The completion of the government-approved merger of Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) will result in combined assets totaling close to ₱3 trillion by the end of the year.
As the surviving entity in this merger, LANDBANK will further solidify its place as the second-largest bank in the country in terms of assets, representing a unified, stronger and more resilient institution for promoting inclusive and sustainable rural development.
“The merged assets will significantly grow LANDBANK’s loan portfolio directed at servicing the whole agriculture sector, especially coconut farmers, alongside key development industries. The synergy created by the merger will provide a much better position for us to respond to the evolving needs of our diverse clientele, especially the underserved and unbanked,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo.
Pending the approval of relevant regulatory authorities, LANDBANK expects its acquisition of the shares of stock of UCPB and attendant absorption of its assets and liabilities will similarly expand deposits, loans and capital. Due diligence was likewise conducted by LANDBANK and the transaction went through the review and approval by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Monetary Board.
Based on LANDBANK’s initial projections, the combined Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio by end-2021 will remain higher than the 11% regulatory requirement of the BSP.
Borromeo also emphasized that “LANDBANK is more than capable of absorbing the financial impact of the merger with UCPB. Our ratios will remain comfortably above the standards set by the BSP.”
LANDBANK is requesting for regulatory incentives being granted by BSP to banks for mergers and consolidation. “These relief measures will provide the bank the flexibility to manage its capital, achieve operational efficiency, and minimize the expected impact of absorbing UCPB,” Borromeo said.
To encourage consolidation and mergers among banks, the BSP grants regulatory incentives under Memorandum No. M-2016-023 dated 21 December 2016.
Fueled by the 16.21% increase in deposits which reached P2.123 trillion as of end of the first quarter of 2021, total assets of LANDBANK grew to P2.405 trillion. LANDBANK ranks number 2 among domestic universal banks in terms of asset size.
As provided in Executive Order No. 142 signed on June 25, 2021, President Duterte ordered the LANDBANK and UCPB to enter into a merger applicable to government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and recognized by regulatory agencies.
A Technical Working Group (TWG) will be formed Pursuant to Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) Memorandum Circular No. 2015-03. The group will be composed of the President and CEO of LANDBANK, the Officer-In-Charge of UCPB, and the duly-designated representatives of the GCG, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Commission on Audit (COA).
The TWG is tasked to formulate an integration plan and to resolve all matters involving the implementation of the merger.
Meanwhile, clients of both LANDBANK and UCPB are being assured that banking services will continue to be unhampered throughout the ongoing merger process, with deposits to remain intact and secured in their current servicing branches.
At the same time, both banks assure its employees that all concerns pertaining to personnel matters will be addressed accordingly, and that all actions on human resources will comply with relevant labor rules and regulations.
For more updates, please Follow, Like and Share the official LANDBANK Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@landbankofficial), Twitter (@LBP_Official), and join our Viber community (@LANDBANK), or visit the LANDBANK website (www.landbank.com).
Empowering Cadiz as Negros’ farming hub: LANDBANK streamlines digital agri lending with AGRISENSO Plus
CADIZ CITY, Negros Occidental – LANDBANK continues to make agricultural financing more accessible with the integration of online applications under the AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program, allowing farmers to conveniently apply for loans anytime and anywhere, underscoring the Bank’s commitment to simplify access to affordable credit. LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. led the launch on 30 October 2025 at the Cadiz City Arena, attended by more than 1,700 farmers from Cadiz and neighboring towns. They were joined by Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) President Atty. Jovy C. Bernabe, Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) Deputy Executive Director Ma. Cristina G. Lopez, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador