The Philippine National Bank of Bacoor City (Aguinaldo Highway Branch)
Posted on Wednesday, 21 December 2016
The
Philippine National Bank of Bacoor City
(Aguinaldo
Highway Branch)
By
Apolinario Villalobos
My
opening of an account with the Philippine National Bank (PNB) as a repository
of my pension was actually a revival of my trust to this bank which happens to
be the “sister company” of Philippine Airlines, my former employer. I had my
first experience of the bank’s service when I decided to use checks for
personal transactions many years back, particularly, during the 1980s. My
feeling of security was anchored on the bank’s being a government institution
since 100 years ago. I closed my checking account when I left Philippine
Airlines as I had no more use for it. Though I had some regrets, I treasured
the opportunity of having experienced the traditional Filipino service which is
deeply impressed with hospitality.
The
second time I had the chance to experience the well-known traditional service
of the bank was when I filed for my pension with the Social Security System
(SSS) which during the time was literally, a neighbor of the bank, as it was
just a few steps away, along Aguinaldo highway. As I was in a hurry to go back
to the SSS, Ms. Sheryll Ann Erive compassionately attended to me immediately.
My transactions with the bank did not end with the issuance of my ATM card
which was given to me together with complete instruction, including the rules
that cover the ACOP. I could not help noticing the smile that never left the
lips of the personnel, even the contracted staff – the security guards, as they
open the door for the clients with a warm greeting.
The
Branch Manager, himself, Mr. Roy Tan is always smiling and ever patient. Just
this morning when I dropped by to make some verification on my ATM withdrawal
record, he put down the phone momentarily to listen to me. But upon noticing
that Ms. Sarah Artiaga was already free, I asked that I be entertained by her.
With much patience, Ms. Artiaga immediately displayed my e-record to help me
recall one withdrawal which I failed to enter into my cell phone’s archive. My
query was a blessing in disguise as I came to learn about their internal
security verification system which will be needed for my future blogs.
My
pension is comparatively small but my experience that morning made me feel that
the amount of deposit made by their clients is immaterial for them, as what
matters is the client, himself. In other words the number of digits does not
make any difference as foremost in their mind is the satisfaction of all their
clients. Such service is given substance by their latest message to their
clients which says, “you first”.
According
to Mr. Tan, they are not affected by the cut-throat competition posed by other
banks as they continuously exert their total effort to satisfy their clients
based on their “traditional service” which as mentioned earlier, is truly
deeply impressed with Filipino hospitality. The principle is simple....satisfy
the client and he will be back. And, what else can put a client at ease than an
assuring smile. Nevertheless, Mr. Tan mentioned that the bank has plans to
enhance its service for the convenience of their ever-growing number of
clients. To date, the bank has a “bank on wheels” which I came across at the
PNB/PAL headquarters along Roxas Boulevard.
Here
are some historical notes about the bank: it was established on July 16, 1916
at the old Masonic Temple in Escolta, based on Public Act 2016 authored by
Miguel Cuaderno, replacing the government’s Agricultural Bank; its first president was an American, H.
Parker Willis; it served as a de facto Central Bank of the Philippines in 1949;
its first local branch was established in Iloilo in 1917; its first
international branch was opened in New York; it was the first to offer the ATM
service to clients; the Memorandum of Agreement with Lucio Tan Group of
Companies was signed in May 2002, two years after the said group became the
bank’s first single stock holder; the bank also prides in the awards received
from SSS twice (Balikat ng Bayan), as well as, Reader’s Digest and AC Nielsen
(Gold Superbrand).
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