Success Stories
Published by First Country Bank on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 6:20 PM.
Read about some of our success stories.
Success story: Maura Espeurta
Better than winning the lotto.
We have heard of success stories from lotto winners but not all people are as lucky. For ordinary people like Maura Espeurta, the next best thing to winning the lotto is getting a loan from First Country Bank. When her husband was laid off from a well-known bread company, Maura was already involved in a small hopia business which was financed through FCB's microfinance loan. She, like most of her neighbors in Nagpayong, learned about this business opportunity through FBC's projected meetings in different barangays. These meetings are regularly held by FCB's technical officers in order to encourage unemployed or underemployed housewives to set up small and medium-scale businesses which are to be financed by the bank.
Maura's application for loan was approved a month after filing. Approval period would have been as short as one week if had she submitted all the requirements. Her loan was acquired through the bank's group liability scheme. The first-cycle fund she got was well invested in an oven. Being a good borrower got her a second-cycle loan which she used as added capital to her growing business. As of the present, she sells different variations of the much-loved delicacy: ube, monggo, and baboy for P5 per pack. She sells these home-made goodies to sari-sari stores, canteens, and households. Maura plans to apply for another loan, as her small business has started to attract more customers. Her next target is to buy a kneading machine and a mixer, and who knows, she might end up being a hopia magnate. Her message to other hopefuls: “Magbakasakali para lumaki ang negosyo at malaki ang maitutulong sa pagbabago ng buhay. Ngayon, medyo nakagagaan na kami, meron nang siguradong pagkakakitaan.”
Success story: Aling Dionisia Gacutno
FCB builds up lives through microfinance loans which are mostly given to mothers and wives.
Everywhere around the world, little girls wish to have a doll of their own, at one time or another. The favorite are the Barbie dolls, which can be bought in every mall there is. Sadly, not all parents can afford to buy their little girls this piece of luxury. Fortunately, there are the likes of Aling Dionisia Gacutno, who sell these dolls for only P35 a piece, a mere 10% of the price of the original Barbie. Aling Dionisia, who hails from Base, Samar, moved to Metro Manila in 1987 to start a new life with her husband. Her husband worked as a carpenter while she got involved in various small businesses, such as doll-making.
However, since all the money they had was only from their own savings, their small businesses encountered many problems, such as lack of capital and supplies. In 2003, Aling Dionisia heard of FCB's Microfinance Loan through an NGO and decided to apply. Since then, she managed to acquire more capital. Thus, her small business managed to expand, and is most especially fruitful during the Christmas season. Today, she delivers dolls to “sukis” who have stalls during fiestas. Her message to other small business owners: “Kapag mangungutang, siguraduhing maayos ang pagbayad. Diskartehan ng mabuti ang ang negosyo para hindi bumagsak”.
Success story: Dina Moncada
An increase in capital made possible by FCB makes a lot of difference.
Dina Moncada learned of the National Livelihood Support Fund (NLSF) through a former employee, who was already successful with her new endeavor. Dina owns RGM Garments, manufacturer of teen apparel, which are supplied at wallet-friendly prices to big department stores in Metro Manila. They sub-contract brand name products of Liberte, Via Spiga Sports and Teen Express. RGM Garments has been in existence for five years now.
However, business was not always this good. Prior to loan approval from FCB in September 2003, Dina's manufacturing business lacked capital and supplies. When recruited by one of FCB's technical officers, Dina immediately applied for an NLSF individual loan. This paved the way to what we would see when we pay her a visit: a flourishing business, a source of inspiration. Her message to others, “Start small, kailangan talaga magkaroon ng tiyaga at lakas ng loob.”
Success story: Antonio Pangan
In FCB, each client is valued.
Small banks equal warm, personalized service. Every client is valued. This is how Antonio Pangan sees FCB. In the last 3 years Tony has opened a savings, time, Katuparan, Fiesta, and current account, almost all the products the bank offers. Being the owner of Hermoso's pawnshop and other various businesses, any bank would be glad to have him but he remains loyal to FCB. His wife, an engineer, has other accounts with the bank too.
What Tony says about the bank: “It's small, pero may tiwala na lang ako sa nag-invite sa 'kin ( he was invited by a bank employee). Masaya naman ako sa desisyon ko na magbukas ng account sa FCB. Maganda talaga ang pakikisama ng mga empleyado sa customer, hindi katulad sa ibang bangko na medyo tinatararyan ang customers. Sa FCB, ka-vibes ng mga empleyado ang customers. 'Yon ang pinakamahalagang kaibahan ng FCB sa ibang bangko, yung SERVICE.”