G. Escalante, Jr. and Vice Mayor John Vincent I. Escalante, EB Magalona Mayor Matthew Louis Malacon, Sagay City Mayor Leo Rafael M. Cueva, Silay City Mayor Joedith C. Gallego, and Valladolid Mayor Ricardo P. Presbitero, Jr. “Sa pamamagitan ng pakikipagtulungan sa LANDBANK at iba pa nating katuwang, titiyakin natin na ang benepisyo ng AGRISENSO Plus ay makarating sa lahat ng magsasaka at mangingisda, saan mang sulok ng bansa,” said DA Sec. Laurel. In 2024, Mayor Escalante shared his vision of transforming Cadiz and its neighboring towns into a primary agricultural hub in Negros Occidental, with the AGRISENSO Plus Program expected to play a vital role in realizing this vision by improving farmers’ access to affordable financing and agribusiness support. “LANDBANK has seen how our farmers continue to face so many challenges — from the recent eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, to the impact of climate change, unstable farmgate prices, and market access. This is why we designed AGRISENSO Plus to provide holistic and practical solutions to the challenges faced by our farmers and fisherfolk,” LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz emphasized. Inclusive and holistic agri financing The Program, developed in partnership with the DA, ACPC, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and private sector partners, is a value chain-based financing initiative that provides holistic support to agricultural stakeholders, with simplified documentary requirements, free life and credit life insurance, and expanded access to technical and market support to help boost productivity and profitability. It offers a lowered fixed interest rate of only 3.0% per annum — down from 4.0% — for small farmers, fishers, and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), with competitive rates for their associations, cooperatives, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), large enterprises, anchor firms, and agriculture graduates. Complementing the Lending Program is the LANDBANK ASCEND (Agri-Fishery Support through Capability Enhancement for Nationwide Development), a capacity-building initiative that equips farmers and fishers with training in digital financial literacy, sustainable agriculture, and enterprise development. As of August 2025, LANDBANK has released ₱1.78 billion in loans under the AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program, supporting over 12,000 borrowers nationwide. The Negros Occidental rollout follows successful launches in Pampanga, Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes, Bukidnon, Iloilo, and Palawan. Strengthening partnerships for growth The Program also strengthens market linkages through partnerships with anchor firms such as Kita Agritech Corporation, Sarisuki Stores, Inc., TAO Foods Company, Inc., Yovel East Research and Development, Inc., Unified Tillers Agriculture Cooperative (UTAC), and Santeh Feeds Corporation. Agbeam Farms Incorporated recently joined this roster following the signing of a memorandum of agreement with LANDBANK on 20 October 2025 at LANDBANK Plaza in Manila. Agbeam Farms, which specializes in dragon fruit cultivation and processing, will provide end-to-end support to farmers—from land preparation and production to post-harvest processing and marketing—ensuring a complete and sustainable value chain for dragon fruit growers. Expanding digital convenience for farmers and MSMEs Further advancing its digitalization efforts, LANDBANK successfully piloted the first provincial rollout of its Person-to-Merchant (P2M) QR payment facility in Negros Occidental. The P2M facility delivers a two-fold benefit for both consumers and LANDBANK-accredited merchants. It is an interoperable payment channel that allows consumers to avail of free transfer fees for purchases worth ₱500 and below when paying via QRPh-P2M using the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App (MBA), other banking apps, or digital wallets. Meanwhile, participating merchants benefit from waived merchant fees for every transaction. This digital innovation further empowers farmers and MSMEs by offering a faster, more convenient, and secure way to receive payments, while reducing their reliance on cash transactions and promoting wider digital adoption across agricultural communities. Business owners can enroll their existing LANDBANK accounts, with P2M activation completed within just 24 to 48 hours. ABOUT LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable national development. Present in all 82 provinces in the county, the Bank is committed to provide accessible and responsive financial solutions to empower Filipinos from countryside to countrywide.
