Learn more about First Country Bank.
History
Vision and Mission
Directors and Officers
Awards
Success Stories
History
Vision and Mission
Directors and Officers
Awards
Success Stories
Labels: About Us
History
Published by First Country Bank on at 6:28 PM.
In September 1995, retired Department of Education Undersecretary Dr. Alejandro Wilfredo Clemente and a group of retired bank executives and government officials who called themselves the Bankers Club, gathered together to discuss what they can do to make a difference in truly helping the marginalized members of society.
The group pooled their financial expertise and resources to form First Country Bank. Dr. Clemente was the first Chairman and Mr. Victorino Faner, a retired director of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, became the first President of the Bank.
The Bank was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 1999. Pursuant to Monetary Board Resolution 1593, authority was granted to First Country Bank (or FCB) to operate as a rural bank. FCB's doors were opened to the public at 9 a.m. on September 9, 1999 with its head office located at the Mutya ng Pasig Commercial Complex, San Agustin corner Caruncho Avenue, Pasig City.
Tasked with the duty to provide microfinance livelihood loans to farmers, teachers, OFWs, pensioners, market vendors, professionals, and other entrepreneurs, FCB has grown to become a major player in the microfinance banking industry.
The group pooled their financial expertise and resources to form First Country Bank. Dr. Clemente was the first Chairman and Mr. Victorino Faner, a retired director of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, became the first President of the Bank.
The Bank was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 1999. Pursuant to Monetary Board Resolution 1593, authority was granted to First Country Bank (or FCB) to operate as a rural bank. FCB's doors were opened to the public at 9 a.m. on September 9, 1999 with its head office located at the Mutya ng Pasig Commercial Complex, San Agustin corner Caruncho Avenue, Pasig City.
Tasked with the duty to provide microfinance livelihood loans to farmers, teachers, OFWs, pensioners, market vendors, professionals, and other entrepreneurs, FCB has grown to become a major player in the microfinance banking industry.
Labels: About Us
Vision and Mission
Published by First Country Bank on at 6:26 PM.
Our Vision
We will be a catalyst in uplifting the lives of the unsung heroes of our country.
Our Mission
We shall provide relevant and innovative financial services to underserved niche markets at a fair return to our shareholders and depositors.
Our Slogan
Building up lives. Building a nation.
Our Core Beliefs
We will be a catalyst in uplifting the lives of the unsung heroes of our country.
Our Mission
We shall provide relevant and innovative financial services to underserved niche markets at a fair return to our shareholders and depositors.
Our Slogan
Building up lives. Building a nation.
Our Core Beliefs
- We believe that in whichever community we serve, we shall spur economic progress.
- We believe in uplifting the Filipino people from the morass of poverty by empowering
- them with the economic means to improve their lives.
- We believe that, as stewards of God, we must always be responsive to the needs of the community and conduct our business with conscience.
- We believe that we can, in our humble way, be an instrument towards a progressive Philippines.
- To develop awareness among our depositors to save and prepare for their financial independence.
- To give a better and fair return to our depositors' hard-earned money.
- To financially assist our clients in building their business and enhancing their entrepreneurial ability.
- To continue to exercise the most prudent banking practices, because public confidence in our bank is a sacred trust.
- To always adhere to the basic criteria that makes the Bank one of the safest and soundest in the world.
- To keep in mind that we owe it to our shareholders, clients, corporate partners, and the community we serve to never betray their trust.
Labels: About Us
Directors and Officers
Published by First Country Bank on at 6:24 PM.
The key to our financial strength is the more than 25 years experience of our directors and officers in the banking industry whether in commercial, savings, or rural banking.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman of the Board
Brig. Gen. Raymundo M. Bulos (Ret.)
Directors
Brig. Gen. Ramberto M. Saavedra (Ret.)
Former Deputy Commander, Armed Forces of the Philippines
Victorino D. Faner (Ret.), CPA, MBA
Former Director, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Honesto M. Cojuangco
Chairman, Lingkod Tarlac Foundation
Heinz Carlo G. Bulos, CPA, MBA
Former Portfolio Manager, Bank of the Philippine Islands
KEY OFFICERS
Brig. Gen. Raymundo M. Bulos
President and Chief Executive Officer
The former Air Division Commander of the Philippine Air Force, B/Gen. Bulos has years of management and military experience. An accomplished pilot himself, he holds various degrees, including a Ph. D. in Development Administration and Master in Management at the Philippine Christian University, a Master in Public & Business Management at the De La Salle University, and a Bachelor of Science in Aviation at the Philippine State College of Aeronautics. An avid golfer, he also served as Club Manager at the Subic Bay Golf and Country Club.
Rossana L. Ajon, CPA, MA
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Promoted from General Manager of First Country Bank to her present position, Ms. Ajon served as Branch Manager of Fortune Savings & Loan Bank. She has been in the banking industry for more than a decade. She is an accounting graduate of the University of the East.
Alex Rozul
Compliance Officer and Internal Auditor
A senior auditor at Banco San Juan, Mr. Rozul has been an auditor and treasurer for several years, serving as Treasury Supervisor at Anscor Swire Ship Management, Auditor at Drugmakers Biotech Researcg Lab, and Accounting Supervisor at Epsilon Maritime Services.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman of the Board
Brig. Gen. Raymundo M. Bulos (Ret.)
Directors
Brig. Gen. Ramberto M. Saavedra (Ret.)
Former Deputy Commander, Armed Forces of the Philippines
Victorino D. Faner (Ret.), CPA, MBA
Former Director, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Honesto M. Cojuangco
Chairman, Lingkod Tarlac Foundation
Heinz Carlo G. Bulos, CPA, MBA
Former Portfolio Manager, Bank of the Philippine Islands
KEY OFFICERS
Brig. Gen. Raymundo M. Bulos
President and Chief Executive Officer
The former Air Division Commander of the Philippine Air Force, B/Gen. Bulos has years of management and military experience. An accomplished pilot himself, he holds various degrees, including a Ph. D. in Development Administration and Master in Management at the Philippine Christian University, a Master in Public & Business Management at the De La Salle University, and a Bachelor of Science in Aviation at the Philippine State College of Aeronautics. An avid golfer, he also served as Club Manager at the Subic Bay Golf and Country Club.
Rossana L. Ajon, CPA, MA
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Promoted from General Manager of First Country Bank to her present position, Ms. Ajon served as Branch Manager of Fortune Savings & Loan Bank. She has been in the banking industry for more than a decade. She is an accounting graduate of the University of the East.
Alex Rozul
Compliance Officer and Internal Auditor
A senior auditor at Banco San Juan, Mr. Rozul has been an auditor and treasurer for several years, serving as Treasury Supervisor at Anscor Swire Ship Management, Auditor at Drugmakers Biotech Researcg Lab, and Accounting Supervisor at Epsilon Maritime Services.
Labels: About Us
Awards
Published by First Country Bank on at 6:22 PM.
In October 2004, First Country Bank received the "Most Outstanding Microfinance Bank" award from the Consumers' League of the Philippines Foundation, Inc.
Last March 3, 2005, the People’s Credit and Finance Corporation presented First Country Bank with two new awards: The Big Leap Award and the PCFC Account Management Group 3 Award. These awards were given in recognition of the bank’s invaluable contribution to poverty alleviation in the National Capital Region.
Labels: About Us
Success Stories
Published by First Country Bank on 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.”
Labels: About Us
