BDO Unibank, Inc., commonly known as Banco de Oro (BDO), is a Philippine banking company based in Mandaluyong, Philippines. BDO Unibank is a member of the SM Group and can be found at SM Malls throughout the country.
BDO is the largest bank in the Philippines by total assets, and 15th largest in Southeast Asia by total assets, as of March 31, 2016.[5][6] It is the largest bank in the country by market capitalization,[7] and has the largest distribution network with over 1,300 operating branches and more than 4,000 ATMs nationwide.
BDO is a full-service universal bank. It provides products and services to the retail and corporate markets, including lending (corporate, middle market, SME, and consumer), deposit-taking, foreign exchange, brokering, trust and investments, credit cards, corporate cash management and remittances. Through its subsidiaries, the bank offers leasing and financing, investment banking, private banking, bancassurance, insurance brokerage and stockbrokerage services.[8]
BDO, in its present form, is a result of a merger between the original Banco de Oro Universal Bank and the Equitable PCI Bank in 2007. BDO's main competitors are major Philippine banks like state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company and Bank of the Philippine Islands.
History
BDO Unibank was established on January 2, 1968 as Acme Savings Bank, a thrift bank with just two branches in the area before Metro Manila was formed. In November 1976, Acme was acquired by the SM Group, the group of companies owned by retail magnate Henry Sy, and renamed Banco de Oro Savings and Mortgage Bank.
In December 1994, BDO became a commercial bank and was renamed Banco de Oro Commercial Bank. In September 1996, BDO became a universal bank, which led to the bank's name being changed to the current Banco de Oro Universal Bank (BDO Unibank).
BDO Unibank eventually became involved in insurance services in 1997 (it is a bancassurance firm) by establishing a subsidiary called BDO Insurance Brokers. In 1999, BDO Unibank expanded its insurance services through partnerships with Zamora Assurance and Assicurazoni Generali s.p.a. (Generali), one of the world's largest insurance firms, and Jerneh Asia Berhad, a member of Malaysia's Kuok Group. In March 2000, BDO Unibank partnered with Generali Pilipinas Life Assurance Company and Generali Pilipinas Insurance Company.
Merger with Equitable PCI Bank
Ownership
Before "merger of equals" with Equitable PCI Bank
- PCD Nominee Corporation: 40.09% (35.64% foreign, 4.45% Filipino)
- SM Investments Corporation: 27.41%
- Primebridge Holdings: 22.08%
- SM Development Corporation: 4.04%
- Shoemart: 3.57%
- Public stock: 2.45%
Ownership after merging with Equitable PCI Bank
While the Philippine Central Depository (PCD) is listed a major shareholder, it is more of a trustee-nominee for all shares lodged in the PCD system rather than a single owner/shareholder. Major beneficial shareholders (i.e. those who own at least 5% of outstanding capital stock with voting rights) hidden, if any, under the PCD system are checked/identified and are disclosed with the Definitive Information Statement companies are submitting annually to the local bourse and Securities and Exchange Commission
Subsidiaries and affiliates
BDO is divided into the following subsidiaries and affiliates:
Philippine-based subsidiaries
- BDO Capital & Investment Corporation
- BDO Insurance Brokers
- BDO Leasing and Finance Inc.(Formerly PCI Leasing and Finance)
- BDO Securities
- BDO Private Bank
- BDO Realty Corporation
- BDO Securities Corporation
- BDO Strategic Holdings (formerly EBC Investments and 6 other companies)
- BDO Technology Center (Equitable Data Center and PCI Automation Center)
- BDO Trust and Investments Group
- BDO Life Assurance Company
- Equimark-NFC Development Corporation
Mergers and acquisitions
Dao Heng Bank
On June 15, 2001, BDO Unibank merged with Dao Heng Bank's Philippine subsidiary, with BDO Unibank as the surviving entity. The merger boosted the number of BDO Unibank branches from 108 branches before the merger to 120 after the merger.
1st e-Bank
In September 2002, Metro Pacific Corporation (now Neo Oracle Holdings Inc.) sold the operations and 57 branches of 1st e-Bank (formerly PDCP Bank) including its Smart Money Mastercard debit card issuer (which is a partnership with Smart Communications until 2017) to BDO Unibank.[12] it later formally acquired and merged in October of the same year, All 1st e-Bank branches completed integration into the BDO Unibank network, increasing the Bank's number of branches to 177.[13]
Recent events
EMV Debit Card
BDO is the first local bank in the country to roll out a debit card with an EMV chip embedded on it. The EMV chipping system, just like the ones on credit cards will also enhance the security of the debit card holders. The cards were released in 2016.[21]
In 2017, they also introduced the EMV Visa Debit Card.[22]
2021 bank hack
See also
- Equitable PCI Bank
- Banco de Oro–Equitable PCI Bank merger
- BDO Corporate Center
- SM Investments
- BancNet (BDO ATM network)
- China UnionPay
- Chinabank (its sister bank, albeit with smaller capitalization)
- Visa Debit
- Debit MasterCard
- List of banks in the Philippines
- List of largest banks in Southeast Asia
External links
References
- [BDO Unibank, Inc.] Directors and Management PSE Edge, retrieved February 16, 2022^
- Subsidiaries BDO, retrieved February 16, 2022^
- BDO. 2019 Annual Report 2020, retrieved September 19, 2020^