BPI unveils two-volume history book as it prepares for leadership transition

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is marking its 175th anniversary with a renewed focus on digital banking, financial inclusion and sustainability, while preparing for a leadership transition in 2027.

The bank celebrated the milestone with an anniversary gala on 26 October, bringing together its leaders, clients and partners from the business and media communities. The event also saw the unveiling of Building a Better Philippines, a two-volume publication documenting BPI's history alongside the country's economic and social development.

Written by veteran business journalist Roel Landingin and edited by writer and educator Jose “Butch” Dalisay, the book draws on archival research, historical records, photographs and firsthand accounts from business leaders, policymakers, former executives, clients and industry observers.

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“Through these periods, BPI remained a constant presence in the economy. It acted with prudence in moments of uncertainty and with resolve when recovery required support,” said BPI chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

The anniversary comes as BPI prepares for a change at the top. Its board has approved a succession plan identifying Maria Cristina “Ginbee” L. Go, currently executive vice president and head of consumer banking, as the next president and CEO.

Go is expected to succeed Jose Teodoro “TG” K. Limcaoco on 26 April 2027, following the bank's annual stockholders' meeting and subject to the necessary approvals.

Limcaoco has led BPI since 2021. Following the transition, he will remain on the bank's board and assume senior governance roles in other major Ayala Group operating companies, which will be announced in due course.

A 23-year BPI veteran, Go has played a key role in modernising its consumer banking business, strengthening customer relationships and integrating physical and digital banking capabilities. She previously served as president of BPI Family Savings Bank, leading its transformation and integration into BPI.

Her appointment comes as the bank looks to capitalise on opportunities in the Filipino consumer sector, which Zobel de Ayala said is becoming more sophisticated and seeking trusted financial partners.

Limcaoco also highlighted the bank's continued ambitions in digital services and customer experience.

“Our story is not finished. We will continue to serve in this journey of banking excellence anchored on trust and the best digital offers. And we will continue to believe, as every generation of BPI bankers before us has believed, that we can build a better Philippines, one family, one community at a time,” he said.

Established on 1 August 1851 as Banco Español-Filipino de Isabel II, BPI is the Philippines' first bank and the oldest in Southeast Asia. Over its 175-year history, it has introduced several banking milestones, including the country's first banknotes in 1855, its first 24-hour automated teller machine in 1982 and online banking at the start of the millennium.

More recently, BPI became the first private universal bank in the Philippines to permanently waive InstaPay and PESONet fees for interbank fund transfers. It has also introduced barcode-based cash deposits at retail stores through its Agency Banking network.

As of 2026, BPI serves more than 19 million customers and employs over 23,000 Filipinos. Its nationwide network includes 1,242 branches, 2,219 ATMs and 377 cash accept machines, complemented by more than 7,000 Agency Banking partner stores.

The bank is also expanding its sustainability efforts, with 100 branches now fully powered by clean energy. Through its Sustainable Development Finance programme and MSME lending, it is directing capital towards projects with environmental and social impact.

Meanwhile, its social development arm, BPI Foundation, has reached more than 5.6 million beneficiaries nationwide through initiatives spanning financial wellness, education and social entrepreneurship.

For the first half of 2026, BPI recorded a net income of 32.8 billion pesos (US$517 million), with total assets reaching 3.7 trillion pesos (US$58 billion).

As it enters its next chapter, the bank is positioning its legacy of trust and institutional longevity alongside continued investment in digital capabilities and more accessible financial services.

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