BPI Family names new prexy

BPI Family Bank’s new president Ma. Cristina “Ginbee” Go

The country’s leading thrift bank BPI Family Savings Bank has named veteran banker Ma. Cristina “Ginbee” Go as its new president effective June 1.

Go took over the post vacated by Natividad “Nabbie” Alejo, who was in turn appointed chair of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)’s online savings bank subsidiary, BPI Direct BanKo Inc., BPI disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday.

Alejo replaces BPI president and chief executive officer Cezar Consing as chair of BPI Direct BanKo.

Go brings over 16 years of banking experience, 13 of which were with BPI. For 11 years,
she headed BPI’s payments and unsecured lending group, after which she became head of retail loans at BPI Family.

“She has also led initiatives and innovations that have differentiated BPI in the industry, such as leading the launch of the first EMV-compliant credit cards,” the bank’s disclosure said.

Before joining BPI, Go was vice president at Citi for two years. Working in Manila, she handled the Citi’s retail bank marketing for over a year, and spent 11 months working for Citi in New York, leading the cross sell division.

“In her new role as the president of the country’s premier thrift bank, Go will bring her drive and passion to this very important subsidiary of the bank,” the disclosure said.

Alejo had served as president of BPI Family since 2015, and has had close to 40 years’ banking experience. She joined BPI in 1979 when the bank acquired Commercial Bank & Trust, and has
since held various senior management roles in the bank.

As chair of BPI Direct Alejo will “provide a solid foundation as she takes leadership of the bank’s growing micro-SME (small and medium enterprise) business lending subsidiary, which is now in the process of growing to 100 branches nationwide,” the disclosure said.