Philippine National Bank (PNB) named Edwin Bautista last Monday as its new president and chief executive officer, who will assume office on 29 April. He replaced Florido Casuela.

Bautista served as president and chief executive officer of Aboitiz-owned Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) for more than seven years.

Last year, UnionBank achieved a 31 percent growth in net income of P12 billion from P9.2 billion in 2023, as its clients increased to 17 million.

Bautista introduced innovative strategies that enhanced customer experience and expanded the bank’s retail banking operations, growing its customer base to over 15 million.

His leadership at UnionBank also included overseeing the successful acquisition and integration of Citibank Philippines’ retail business, a major milestone that showcased his ability to manage complex transitions and ensure operational continuity.

The experience aligns with PNB’s ongoing strategic transformation, which aims to modernize operations and strengthen its competitive position in the financial sector. Bautista’s appointment signals PNB’s focus on innovation and customer-centric banking, areas where he has demonstrated expertise.

“This impending transition marks a key milestone in PNB’s ongoing strategic transformation,” PNB said.

Formidable record

“Mr. Bautista brings with him a wealth of experience from UnionBank where he played a pivotal role in driving the bank’s digital transformation and expanding its retail banking,” PNB said.

UnionBank expanded its consumer loans portfolio to 61 percent of the total portfolio or three times bigger than the industry average.

This was after UnionBank acquired Citi’s consumer business in August 2022 to continue facilitating unsecured lending, deposit, insurance and investments.

To provide more Filipinos basic banking services, Bautista supported the expansion of UnionDigital Bank, the digital arm of UnionBank, through capital infusion of P1.4 billion as of 31 December 2024.

His appointment signals PNB’s commitment to innovation, customer-centric banking, and long-term sustainable growth,” PNB said.

The PNB announcement came after UnionBank appointed Ana Maria Aboitiz Delgado as its new president starting 1 January this year.

During his tenure at UnionBank, Bautista was widely recognized for leading the bank’s digital transformation, turning it into one of the country’s most advanced digitalized banks.

Beyond UnionBank, Bautista’s career spans significant roles that highlight his versatility and strategic acumen.

He served as a senior brand manager at Procter & Gamble, where he honed his marketing skills, and later as vice president and group head of transaction banking at Citibank Philippines, where he drove product innovation.

His term as marketing and sales director for American Express International in the Philippines and Guam further broadened his perspective on customer engagement and business growth.

These roles equipped him with a blend of corporate and banking expertise, making him adept at navigating diverse challenges.

Bautista’s educational background — a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from De La Salle University and completion of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School — adds to his credentials, reflecting analytical rigor and advanced leadership training.

PNB is expected to benefit from Bautista’s ability to drive long-term sustainable growth, a critical need as it seeks to enhance its digital infrastructure and retail lending initiatives, areas where it has lagged behind competitors.