UnionBank first bank to run on The New AWS Local Zones in Philippines

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) has proven its reputation as a trailblazer in the industry anew by being the first bank in the Philippines to run workloads on Amazon Web Services Inc. (AWS) AWS Local Zones location in Manila, Philippines.

"This is a huge development in the AWS expansion in the Asian region and addresses response time issues for mission critical applications that require low latency. This in turn allows service providers like us to deliver digital solutions to our customers much better," said Ryan Acosta, UnionBank's Head for Infrastructure and Service Management.

As the Philippines' leading bank of innovation, UnionBank has been investing heavily in cloud-enabled solutions as part of its continuous efforts to serve customers better. In fact, UnionBank was the first major bank in the Philippines to be fully hosted in the cloud, completing its migration to AWS in 2022 and two weeks ahead of schedule.

The move to the cloud resulted in numerous improvements for the Bank's various day-to-day operations, including reduced IT costs, the elimination of downtime and system lags, and improved backup and disaster recovery capabilities, just to name a few, in turn providing better services to customers.

And now, with the recent launch of AWS Local Zones in the country, UnionBank further solidifies its first mover status in the Philippine banking space while enabling more meaningful and relevant customer experiences. This is in line with the Bank's 'Tech-Up' Pilipinas advocacy that aims to empower Filipinos and contribute to nation building through technology, innovation, and co-creation.

"True to its core value of innovation, UnionBank has once again become the first mover in this space, leveraging cloud technology to bring even more value to our customers," said Dennis Omila, UnionBank's Chief Technology and Operations Officer. "We have always been proud of being a company of industry firsts, and I'm confident that with the AWS Local Zones location in Manila , we will be able to do even more."

Union Bank of the Philippines celebrated a remarkable victory at the 2023 Stevie Awards for Great Employers (SAGE), held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. This impressive achievement signifies the Bank's commitment to its employees and its growing influence as a financial institution.

The SAGE is internationally acclaimed for recognizing outstanding achievements in business and has been a symbol of excellence since its inception in 2002. These awards celebrate organizations and individuals across more than 60 nations who excel in various aspects of business, including human resources, innovation, and corporate culture.

UnionBank took home four significant awards at the event:

Gold Stevie Award for HR Thought Leader of the Year: Ms. Michelle Rubio, Chief Human Resource Officer at UnionBank, was honored with this top accolade. Her pivotal role as the lead driver of people transformation and culture optimization was instrumental in the Bank's successful digital transformation journey. This contributed to UnionBank's prestigious six-year streak as the Digital Bank of the Year and its consecutive three-year recognition as one of the Most Recommended Banks. As a thought leader, she has been invited to numerous speaking engagements, podcasts, and learning sessions on the future of work, People Tech, and digital transformation.

Silver Stevie Award for Achievement in New Employee Onboarding:

This award recognizes UnionBank's successful acquisition of Citibank's consumer banking business in the Philippines which was greatly driven by its promise of continuity and care for its people. Central to this success was OnewithU, a collaborative effort involving multiple workstreams. OnewithU played a pivotal role by providing essential support and resources, ensuring a seamless and successful transition for all employees. 1,700 employees made the transition to UnionBank, constituting an impressive 88% of the eligible population and surpassing the 85% target. This turned out to be the highest percentage of employees who accepted the job offer to transfer to the acquiring company across all Citi consumer bank acquisitions worldwide. UnionBank also became the 2nd to complete the Citi acquisition worldwide among 14 consumer markets that are part of the strategy refresh.

 Bronze Stevie Award as Employer of the Year in Banking:

This recognition is a testament to UnionBank's unwavering commitment to its exceptional workforce and the true architects of its success. Anchored in four pillars of employee well-being, UnionBank's employee engagement strategy led to an impressive 2022 engagement rating of 4.42, surpassing global best practice, and a remarkable 8.95% attrition rate, below industry standards. The Great Place To Work Certifications received for two consecutive years (2021, 2022) underscores that UnionBank's workplace culture is not just a concept but a lifestyle, fostered by visionary leadership. This highlights the symbiotic relationship between engaged employees and satisfied customers, which ultimately drives UnionBank's business performance.

Bronze Stevie Award for Achievement in Extended Enterprise Learning Programs (UBP Xcellerator):

This award is a nod to UnionBank's advocacy in revolutionizing virtual learning and advocating social sustainability through digital capability building. It is one of the Bank's initiatives on People Technology, placing people at the core, and technology at the fore. The UBP Xcellerator program, launched in 2018, has educated over 19,000 individuals in emerging technologies.

In light of UnionBank's achievements, Chief Human Resource Officer Michelle Rubio emphasized the pivotal role of talent and organizational culture as drivers of competitive advantage. She noted, "Winning various Stevie awards validates UnionBank's transformation journey that focused on people and creating opportunities for them to grow and reach their fullest potential."

These awards not only recognize Union Bank of the Philippines as an exceptional employer but also highlight the Bank's critical role in shaping the banking industry's future. By prioritizing employee development, embracing digital transformation, and promoting social responsibility, UnionBank is not only securing its place as a leader in the banking landscape but also setting a precedent for excellence in the financial sector.