Success story: Maura Espeurta
Better than winning the lotto.
We have heard of success stories from lotto winners but not all people are as lucky. For ordinary people like Maura Espeurta, the next best thing to winning the lotto is getting a loan from First Country Bank. When her husband was laid off from a well-known bread company, Maura was already involved in a small hopia business which was financed through FCB's microfinance loan. She, like most of her neighbors in Nagpayong, learned about this business opportunity through FBC's projected meetings in different barangays. These meetings are regularly held by FCB's technical officers in order to encourage unemployed or underemployed housewives to set up small and medium-scale businesses which are to be financed by the bank.
Maura's application for loan was approved a month after filing. Approval period would have been as short as one week if had she submitted all the requirements. Her loan was acquired through the bank's group liability scheme. The first-cycle fund she got was well invested in an oven. Being a good borrower got her a second-cycle loan which she used as added capital to her growing business. As of the present, she sells different variations of the much-loved delicacy: ube, monggo, and baboy for P5 per pack. She sells these home-made goodies to sari-sari stores, canteens, and households. Maura plans to apply for another loan, as her small business has started to attract more customers. Her next target is to buy a kneading machine and a mixer, and who knows, she might end up being a hopia magnate. Her message to other hopefuls: “Magbakasakali para lumaki ang negosyo at malaki ang maitutulong sa pagbabago ng buhay. Ngayon, medyo nakagagaan na kami, meron nang siguradong pagkakakitaan.”
Success story: Aling Dionisia Gacutno
FCB builds up lives through microfinance loans which are mostly given to mothers and wives.
Everywhere around the world, little girls wish to have a doll of their own, at one time or another. The favorite are the Barbie dolls, which can be bought in every mall there is. Sadly, not all parents can afford to buy their little girls this piece of luxury. Fortunately, there are the likes of Aling Dionisia Gacutno, who sell these dolls for only P35 a piece, a mere 10% of the price of the original Barbie. Aling Dionisia, who hails from Base, Samar, moved to Metro Manila in 1987 to start a new life with her husband. Her husband worked as a carpenter while she got involved in various small businesses, such as doll-making.
However, since all the money they had was only from their own savings, their small businesses encountered many problems, such as lack of capital and supplies. In 2003, Aling Dionisia heard of FCB's Microfinance Loan through an NGO and decided to apply. Since then, she managed to acquire more capital. Thus, her small business managed to expand, and is most especially fruitful during the Christmas season. Today, she delivers dolls to “sukis” who have stalls during fiestas. Her message to other small business owners: “Kapag mangungutang, siguraduhing maayos ang pagbayad. Diskartehan ng mabuti ang ang negosyo para hindi bumagsak”.
Success story: Dina Moncada
An increase in capital made possible by FCB makes a lot of difference.
Dina Moncada learned of the National Livelihood Support Fund (NLSF) through a former employee, who was already successful with her new endeavor. Dina owns RGM Garments, manufacturer of teen apparel, which are supplied at wallet-friendly prices to big department stores in Metro Manila. They sub-contract brand name products of Liberte, Via Spiga Sports and Teen Express. RGM Garments has been in existence for five years now.
However, business was not always this good. Prior to loan approval from FCB in September 2003, Dina's manufacturing business lacked capital and supplies. When recruited by one of FCB's technical officers, Dina immediately applied for an NLSF individual loan. This paved the way to what we would see when we pay her a visit: a flourishing business, a source of inspiration. Her message to others, “Start small, kailangan talaga magkaroon ng tiyaga at lakas ng loob.”
Success story: Antonio Pangan
In FCB, each client is valued.
Small banks equal warm, personalized service. Every client is valued. This is how Antonio Pangan sees FCB. In the last 3 years Tony has opened a savings, time, Katuparan, Fiesta, and current account, almost all the products the bank offers. Being the owner of Hermoso's pawnshop and other various businesses, any bank would be glad to have him but he remains loyal to FCB. His wife, an engineer, has other accounts with the bank too.
What Tony says about the bank: “It's small, pero may tiwala na lang ako sa nag-invite sa 'kin ( he was invited by a bank employee). Masaya naman ako sa desisyon ko na magbukas ng account sa FCB. Maganda talaga ang pakikisama ng mga empleyado sa customer, hindi katulad sa ibang bangko na medyo tinatararyan ang customers. Sa FCB, ka-vibes ng mga empleyado ang customers. 'Yon ang pinakamahalagang kaibahan ng FCB sa ibang bangko, yung SERVICE.”
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