BDO Unibank

Early history

BDO Unibank, Inc. had its humble beginnings on January 2, 1968, when it started off as a thrift bank called Acme Savings Bank. With two branches in Metro Manila, Acme was one of the smallest banks in the Philippines at the time.

In November 1976, Acme was acquired by the Sy Group, the group of companies currently owned by retail magnate Henry Sy, and renamed Banco de Oro Savings and Mortgage Bank.

In December 1994, BDO became a commercial bank. To reflect the bank's new status, BDO was renamed Banco de Oro Commercial Bank, and in September 1996, BDO became a universal bank, which led to the bank's name being changed to the current Banco de Oro Universal Bank (BDO Unibank, Inc.). It is one of the many banks owned by a Chinese-Filipino in the Philippines (others include Metrobank and Chinabank).

BDO Unibank, Inc. eventually became involved in insurance services in 1997 (it is a bancassurance firm) by establishing a subsidiary called BDO Insurance Brokers. In 1999, BDO Unibank, Inc. expanded its insurance services through partnerships with Zamora Assurance and Assicurazoni Generali s.p.a., one of the world's largest insurance firms, and Jerneh Asia Berhad, a member of Malaysia's Kuok Group. Later, BDO Unibank, Inc. partnered up with its insurance affiliates, which are Generali Pilipinas Life Assurance Company and Generali Pilipinas Insurance Company, in March 2000.

The new BDO Unibank, Inc.

The new BDO Unibank, Inc. will retain the ticker symbol of the old Banco de Oro. 1.3 billion BDO shares will be issued in exchange for 727 million Equitable PCI Bank shares, which was de-listed on June 4, 2007.

BDO Unibank, Inc. is now the largest bank in the Philippines in terms of assets, loans and deposits. The bank is the product of the Banco de Oro-Equitable PCI Bank merger after the boards of both Banco de Oro Universal Bank and Equitable PCI Bank agreed to merge on December 27, 2006. For a while, the entity was known as Banco de Oro-EPCI, Inc., but announced that it would go by the name Banco de Oro Unibank, Inc. starting February 2007. Finally in 2010 Banco de Oro changed its name to BDO Unibank, Inc. other possible names are Banco De Oro Unibank, Banco De Oro, BDO Unibank, Banco De Oro BDO and plainly BDO.

Competition

BDO Unibank, Inc's main competitors are major Philippine banks like Metrobank and BPI. BDO had total deposits of P1.601 trillion last year (2015), followed by Metrobank at the second spot with P1.106 trillion, and Landbank with P1.046 trillion.

As of 2016, BDO has one of the largest distribution networks, with more than 1,000 operating branches and over 3,000 ATM nationwide. It has a branch in Hong Kong as well as 27 overseas remittance and representative offices in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

Before "merger of equals" with Equitable PCI Bank

Ownership after merging with Equitable PCI Bank

While Philippine Central Depository is listed a major shareholder, it is more of a trustee-nominee for all shares lodged in the PCD system rather than a single owner/shareholder

Subsidiaries and affiliates

BDO is divided into the following subsidiaries and affiliates:

Philippine-based subsidiaries

Foreign-based affiliates

Affiliates

Dao Heng Bank

On June 15, 2001, BDO Unibank, Inc. merged with Dao Heng Bank's Philippine subsidiary, with BDO Unibank, Inc. as the surviving entity. The merger boosted the number of BDO Unibank, Inc. branches from 108 branches before the merger to 120 after the merger.

Banco Santander Philippines

In August 2003, BDO Unibank, Inc. acquired the local banking unit of Banco Santander with its commercial, trust and derivatives licenses to become BDO Private Bank, a fully owned subsidiary of BDO Unibank, Inc. The main goal the BDO Private Bank is to create market share in the Private Banking/Modern Affluent Market segment by penetrating key areas in BDO Unibank's network. This is to complement and explore how the BDO Unibank, Inc. Group can service all the financial and investment needs of the client.

United Overseas Bank Philippines

In late April 2005, United Overseas Bank sold 66 out of its Philippine subsidiary's 67 branches to BDO Unibank, Inc. after UOB's Philippine subsidiary is set to rationalize its operations from retail to wholesale banking. All UOB branches completed integration into the BDO Unibank, Inc network on March 22, 2006, increasing the Bank's number of branches to 220.

