Chinabank (CBC) named its long-serving leader, Gilbert U. Dee, Chairman Emeritus, following his decision to step down from his key governance roles within the CBC Group effective October 7, 2026.

Dee resigned as the Vice Chairman of CBC and as the Chairman of its subsidiary, CBC Properties & Computer Center, Inc., capping an illustrious 57-year tenure highlighted by a transformative 22-year reign as the bank’s Chairman from 1989 until 2011.

Under Dee’s stewardship, CBC achieved several defining milestones. Just two years into his chairmanship, the bank secured its universal banking license in 1991, enabling it to expand beyond traditional commercial banking into non-allied enterprises and investment banking activities. In 2007, the bank entered into a strategic bancassurance partnership with Manulife Philippines to form Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corporation. In the same year, CBC acquired Manila Bank. This strategic acquisition served as the launchpad for the bank’s retail and thrift banking expansion, leading to the establishment of CBS China Bank Savings in 2008.

As Chairman Emeritus, Dee will continue to serve as a vital advisory figure for the bank, ensuring that his decades of institutional knowledge and corporate wisdom remain accessible as CBC navigates the digital banking era.