Gaisanos,Korea’s Woori Bank team up on banking

THE GAISANO family has taken in Woori Bank of South Korea as a strategic partner in thrift bank subsidiary Wealth Development Bank Corp. to brace for stiffer competition in the banking system.

Cebu-based Vicsal Development Corp. (Vicsal), the parent firm of Wealth Development, announced an “investment agreement” with Woori Bank, creating a “strategic alliance” between the foreign bank and one of the country’s leading thrift banks.

The joint venture combines the global and technical resources of Woori Bank and Viscal. However, the press statement did not disclose how much economic interest the South Korean partner would get in this venture.

“It is a strategic initiative in response to the liberalization of the country’s banking sector,” WealthBank chair Edward Gaisano said.

Gaisano added that the deal was expected to increase the net worth of the thrift bank by threefold, strengthen its balance sheet as well as deepen its market reach and product offerings.
 
WealthBank claims to be one of the country’s fastest growing independent thrift banks, expanding from just one branch in 2002 to 16 across the country today. The bank has close to P7 billion in assets.

Under the partnership, WealthBank plans to ride on the world-class facilities and expertise of Woori Bank. It also targets to serve 1.2 million Korean tourists who visit the Philippines yearly as well as the 100,000-strong Korean expatriate community in the country.
 
The partnership also seeks to allow WealthBank to cater to overseas Filipino workers in South Korea, as well as local and Korean small and medium enterprises.
 
Woori Bank is the oldest and one of the largest banks in Korea. It has the largest Korean bank overseas network with a footprint in 18 countries.

“This partnership with Woori Bank will unlock the huge potential of WealthBank with the expected synergy. We are excited about the joint venture as it further underscores our commitment to growth through collaboration with world-class companies,” Gaisano said.
 
Vicsal has recently strengthened its strategic alliances through joint ventures with other leading global companies such as Ayala Land, Megaworld Corp. and Hong Kong Land.

Retail unit, Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI) recently debuted on the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Aside from banking and retailing, Vicsal is also into real estate development through the Taft Property Venture Development Corp. and in financial management through AB Capital. Vicsal is also the majority owner of Filipino Fund Inc., a closed-end mutual fund listed on the local bourse.