Barangays & Settlements

Barangays, sitios, towns, and local settlements — the smallest administrative units of the Philippines.

185 articles

Articles

11 min read

Card Bank: History, operations and micro-finance focus in the Philippines

Card Bank is a Philippine rural bank established in 1997, focusing on micro-finance and financial inclusion with 750 offices nationwide.

8 min read

EastWest Rural Bank: History, acquisitions and microfinance operations

Profile of EastWest Rural Bank, a major Philippine rural bank formed from Green Bank and FinMan Bank acquisitions.

10 min read

PSBank: Ownership structure, market position and notable controversies

Overview of PSBank, the largest savings bank in the Philippines, its Metrobank ownership and key historical events.

8 min read

Purok: Definition, structure and role in Philippine local governance

A purok is an informal subdivision within a Philippine barangay, serving as a key unit for local administration and disaster preparedness.

11 min read

Bank of Makati: History, transition to savings bank and operations

Bank of Makati, established in 1956, transitioned from a rural bank to a savings bank in 2015.

13 min read

Barangay Tanod: The Philippines' grassroots law enforcement

Overview of the barangay tanod, the lowest level of law enforcement in the Philippines, their duties, history, and compensation.

14 min read

Sitio: Definition, history and role in Philippine local governance

A sitio is a territorial enclave within a Philippine barangay, typically rural and distinct from urban puroks.

12 min read

Marayo Bank: History and operations in Negros Occidental

Marayo Bank, a rural bank in the Philippines founded in 1969, serves farmers and merchants in Negros Occidental and Iloilo.

10 min read

CitySavings Bank: History, ownership and operations in the Philippines

CitySavings Bank is a thrift bank subsidiary of UnionBank, founded in Cebu in 1965 and regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

14 min read

Asia United Bank: History, operations and corporate structure

Asia United Bank (AUB) is a Philippine universal bank and the banking arm of the Rebisco Group, established in 1997.

10 min read

EastWest Bank: History, acquisitions and digital expansion in the Philippines

Profile of EastWest Bank, a major Philippine bank founded in 1994 by the Gotianun family, detailing its mergers, rural banking subsidiary an...

13 min read

Sterling Bank of Asia: History, ownership and operations in the Philippines

Sterling Bank of Asia is a Philippine savings bank owned by the JTKC Group, established in 2007 to support SMEs.

10 min read

Philippine Veterans Bank: History, ownership and operations

Overview of Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB), its WWII veteran ownership, history, and commercial operations in the Philippines.

12 min read

BDO Network Bank: History, consolidation and operations in Mindanao

BDO Network Bank, formerly One Network Bank, is the largest rural bank in the Philippines with 96 branches in Mindanao.

19 min read

Banco Filipino: History, closure and legacy in Philippine banking

History of Banco Filipino, its 2011 closure by BSP, PDIC receivership, and property developments.

12 min read

GoTyme Bank: Digital Banking Subsidiary of the Gokongwei Group

GoTyme Bank is a Filipino direct bank and subsidiary of the Gokongwei Group, launched in 2022 as a joint venture with TymeBank.

12 min read

Security Bank: History, operations and corporate structure in the Philippines

Overview of Security Bank Corporation, its history since 1951, MUFG partnership, and operations in the Philippines.

11 min read

United Coconut Planters Bank: History, merger with LandBank and legacy

History of UCPB, from its 1963 inception to its 2022 merger with LandBank of the Philippines.

12 min read

Cooperative Bank of Misamis Oriental

History and operations of the Cooperative Bank of Misamis Oriental, a Filipino cooperative bank established in 1979 in Northern Mindanao.

13 min read

Development Bank of the Philippines: History, structure and operations

State-owned development bank in the Philippines established in 1947, focusing on infrastructure, agriculture and SME financing.