History
CARD SME Bank, Inc. is formerly known as the Rural Bank of Sto. Tomas (Batangas), Inc. (RBSTI). It provided loan facilities to rural producers for their various productive endeavors. Being the pioneer bank to operate in Sto. Tomas Batangas, it became a catalyst for growth and progress in the municipality.
The Monetary Board of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas issued a certificate of authority to operate as rural bank to RBSTI on May 10, 1962 and became the 14th rural bank in the province of Batangas. It was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 7, 1962 with an authorized capital stock of one million pesos and five (5) incorporators from the Malvar and Castillo families. Two (2) branches were opened: Silang, Cavite in 1996 and Lipa City, Batangas, in August 1997. In December 2008, Silang branch was transferred to Tagaytay City, Cavite.
On July 2002, the bank encountered difficulties that led them to the decision of selling majority of the shares of stocks to CARD MRI. The Rehabilitation Court and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas officially approved the sale/transfer of shares of stock on September 5, 2007 and February 7, 2008, respectively.
CARD MRI assumed the ownership of RBSTI on July 31, 2007. This strategic move will support the graduating microenterprises clients of CARD, Inc. and CARD Bank, Inc., by empowering them through continuous access to financial resources and non-financial services. CARD MRI’s social mission of poverty alleviation has been integrated into RBSTI’s microfinance operations.
On May 20, 2010, the Monetary Board of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has approved the increase in the authorized capital stock of the bank from Php20 Million to Php500 Million and the number of Board of Directors from 5 to 9 members and was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 5, 2010. Subsequently on December 9, 2010, the Monetary Board of BSP through Resolution No. 1757 has lifted the Bank from Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) and approving the conversion of the operation of the bank from rural bank category to a thrift bank. The Amended Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws as a thrift bank was approved by the BSP on April 8, 2011 and was registered with SEC on May 11, 2011. The Governor of the BSP signed the Bank’s Certificate of Authority to operate as thrift bank on June 15, 2011.
On July 25, 2011, the bank has inaugurated the opening of its new Head Office in San Pablo City, Laguna and started operating under its new name “CARD SME BANK, INC., A Thrift Bank”, while retaining Sto. Tomas, Batangas as one of its braches. Afterwards, it opened additional branches in Batangas City, Sta. Rosa City and Cavite City Branch on year 2012 and Calamba City, Balayan, Batangas and Dasmariñas City in 2013.
Vision and Mission
Vision
CARD SME Bank, Inc. supports CARD MRI’s vision statement as a Group of Mutually Reinforcing Institutions that is dedicated to empower the poor by upholding the core values of competence, family spirit, integrity, stewardship, humility, culture of excellence, and simplicity. As one of the institutions that comprise the CARD MRI and in support of its mission, CARD SME envisions building a sustainable financial and capacity building institution owned and led by socially-and-economically challenged families by providing integrated Microfinance, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) and social development (credit with education, leadership with a heart, innovative community programs) services to an expanding membership base by organizing and empowering women and their families; and continue upholding the highest standards of stewardship of financial, human, and institutional resources.
Mission
To provide banking services especially designed for landless rural workers by bringing bank services to community sites and accommodating the least financial transactions within their affordability
To provide collateralized and non-collateralized loans to financially excluded MSMEs but with viable, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable MSME projects.
To grow the bank’s SME lending to become the pre-eminent SME Bank in the Philippines to be able to reach more SME beneficiaries.
Our Team
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip
Chairman
Ms. Mary Jane A. Perreras
Vice-Chairperson for External Affairs
Mr. Aristeo A. Dequito
Vice-Chairperson for Administration
Ms. Elma B. Valenzuela
Director
Dr. Gilbert M. Llanto
Director
Atty. Wilfredo B. Domo-ong
Director
Ms. Cynthia B. Baldeo
Director/President and CEO
Ms. Chona Felesedario
Independent Director
Ms. Irene D. Arroyo
Independent Director
Ms. Maria Agnes Jopson Angeles
Independent Director
Ms. Abundia C. Manabes
Independent Director
Dr. Dolores M. Torres
Adviser
Ms. Maria Elena M. Ruiz
Adviser
Ms. Milagros C. Rojas
Corporate Secretary
Dr. Edzel A. Ramos
Assistant Corporate Secretary
Ms. Lorenza dT. Bañez
Corporate Treasurer
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Cynthia B. Baldeo
President and CEO
Julius Adrian R. Alip
Executive Vice President
Jeannie T. La Rosa
Vice President – Finance (OIC)
Manolo M. Martinez
Vice President for Product Development
and Innovative Solutions (OIC)
Cherry A. Boncajes
Vice President – Operations (OIC)
Anita F. Rapera
Vice President – Operations (OIC)
Florence Castillo
Assistant Vice President- Operations
Rodel Bombase
Assistant Vice President- Operations
Leonida M. Gutierrez
Assistant Vice President- Operations (OIC)
Patricia G. Saballo
Assistant Vice President- Operations (OIC)
Dennis O. Dimaculangan
Assistant Vice President for
Mobile Financial Services (OIC)
Joy G. Palomique
Assistant Vice President for Operations
Benedict A. Ame
Chief Compliance Officer
Jennifer P. Masa
Deputy Director for Compliance
Jerry V. Montejo
Assistant Vice President for Risk Management
Lourdes A. Marasigan
Regional Director
Norberto A. De Guzman
Credit Risk Management Officer
Allan D. Dimaano
Chief Information Officer
Juliana M. Salcedo
Regional Director
Rosella F. Sansano
Regional Director
Marites Angara
Regional Director
Amalia R. Ditchoso
Regional Director
Shielo K. Reyes
Regional Director
Maribeth C. Quilit
Regional Director
Mary Rose L. Venerayan
Regional Director
Jayson P. Solosa
Regional Director
Eva O. Mandahilan
Regional Director
Belinda F. Salazar
Regional Director (OIC)
Jeanny Babe F. Balandra
Regional Director (OIC)
Gerilyn P. Bautista
Regional Director (OIC)
Helario I. Divino
Regional Director (OIC)
Ian M. Madrona
Acting Regional Director
Madonna U. Bautista
Senior Area Manager
Eugeniano D. Gabbac
Senior Area Manager
Bibiana A. Alimpolos
Senior Area Manager
Rachel A. Colis
Senior Area Manager
Rossana A. Cacha
Policy Officer
Mildred B. Matienzo
Deputy Director for Accounting (OIC)
Raymond Uy
Deputy Director for Audit (OIC)
Teresita D. Bicomong
Senior Personnel Manager
Glexter S. Marasigan
Data Scientist (OIC)
Jerrom A. Ibardeloza
Information Security Officer
Tristan Marce C. Rivera
DCC Manager
Peter Pasia
Legal Manager
Ariel F. De Villa
Security Officer
Awards and Certifications
In 2013, the CARD SME Bank, Inc. was Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ second place awardee for the Financial Inclusion category. The award on Financial Inclusion recognizes BSP’s partners who demonstrate tangible results in terms of breadth and depth of outreach to the previously unbanked or underbanked.
CARD SME Bank, Inc. of San Pablo City of Laguna was named Outstanding Thrift Bank during Land Bank’s 2018 Gawad CFI Award.