(October 16, 2020) — Philippine National Bank (PSE: PNB) was honored by The Asian Banker with Best Managed Bank and Best CEO during its annual Leadership Achievement Awards held last 15 October 2020.

The award was given to PNB for demonstrating excellence on its response to the challenges brought about by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“The pandemic has proven to be the toughest challenge we are facing as a business community and as a Filipino nation thus far. We are delighted that our efforts in providing safe and sustainable banking have been recognized by The Asian Banker. It is truly an honor. We thank our Chairman, Dr. Lucio Tan, the Tan Family, and our Board of Directors and Management Team for their unwavering support. We are grateful for every Philnabanker for their exemplary commitment to serve”, PNB President and CEO Wick Veloso said.

With the appropriate technologies already in place prior to the lockdown in March, PNB was able to quickly deploy majority of its workforce on a work-from-home arrangement to ensure uninterrupted financial services while safeguarding the health of its customers and employees. In addition to its digital platform, financial services were also made accessible to customers as its Bank On Wheels made rounds in areas where ATMs are limited. The bank also launched numerous initiatives to assist individuals severely affected by the ECQ such as PNBigay Tulong, an employee-giving campaign benefiting outsourced personnel who were temporarily not allowed to go to work because of the lockdown.

The Asian Banker’s Leadership Achievement Awards Programme is widely acknowledged as the highest possible recognition available to professionals in the financial services industry in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. The Programme aims to provide benchmarks of exemplary leadership for future generations of potential leaders so that the industry can develop in a sustainable manner.