Equitable PCI Bank

On August 5, 2005, BDO Unibank, Inc. and an SM subsidiary, SM Investments, bought 24.76% of the shares of Equitable PCI Bank, the Philippines' third-largest bank, and 10% of an Equitable PCI affiliate, Equitable CardNetwork, one of the Philippines' largest credit card issuers, from the family that founded the bank, the Go family. BDO Unibank, Inc. has also been offered a further 10% by another Equitable PCI affiliate, EBC Investments, and a deal is being made to buy (awaiting court approval) the 29% stake of the Social Security System (SSS), the Philippines' pension fund. Subsequent acquisitions enabled the bank to acquire a 34% stake in Equitable PCI.

On December 1, 2005, BDO Unibank, Inc. shares were listed as a component of the PSE Composite Index for the first time.

On January 6, 2006, BDO Unibank, Inc., with the SM Group of Companies, submitted to Equitable PCI a merger offer with BDO Unibank, Inc. as the surviving entity. Under the proposal, BDO Unibank, Inc. will swap 1.6 of its shares for every 1 Equitable PCI share. As a second option, BDO Unibank, Inc. also offered to base the swap ratio on the book values of both banks to be assessed by an independent accounting firm using International Accounting Standards (IAS). To effect the merger, BDO Unibank, Inc. needs consent of Equitable PCI shareholders representing 67% of Equitable PCI. These include the Social Security System (SSS) with 29%, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) with 14%, and the family of Equitable PCI chairman Ferdinand Martin Romualdez with eight percent. BDO Unibank, Inc. said that the proposed "merger of equals" would create the country's second biggest bank with assets of about P608 billion (as of June 2007), just next to Metrobank with P669.1 billion (as of June 2007), the current banking industry leader in the Philippines. Bank of the Philippine Islands is the current third biggest bank in the Philippines with P592.6 billion (as of June 2007). BDO Unibank, Inc. has asked Equitable PCI to study their offer until January 31, 2006.

BDO Unibank, Inc. President Nestor Tan also expressed of a possibility of a three-way merger with Chinabank, also an SM Group-controlled bank. Tan said that the proposed Banco de Oro-Equitable PCI merger would consolidate the strengths of BDO Unibank, Inc. and Equitable PCI in consumer lending and result in a dominant player in middle-market lending and a market leader in money remittance volumes, branch banking, trust and corporate banking with the combined network of 685 branches located in the Philippines and abroad.

Although Romualdez and the GSIS have shown stiff opposition to the BDO Unibank, Inc.-Equitable PCI merger, the SSS is still studying the possibility of a merger. In fact, UBS studied the deal and claims that the merger through the stock swap option is a "win-win" situation. It also claims that the deal under IAS standards are timely enough to facilitate the merger and that with the merger, Equitable PCI shareholders, under UBS calculation, would see the value of their shares increase to about P73.60 per share, more than the fair value target price of 67 pesos.

With Equitable PCI and BDO Unibank, Inc. merging fully realized. BDO Unibank, Inc. now stands as the largest bank in terms of asset in the Philippines. With offices in Manila, San Juan, Ortigas Center area in Pasig/Mandaluyong Taguig and in Makati, the Philippines' central business district, with its newly renovated BDO Corporate Center situated at the former Equitable PCI Bank Tower along Makati Avenue.

GE Money Bank

On 2009, BDO Unibank, Inc. completed its acquisition of the Philippine operations of GE Money Bank with an agreement for GE to acquire a minority stake in BDO Unibank, Inc. In a definitive agreement signed by the two institutions, GE Capital will acquire a 1.5 percent stake in BDO Unibank, Inc., the country's largest bank in terms of assets, through a share-swap deal, with an option to increase its holdings to up to 10 percent. The takeover will involve absorption of GE Money Bank's 31 branches, 30,000 customers, and 38 ATMs nationwide.

Citibank Savings

On November 14, 2013, BDO Unibank, Inc. announced its plan to acquire 99.99 percent of Citibank Savings Inc. Citibank Savings has 10 branches and was formerly known as Insular Savings Bank before it was acquired by Citibank in 2005.

