Equitable PCI Bank

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Equitable PCI Bank, Inc. was one of the Philippines’ largest banks. It started as two banks: Philippine Commercial International Bank (PCIBank), founded in 1938, and Equitable Banking Corporation, founded in 1950. In 1999, they merged, with Equitable surviving and the merged company taking the name Equitable PCI Bank. The bank offered a full range of financial services—from savings and loans to insurance—and ran the country’s largest credit card network through its Equitable Card Network.

Equitable PCI Bank grew to be a major lender and helped develop the Philippines’ ATM networks Megalink and BancNet. It was also involved in national events and was active in corporate finance and banking services. The bank was listed on the stock exchange and played a prominent role in the country’s financial scene.

Over the 2000s, ownership shifted as large investors, including SM Investments and government funds such as the SSS and GSIS, increased their stakes in the bank. The founding families’ shares were reduced through these changes as mergers and acquisitions progressed.

In 2007, Equitable PCI Bank merged with Banco de Oro Universal Bank and adopted the Banco de Oro name, forming BDO Unibank, Inc. This made the bank the largest in the Philippines by assets at the time. Its headquarters were in Makati.