Chinabank and its investment banking arm, Chinabank Capital (CBCap), brought home five major honors at the 2025 Asian Banking & Finance (ABF) Awards held in Singapore, solidifying their reputation for innovation and excellence in the Philippine financial sector.
In the Retail Banking Awards, Chinabank was lauded for its 30-Minute Instant Credit Card Issuance Program, which earned Service Innovation of the Year – Philippines. The first of its kind in the country, the program enables customers to receive a credit decision and a physical credit card in just 30 minutes.
By rolling out the service in malls and supermarkets nationwide, Chinabank made access to credit more immediate and convenient, helping Filipinos obtain a CBC credit card with the same ease and speed as daily errands.
The bank also clinched Banking for Women Initiative of the Year – Philippines for its CBC Velvet Visa Signature card. Designed specifically for women, the card offers premium rewards and perks, such as a Pandora welcome gift, and is crafted from 100% recycled plastic—a reflection of Chinabank’s commitment to both inclusivity and sustainability.
“”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,” said Aloysius Alday Jr., Chinabank’s Consumer Banking Segment Head.
Chinabank Capital, meanwhile, dominated the Corporate & Investment Banking Awards, with three wins highlighting its role in structuring and delivering some of the country’s most significant deals.
CBCap received Debt Deal of the Year – Philippines for its role in arranging a $400 million term loan facility for Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Inc. The deal formed part of a cross-border fundraising initiative by its parent firm, Japan’s Universal Entertainment Corporation, and marked CBCap’s largest foreign currency loan arrangement to date.
The firm also secured Project Infrastructure Finance Deal of the Year – Philippines for helping facilitate the ₱80-billion financing for the rehabilitation and operation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) under New NAIA Infra Corp.
The project seeks to expand the airport’s capacity from 47 million to 62 million passengers annually while modernizing key facilities to meet international standards.
Additionally, CBCap took home Sustainability-Linked Bond of the Year – Philippines for its role as underwriter and bookrunner for Ayala Land Inc.’s ₱14-billion issuance of sustainability-linked corporate bonds—the first of its kind in the Philippines.
“These awards underscore Chinabank Capital’s expertise in structuring and executing landmark deal and the strong synergies of the Chinabank Group in delivering the best transactions for our clients,” CBCap managing director Juan Paolo Colet.
The recognition builds on the bank’s strong showing in last year’s ABF Awards, where Chinabank was named Domestic Retail Bank of the Year – Philippines and CBCap secured two deal-based distinctions.
The ABF Awards honor Asia’s most innovative and forward-thinking banks, spotlighting efforts in digital transformation, customer-centric services, and financing solutions that support business growth and economic resilience.
