Lucio Tan Group’s Philippine National Bank (PNB) was recently recognized as one of the country’s big banks that prioritizes learning and development among its employees, according to its officials.

In a statement Friday, Nov. 3, PNB vice president and head of the Institute for Banking Excellence Michael Mariano said the bank – currently the country’s seventh largest lender – has “always (strive) to take care of its best asset – its people.”

He said for this reason, the Philippine Society for Talent Development (PSTD) has given the bank the Gawad Maestro Learning and Development Organization of the Year Award for the Private Sector category during the 6th Gawad Maestro Awards 2023 held last Sept. 21.

"PSTD acknowledged our efforts in making learning and development impactful across the organization," said Mariano.

PNB was recognized for fostering a strong learning culture in the workplace and continuously implementing learning and development programs that help employees cope with the changing times and ways of working, said the bank.

For her part, PNB’s Human Resource Group officer-in-charge Socorro Corpus added, “PNB’s Institute for Banking Excellence has always been dedicated to provide employees with various learning opportunities, integrating synchronous instructor-led courses and programs along with the continued implementation of an e-learning platform – LinkedIn Learning.”

PSTD has recognized that PNB has demonstrated outstanding leadership and creativity in improving organizational performance through learning and development.

The Gawad Maestro was first launched in March 2011 and held every two years.

PNB said PSTD “seeks to honor and recognize outstanding public and private organizations that exhibit innovation and dynamism in learning and development policies and programs.”

PNB is one of the oldest financial institution in the country. In the first six months, it posted net profits of P9.7 billion, 12.6 percent lower year-on-year but it noted sustained growth in net interest margin and revenues from fee-based businesses during the period.

As of end-June 2023, the bank's total consolidated assets stood at P1.16 trillion, almost the same as same period last year.

PNB President Florido P. Casuela said earlier that the bank sustained its profitability because of “sound execution of business strategies that are expected to ensure long-term growth as set forth in our vision, mission, and strategy for the next five years.”

He said PNB will continue to strengthen its commercial banking and the consumer finance business.