LEARN MORE
LANDBANK expands reach in Negros Occidental with new one-stop hub
KABANKALAN CITY, Negros Occidental – State-run LANDBANK has strengthened its presence in Southern Negros with the opening of the Negros Occidental South Corporate Center in Kabankalan City, highlighting the Bank’s commitment to accessible and inclusive financial services. The new facility will serve as a one-stop hub for farmers, fishers, cooperatives, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), local government units (LGUs), and private depositors from the cities of Kabankalan, Sipalay, and Himamaylan, and the municipalities of Ilog, Cauayan, Candoni, Hinoba-an, Hinigaran, and Binalbagan. LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz and Negros Occidental 6th District Representative Mercedes K. Alvarez led the inauguration ceremony on 29 October 2025, joined by Kabankalan City Mayor Benjie M. Miranda and Vice Mayor Divina Gracia S. Miranda, Candoni Mayor Ray R. Ruiz, Sipalay City Mayor Maria Gina M. Lizares, other local partners, and LANDBANK senior officials. “Today’s inauguration of the LANDBANK Negros Occidental South Corporate Center reaffirms our deep commitment to stand with Kabankalan and the entire Negros Occidental. This new facility strengthens our presence in Saouthern Negros — so that together, we can continue providing every Negrense with better, more efficient, and more inclusive financial services,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz. LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (middle) and Negros Occidental 6th District Representative Mercedes K. Alvarez (3rd from left) lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the inauguration of the LANDBANK Negros Occidental South Corporate Center on 29 October 2025 in Kabankalan City. They are joined by Kabankalan City Mayor Benjie M. Miranda (rightmost), Vice Mayor Divina Gracia S. Miranda (2nd from right), Sipalay City Mayor Maria Gina M. Lizares (3rd from right), Candoni Mayor Ray R. Ruiz (2nd from left), and LANDBANK First Vice President Vivian M. Cañonero (leftmost). A new home for “phygital” banking Located along Justice JY Perez Highway, the center houses the upgraded LANDBANK Kabankalan Branch — the first “phygital” branch in Negros Occidental, with modern facilities and ample space that offers a comfortable environment for clients and staff. It combines physical and digital banking, featuring LEA (LANDBANK Easy Access) for paperless queuing, the LANDBANK Digital Online Banking System (DOBS) for faster account opening, four ATMs, a cash deposit machine, and meeting pods for client consultations. Expanding access to development financing The second floor hosts the LANDBANK Negros Occidental South Lending Center, offering easier access to loans and credit assistance, eliminating the need to travel to Bacolod City. Other LANDBANK units such as the Loan Operations Field Unit (LOFU), Field Support Services Center (FSSC), and Field Legal Services (FLS) are also housed in the building to provide integrated services. LANDBANK currently operates 16 branches, two lending centers, 76 ATMs, four CDMs, and 51 LANDBANKasama partners in Negros Occidental, plus 80 ATMs in 7-Eleven stores where customers can withdraw cash free of charge. ABOUT LANDBANK LANDBANK is the largest development financial institution in the country promoting financial inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable national development. Present in all 82 provinces in the county, the Bank is committed to provide accessible and responsive financial solutions to empower Filipinos from countryside to countrywide.
LEARN MORE
LANDBANK aids recovery of quake-affected communities in Davao and Cebu
LANDBANK reaffirmed its commitment to disaster response and recovery by extending ₱3.2 million in financial assistance and ₱3.1 million worth of relief packs to earthquake-hit communities in Davao Oriental and Cebu on October 23, 2025. Finance Secretary and LANDBANK Chairman Ralph G. Recto, together with President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz, led the simultaneous relief operations. “LANDBANK remains steadfast in providing timely assistance to our fellow Filipinos during times of crisis. Beyond immediate relief, we are equally focused on supporting the long-term recovery and rebuilding of affected communities,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz. In Davao Oriental, ₱500,000 was turned over to the provincial government, and ₱200,000 each to the City of Mati and Municipality of Manay. LANDBANK also distributed 1,000 grocery packs to displaced families, partly funded by voluntary donations from Bank employees. In Cebu, ₱2.3 million in financial aid was provided to 11 municipalities, including ₱500,000 each to Medellin, San Remigio, and Daanbantayan, and ₱100,000 each to Tabogon, Tabuelan, Sogod, Borbon, Catmon, Bantayan, Sta. Fe, and Madridejos. A total of 2,600 relief packs containing essential items, also funded in part by employee contributions, were also turned-over to the local Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices of the said municipalities and Bogo City. Previously, LANDBANK extended ₱4.9 million in aid to Cebu Province, Bogo City, and Masbate, distributed 2,000 food relief packs, donated 32 portable water filtration systems, deployed mobile ATMs, and ensured branch operations resumed promptly. Beyond immediate relief, LANDBANK rolled-out financial programs to support long-term recovery, including the CARES Plus for MSMEs and cooperatives, Electronic Salary Loan (eSL), EasyCash for Emergencies, PeER Loan for pensioners and government employees, and Emergency Loans of up to ₱25,000. LANDBANK services remain accessible via 409 branches, over 2,900 ATMs nationwide, and online through the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App (MBA), iAcces, weAccess, and Link.BizPortal. For more information, visit any LANDBANK branch or call the Customer Care Hotline at (02) 8405-7000.
LEARN MORE
