BDO opens 1,000th branch

The country’s largest lender BDO Unibank has reached the 1,000-branch milestone – establishing the widest footprint among Philippine banks – with the opening of its newest branch in Davao City.

BDO’s 1,000th branch was opened in Buhangin, one of the most populated areas in Davao City.

Jaime Yu, senior executive vice president of BDO and head of branch banking, said reaching the 1,000-branch milestone was a testament to the bank’s commitment to make banking more accessible to Filipinos whether they are located in the metropolitan area or far-flung provinces.

“We fully recognize that there are still about 70 percent of the population with no bank accounts or has yet to enter the formal banking sector. The continued growth of our branches is our way of creating opportunities for more people to experience the rewards of having a bank that takes care of their financial needs,” Yu said in a press statement on Wednesday.

In 2016, BDO had a branch network of 982, including one branch in Hong Kong. Of this total, 492 branches were in Metro Manila, 305 in Luzon, 108 in Visayas, and 76 in Mindanao.

This year, the bank plans to add 60 more branches, thereby expanding its network to 1,042 by the end of 2017.

Apart from expanding its footprint, BDO has changed the game in banking by introducing longer banking hours and even weekend banking.

The bank’s distribution channel is complemented by over 3,600 automated teller machines (ATMs) and electronic channels.