Bautista cited as Best Banking CEO for 2018 by Global Banking and Finance Awards
Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) President and CEO Edwin Bautista has been cited as Best Banking CEO for 2018 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Awards of The European financial publishing group.
Soon after becoming President in 2016, Bautista launched UnionBank’s “digital transformation” which prompted the launch of several pioneering products, services and platforms such as the first “selfie-banking” in Asia, the first fully digital bank branch in the Philippines, as well as the first “chatbot” in the country. This is on top of other initiatives like partnership with fintechs and advocating the use of blockchain technology.
As a result, UnionBank garnered the Best Digital Bank award from Asiamoney and the Digital Bank of the Year award from The Asset “Triple A” Awards.
Bautista has spearheaded many projects that have significantly impacted UnionBank’s key businesses since joining the Bank as Senior Vice President in 1997. While constantly seeking new ways to improve the Bank’s products and services, he has also stressed that the Bank’s “higher purpose” is to be a key enabler for greater financial inclusion and sustainable prosperity for all Filipinos.
From the onset of his leadership, he vowed to properly equip his people with skills so they can move seamlessly from jobs that are disappearing into new jobs that are emerging. This led to his promise that no UnionBank employee or customer group will get left behind in the Bank’s digital transformation.
In 2016 for example, UnionBank was cited as the Best Company to Work For at the Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (A.C.E. S.) Awards. Last year, UnionBank also received the much- coveted Best Employer in Banking 2017 award from the prestigious Stevie Awards, also known as the “Oscars” of the international business awards.
Bautista believes that banking “is a people business” and an engaged employee, an engaged workforce delivering great service translates into an engaged and loyal customer group.
Bautista’s selection as Best Banking CEO underwent rigorous examination by the awards panel composed of former Fortune 500 individuals, global experts and industry leaders.
The Global Banking and Finance Awards of The European – a quarterly subscription- only business publication by Chase Publishing in London and primarily distributed to individuals at director level or C-suite executives - covers industries including energy, banking and finance, foreign direct investment, shipping, aviation, executive education and technology.