Deutsche Bank Philippines

In February 2014, BDO Unibank, Inc. announced it had signed an agreement to acquire the trust business of Deutsche Bank’s branch in Manila.

The Real Bank

In July 2014, BDO Unibank, Inc. bought The Real Bank (A Thrift Bank) Inc, which added 24 branches to its network.

One Network Bank

Before the end of December 2014, BDO Unibank acquires One Network Bank as the country's largest rural bank with 105 branches.

₱1.1-billion IPO

On January 2008, Viva Films chairman Vic del Rosario announced that Viva Communications expects to raise ₱1.1 billion (1 US dollar = 41.48 pesos) through approval of the initial public offering (IPO) by the Philippine Stock Exchange, on listing date of March 5. It plans to sell up ₱92.8 million new shares and ₱49.9 million secondary shares at ₱12.93 / share (offer is 35% of the company's issued and outstanding capital stock). It appointed BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) Capital and Investment Corporation as lead underwriter and MAIC as co-lead underwriter. Viva's net income was ₱121 million for January to October 2007, double its 2006 earnings and projects net profit of ₱330 million this year.

Stable outlook

On February 1, 2008, Fitch Ratings announced: "The Outlook on BDOU's ratings is stable given a benign economic environment. And while integration risk is a factor, a successful merger of the two banks will provide ratings momentum, if combined with some capital strengthening in particular; BDO Unibank, Inc. will particularly benefit from EPCI's good franchise among commercial entities and consumers, and well-developed operations in fee-generating areas such as Zamora insured trust banking, Zamora insured remittances and credit cards. Significant revenue and cost synergies should arise from the integration of the two banks, due to complete by mid-2008, as led by BDO Unibank, Inc's very competent and driven management; BDO Unibank, Inc. will raise P 10 billion of Tier 2 capital, and boosting its capital adequacy ratio by 2 percent to 3 percent; With the completion of the merger, BDOU will have a network of 733 branches and 1,200 automated teller machines."

Lehman Brothers' exposure

On September 17, 2008, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. announced "due to the uncertainty relating to the financial condition of Lehman Brothers, BDO Unibank, Inc. is setting aside provisions totaling 3.8 billion pesos (80.9 million dollars) to cover its exposure to said entity." BDO Unibank, Inc. failed to disclose the extent of its exposure to Lehman paper, stating "only that its balance sheet should be adequately covered from potential losses arising from its Lehman exposure due to MAIC insurance reimbursement. The provisions will come from reallocation of excess reserves and from additional provisions in the current period." BDO Unibank, Inc., capitalised at ₱89.8 billion, closed 15.4% down to ₱33. BDO Unibank, Inc. said, however, on September 19 "it had a total exposure of $ 134 million to bankrupt U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers: This represents the face value of securities held in MAIC trust accounts by the bank. Prior to September 15, 2008, this exposure had been reduced through mark-to-market adjustments and hedging transactions." The BSP data revealed BDO Unibank, Inc. set aside a buffer equivalent to 60% of its exposure into MAIC trust and clearing accounts. Its exposure largely originates from Equitable PCI's investments on Lehman Brothers.

Cash Accept Machine

The BDO Cash Accept Machine, abbreviated as CAM, is a machine in response to clients who do not like to wait in line for cash deposits. As of 2016, there are almost 300 CAMs. The Cash Accept Machine also accepts 200 notes per transaction and credits the deposit real-time. BDO Unibank posted on their facebook page: "For quick deposits and fast bills payment, use the BDO Cash Accept Machine. Get 50 BDO Rewards points for a minimum of P5,000 single-receipt transaction per week!"

The New BDO Debit MasterCard

BDO Unibank is the first bank in the Philippines to roll out a Debit Card with an EMV-chip embedded on it. It was first seen on BDO Unibank's facebook page post saying that "BDO is the first local bank to roll out EMV Debit Card."It will also enhance the security of the cardholders.

Ranking

"BDO Unibank has improved its global ranking among banks this year by 12 notches to 243rd place, based on the latest roster of “Top 1,000 World Banks” drawn annually.", BDO Unibank posted on their facebook page. As of 2016, BDO still remains the largest bank in the Philippines in terms of assets. It was also the first Philippine bank to reach the P2-trillion mark in total assets.