The year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of China Banking Corporation (China Bank). With the theme "Celebrating the Past. Embracing the Future", China Bank is commemorating this important milestone by preserving its legacy while moving forward to better serve its stakeholders.
"We have been able to reach this milestone that few companies do, thanks to the strong foundation and timeless values laid by our founders, the continuing trust and patronage of our customers and shareholders, and the hard work and dedication of China Bankers—from the pioneering staff to our over 10,000 employees today," said China Bank President William C. Whang.
The festivities kicked off with a Lion Dance at the Bank's original head office in Binondo, Manila, which is currently being restored to its original architectural design by German Architect Arthur Julius Niclaus Gambrel Gumbert, and retrofitted with modern technologies to make it more resilient.
The restoration of the 1920s building is the centerpiece of the Bank’s centennial celebration and a major component of Binondo’s renewal. The project will be completed in August and will be marked as a heritage site, coinciding with the launch of the China Bank Museum—both the physical museum inside the building and the mobile based app.
At the Bank’s head office in Makati City, China Bank Chairman Hans T. Sy and President William C. Whang switched on the LED lighted logo of the Bank’s 100th anniversary mounted on the upper floor façade, facing Paseo de Roxas.
On the digital space and social media, the Bank launched the 1-minute version of its centennial ad that tells the story of China Bank’s founding and how its core values remain despite the changing times. It stars Charles Tiu as China Bank founder Dee C. Chuan with celebrity endorser Richard Yap, and directed by award-winning director Paolo Dy. The 30-second version will be aired on cable channels in the coming months.
On January 25, China Bank joined the Chinese New Year motorcade around Chinatown and launched two promos to thank customers for their continued support. As a Chinese New Year treat, customers who deposit at least P30,000 at any China Bank branch from January 24 to 31, get a free China Bank pouch. The Bank also has a year-long promo dubbed "Get the Miles, Enjoy the SM-iles" that rewards customers with air travel (Mabuhay Miles or Get Go points) and shopping (SM gift pass) for their deposits from January 1 to December 31, 2020. Click here for the complete promo mechanics.
Other activities are lined-up for its centennial celebration, including merchandising, events, and a coffee table book. The Bank is updating its 90th anniversary book A Matter of Trust: The China Bank Story, written by the late writer and historian Raul Rodrigo, with Raul’s wife Nancy Rodrigo, herself a published author, and Palanca Awardee Jose “Butch” Dalisay.
"Although the history remains essentially unchanged, this book is more than an updated edition; it is, rather, a window on the future, a rededication of the Bank to its founding ideals and also to its mission to persevere," said Mr. Sy.
China Bank opened for business on August 16, 1920 in Binondo, Manila. Since then, the Bank’s leaders have built a reputation for uncompromising integrity, service excellence, and commitment to clients' financial success — from its incorporators and original board of directors led by Mr. Dee C. Chuan and Mr. Albino Z. SyCip and the first general managers Mr. J.W. McFarren and Mr. Eugene E. Wing; to Mr. Gilbert U. Dee, Mr. Peter S. Dee, and Mr. Ricardo R. Chua; to Mr. Hans T. Sy and Mr. William C. Whang. Over the years, the China Bank has helped businesses succeed and families prosper, while doing its part for the country, society, and the environment.
"We have a rich history of enduring relationships of mutual trust and respect—with our customers, investors, and each other; of creating value for society; of making a better tomorrow for the next generation. As we adapted to a fast-changing world, we modernized without losing our core values and without changing China Bank’s distinct character, while continuing to serve with warmth and personal touch," said Mr. Whang.
China Bank's 100th year is as much about looking ahead as remembering history. The Bank is entering the new decade with a digital transformation strategy that centers on building up digital capabilities and enhancing manpower skills and culture with agility, scalability, and resilience to better meet the fast-evolving needs of customers. It is targeting to roll-out key digital and automation projects to support its wildly important goals (WIGs): business growth, customer centricity, operational excellence, and employee engagement.
"While China Bank must and will embrace the digital future, wasting no opportunity to ensure that we are centrally engaged in 21st-century banking and can offer our clients the cutting-edge services they expect, we will also bring to the table what no technology can buy: a century of trustworthiness," said Mr. Sy.