CARD Bank in its 18thyear of uplifting Filipinos

CARD Bank, a member institution of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), celebrated its 18^th founding anniversary with the theme “18 years of fulfilling a bright and stable future for every family” held in SM City San Pablo Atrium on September 1, 2015.

The 55 CARD Bank pioneering members, executive committee members and staff of CARD MRI graced the said event.CARD Bank’s President and CEO Dolores M. Torres recognized all people behind the success of the institution especially its members. “This celebration is for every members of CARD Bank who trusted the institution in improving their life conditions,” said Torres.

Simultaneously, CARD Bank is also celebrating its savings month this September. Chuchi Fonacier, the Managing Director for Supervision and Examination Sub-Sector III from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), encouraged the audience to develop savings habit. In her speech, Fonacier opened the mind of the audience on the opportunities of saving in a financial institution.

Entrep Champion Paulo Tibig awakened the entrepreneurial spirit of CARD Bank members for them to understand the most possible outcome of being a successful entrepreneur –an improve quality of life.

A negosyo forum from some of the successful micro-entrepreneur (ME) members of CARD MRI was also done to serve as an inspiration. Afterwards, product demos from these MEs were presented and they gave free samples of their products to the audience.

Jim Paredes, a well-respected Filipino singer and song writer, also attended the event to facilitate an interview with the leaders of CARD Bank–Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip, Dolores M. Torres, and Lorenza DT. Bañez, the Chairman, President,and Executive Vice President of CARD Bank respectively–to better understand CARD Bank’s role in poverty eradication.

“Our desire is to see our members and their families continually growing and improving their quality of life,” shared Bañez. While Alip dreams of establishing a museum showing poverty as just part of the history in the country and CARD MRI’s role in it. Paredes commended the institution for its mission of helping the poor communities in the country.

It was also timely that a book entitled 89K (Kababaihan orwomen) was launched to honor the first 89 members who trusted the institution for decades while CARD Bank was still an NGO. It contains the life stories of the members and how CARD helped them in their personal and financial growth.

Raffle draws where CARD Bank gave away umbrellas, t-shirts, printers, LED televisions and cash prizes to the pioneering members added excitement to the event.

CARD Bank has also partnered with the SM Department Store for the CARD Bank members and savers to enjoy discounted shopping at SM San Pablo from September 4-10, 2015. While for the whole month of September, they can also avail discounts at Red Ribbon–SM City San Pablo branch.

CARD Bank is a member of CARD MRI that aims to provide the poor with various financial and non-financial services. To date, CARD Bank has already 61 branches serving more than 1.5 million clients all over the country.

The CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions like CARD SME Bank, CARD Leasing and Finance Corporation, Mga Likha ni Inay, CARD MRI Information Technology, CARD MRI Insurance Agency, BotiCARD, Rizal Bank, CARD Pioneer Microinsurance Inc. and other private institutions like CaféLandia, CNM Advertising Services, Expedite Solutions, Transfast–Worldwide Money Transfer, SM Store San Pablo, Red Ribbon-SM San Pablo Branch, and Open Space Technology sponsored the event to make the celebration for CARD Bank members possible.