Chinabank, Chinabank Capital sweep 5 wins at ABF Awards 2025

From left: Chinabank’s Cards Marketing Division Head Nina Reynoso and Product Management & Marketing Communication Department Head Ma. Katrina Marin, Chinabank Capital Managing Director Juan Paolo Colet, and Chinabank’s Institutional Banking Segment Team Head Marissa Garcia and Account Officer, Camille Concepcion-Condez.

Chinabank and its investment house Chinabank Capital (CBCap) once again earned top recognitions from Asian Banking & Finance (ABF), clinching five awards for excellence in retail, corporate, and investment banking at the 2025 ABF Awards in Singapore.

In the Retail Banking Awards category, the bank won Service Innovation of the Year - Philippines for its pioneering 30-Minute Instant Credit Card Issuance Program and Banking for Women Initiative of the Year - Philippines for the CBC Velvet Visa Signature.

Committed to making credit easily accessible, Chinabank introduced the first and only type of credit card issuance in the country where a customer can get a credit decision and physical credit card within 30 minutes. The bank brought this innovation to supermarkets and malls nationwide, enabling more Filipinos to get a CBC credit card in less time than grocery shopping or enjoying a meal at a restaurant. 

The bank's first Visa-branded credit card was designed to empower and support women. With curated rewards and luxe perks like a Pandora welcome gift, CBC Velvet Visa Signature—made from 100% recycled plastic—reflects Chinabank’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and customer-focused banking.

"We are honored to be recognized for innovations that put our customers first, and inspired to keep creating relevant and practical solutions to meet their evolving needs,” Chinabank Consumer Banking Segment Head Aloysius Alday Jr. said.

CBCap triumphed in the Corporate & Investment Banking Awards category, winning Debt Deal of the Year, Project Infrastructure Finance Deal of the Year, and Sustainability-Linked Bond of the Year in the Philippines.

CBCap arranged Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Inc.'s $400 million term loan facility.  The loan, through Chinabank's Institutional Banking Segment (IBS), was a major component of a cross-border fundraising exercise of its Japanese parent company, Universal Entertainment Corporation.  It was also the largest foreign currency loan solely arranged by CBCap to date.

CBCap and Chinabank IBS facilitated the P80 billion financing for New NAIA Infra Corp.’s rehabilitation and operation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.  The rehabilitation aims to expand terminal capacity to handle 62 million passengers annually, up from 47 million, while upgrading infrastructure to transform NAIA into a modern world-class airport.

The investment house also acted as underwriter and bookrunner for the first sustainability-linked corporate bonds to be issued in the Philippines—Ayala Land, Inc.’s P6 billion and P8 billion Sustainability-Linked Bonds.

"These awards underscore Chinabank Capital's expertise in structuring and executing landmark deals and the strong synergy of the Chinabank Group in delivering the best transactions for our clients,"  CBCap Managing Director Juan Paolo Colet said.

At the ABF Awards 2024, Chinabank won Domestic Retail Bank of the Year - Philippines and CBCap clinched two deal-based awards.  ABF cites Asia’s most outstanding banks, financial institutions, and initiatives that are shaping the future of banking through innovative products, digital transformation, and exceptional customer service, while also recognizing impactful solutions that support businesses and large-scale enterprises.