About Us

Previous Awards and Recognitions

The RABOBANK-Nederlands


A team from the RaboBank of Netherlands headed by Mr. Charles Ruys visited NRBSL in October 2001, and made the following observations:

  1. The Bank has a clear concept of banking.
  2. The Bank is in good financial shape.
  3. Bank products are well-designed.
  4. Procedures and systems are outstanding.
  5. Bank employees are well-trained, competent, and committed.
  6. The Bank works with a high percentage of women as clients.

Interchurch Organization for Development Co-operation


On the Bank's tenth anniversary (1994-2004), the Management Board of ICCO gave the Bank a citation on December 13, 2003, for the following reasons:

  1. The clients for admirable entrepreneurship, dedication and contribution to the economy of Nueva Ecija;
  2. The staff for daily efforts to provide the best services possible to the small business community;
  3. The management team for its commitment, professionalism and team spirit in steering the daily operation of the Bank;
  4. The Board of NRBSL for visionary work on enterprising development, rural banking, and democratization, under greater currents of disbelief from others;
  5. And Bank President Andres G. Panganiban for his leadership, optimism and drive for perfection, always one step ahead of today's agenda.

The UP College of Social Work and Community Development (UPCSWCD)


A study by Prof Mary Lou Alcid of the UP College of Social Work and Community Development hailed [the loan product] Lima Para sa Lahat (Five For All Program) for giving non-collateralised credit available to the enterprising poor of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Tarlac at a relatively lower interest rate and just the right period of repayment. The product has enhanced women's entrepreneurial qualities, making it possible for those with existing enterprises to continue, even expand their level of operations and increase their disposable income. This gave the women the opportunity to go into business and contribute to the family coffers. This also showed how the Bank thinks highly of women.

USAID-RBAP-MABS


The Technical Support Unit of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP), in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Microenterprise Access to Banking Services in Mindanao (MABS-M) made an institutional assessment and rapid market appraisal of the NRBSL's bank operations.

In summary, since the Bank is already so far advanced in microfinance, is under exceptionally strong leadership, and has a strong guiding vision that includes microfinance, MABS had reluctantly decided that the USAID-RBAP-MABS program can offer the Bank little value-added assistance in further developing its microfinance operations. In short, the Bank simply did not need MABS's help in microfinance.

AIM Study

The Asian Institute of Management (AIM)


A case study entitled "The New Rural Bank of San Leonardo, Banking with the Poor" by the Asian`Institute of Management (AIM) was approved by the AIM Research Review Committee for use in the different AIM programs. It is an academic's insight of barefoot banking that NRBSL advocates.