopening in 1992, PVB has enjoyed profitability and success even with its conservative investment stance. With its recapitalization, the original two shares of each veteran grew to 54 common and 10 preferred shares now with a combined value of P6,400. PVB also embarked on goodwill programs for World War II veterans such as free medical care. It also puts preference to veterans in banking transactions and puts preference to their descendants in hiring bank personnel.
Veterans Bank is currently ranked 19th among the Philippines’ 38 universal and commercial banks. The bank reported a net income of P509 million for 2010, 20% higher than the net income reported in 2009. At the close of 2010, PVB’s total resources stood at P58.2 billion, and P5.4 billion in capitalization, continuing the trend of growth and profitability in recent years[4]. Its capital adequacy ratio, a measure of banks to shoulder risks, was at 17.16%, one of the highest in the industry and way above the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas requirement of 10%. PVB currently employs about 700 officers and rank-and-file employees.
It now has 60 branches in key cities and municipalities nationwide, with the last 10 branches opening simultaneously in January 2010[5] under its "10 in 2010" branch expansion program. The bank aims to open several more branches in other key locations across the country to give World War II veterans and their families, as well as its other clients easier access and convenience to its products and services.
In 2010 Veterans Bank became a member of BancNet[6], the Philippines largest interbank network. The migration to BancNet allowed its over 200,000 cardholders 24/7 access to PVB through the network's over 4,000 ATMs nationwide as well as access to BancNet's multitude of services.
[edit] Subsidiaries and Affiliates
Intervest Projects, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Philippine Veterans Bank. The bank is a member of BancNet[7].
Monarch Properties, Inc. was a wholly owned subsidiary of PVB before it was merged with the bank last November 2010 after receiving approval from the BSP[8].
[edit] Ownership
Veterans Bank is 100% owned by Filipino World War II veterans, their families, heirs and descendants.
[edit] Competition
As a private commercial bank, Philippine Veterans Bank competes with the other 38 universal and commercial banks in delivering banking and financial services to both corporate and retail markets. As mandated by law (RA 7169), PVB was granted the privilege to accept government deposits.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Philippine Veterans Bank
- Veterans Memorial Medical Center
- Philippine Veterans Affairs Office website
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno1789.html
- ^ http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno3518.html
- ^ http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno7169.html
- ^ http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/bank-s-2010-income
- ^ http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/239880/veterans-bank-opens-10-branches-2010
- ^ http://www.bancnetonline.com/BancnetWeb/viewNews.do?newsIdHidden=141
- ^ http://mb.com.ph/articles/296948/3-more-banks-join-bancnet-network
- ^ http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?id=24580
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