China Banking Corporation (Chinabank) is a leading private universal bank in the Philippines with over 100 years of banking experience and history. Focused on you, our customers, we offer a full range of banking products and services, as well as the financial solutions to help you achieve your personal and business goals through our subsidiaries China Bank Savings, Chinabank Capital, Chinabank Securities, Resurgent Capital, Chinabank Insurance, and affiliate MCB Life.
Chinabank’s head office is located in Makati City, Philippines. As of December 31, 2023, our nationwide footprint spanned 648 branches, complemented by self-service and digital banking channels available 24/7 — 1,069 ATMs, Cash Accept Machine, Chinabank TellerPhone, Chinabank Online, and Chinabank Mobile App.
Chinabank is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “CBC”. We are a member of the SM Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines.
Chinabank was founded by Dee C. Chuan, a leading business leader and philanthropist, Don Albino Sycip, known as the Dean of Philippine Banking, and ten other prominent businessmen of the era. The Bank opened for business on August 16, 1920 on Calle Rosario—now Quintin Paredes St., Binondo, Manila. With a modern Chinese organization structure, and guided with an in-depth understanding of the way Chinese merchants do business—like operating on the principle of xinyong or trustworthiness—Chinabank steadily grew and flourished. However, when Japan invaded Manila in 1942, the Bank was liquidated by the Japanese Military authorities. We reopened on July 23, 1945 and played a key role in post-World War II reconstruction and economic recovery by lending heavily to businesses and entrepreneurs in critical industries.
Since then, a succession of highly capable leaders and visionaries steered the Bank into decades of successful operations. Chinabank was among the first local banks listed on the Manila Stock Exchange in 1927, the first in Southeast Asia to process deposit accounts on-line in 1969, and the first to offer telephone banking in the Philippines in 1988. In 1991, we acquired our universal banking license.
Aside from growing organically, strategic acquisitions fast-tracked Chinabank’s expansion. In 2007, we acquired Manila Bank and re-launched it as China Bank Savings. To further expand our branch network and presence in the middle/SME markets, we acquired Unity Bank in 2012 and Planters Development Bank in 2014.
In 2020, we marked our 100th anniversary. The restoration of Chinabank’s original headquarters in Binondo, Manila was the centrepiece of our centennial celebration. The Board of Directors also approved the Centennial Stock Grant Plan, gifting Chinabank Group employees with at least one year of service as of the Bank’s centenary with 100 shares for every year of service.
Amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, Chinabank continued to support customers while sustaining strong growth. Chinabank was named the Best Bank in the Philippines in 2021 by regional financial magazine The Asset and emerged as the second strongest bank in the Philippines and among the top 20% in the Asia Pacific region in The Asian Banker’s ranking of 500 strongest banks in 2021. In 2022, we became the fourth largest private universal bank in the country in terms of assets and we breached the trillion-peso mark in deposits. In 2024, we won the highest governance award for the second time, the Five Golden Arrows, and was named 2023 Employer of the Year by the People Management Association of the Philippines.
We will be a leading provider of quality services consistently delivered to institutions, entrepreneurs, and individuals here and abroad, to meet their financial needs and exceed their rising expectations.
We will be a primary catalyst in the creation of wealth for our customers, driven by a desire to help them succeed, through a highly engaged team of competent and empowered professionals, guided by in-depth knowledge of their needs and supported by leading-edge technology.
We will maintain the highest ethical standards, sense of responsibility, and fairness with respect to our customers, employees, shareholders, and the communities we serve.
Drawing strength from our rich history, we will be the best, most admired, and innovative financial services institution, partnering with our customers, employees, and shareholders in wealth and value creation.
The Board reviews Chinabank's mission and vision periodically and the corporate strategy annually. The Bank adopts a top-down approach whereby the role of the BOD is to convey the shareholders' expectations to Senior Management which in turn formulates the Bank's objectives and strategies into annual and 5-year business plan. The business plans and strategies are then presented to the Board for review and approval.
On February 14, 2024, the Bank's 2024-2028 business plans were presented to the Executive Committee. After deliberating, the directors approved Management's projections and recommendations. The modified business plans containing updates from the Executive Committee and the Management were submitted to and approved by the Board on March 8, 2024 and April 3, 2024, respectively.
This centennial edition is an expansive update of the earlier book
published for Chinabank’s 90th anniversary, and part of a bigger package
to celebrate the Bank’s 100th anniversary.
Get fast answers to your queries. Check out our help center.
Visit our FAQs page