As we continue to build CARD MRI up as a dynamic group of development-oriented institutions fit for the digital landscape, we must always recognize the very reason for us in undertaking this grand endeavor - our clients and members. They are our inspiration, and their upliftment in life is our mission. We, as servants of social development, must always remind ourselves that our transformation has purpose. Our cover aims to illustrate CARD MRI’s dedication towards our digital transformation while still maintaining the essential human connection we have with our clients and stakeholder partners. The motif of the wheel symbolizes that CARD MRI is purposely designed to move forward with the aid of technology, while the inset photographs showcase not only our institutions’ achievements but also meaningful moments with our clients and communities. This is transformation with a mission. 4 CARD MRI RIZAL BANK, Inc. ANNUAL REPORT 2018 CARD MRI RIZAL BANK, Inc. is a world-class leader in microfinance and community-based social development undertakings that improves the quality of life of socially-and-economically challenged women and families towards nation building. CARD MRI RIZAL BANK, Inc. is committed to: • Empower socially-and-economically challenged women and families through continuous access to financial, microinsurance, educational, livelihood, health and other capacity-building services that eventually transform them into responsible citizens for their community and the environment; • Enable the women members to gain control and ownership of financial and social development institutions; and, • Partner with appropriate government agencies, private institutions, and people and community organizations to facilitate achievement of mutual goals. INSTITUTIONAL OBJECTIVES • To provide banking services especially designed for landless rural workers by bringing bank services to community sites and accommodating the least financial transactions within their affordability; • To provide non-collateralized loans to non-bankable but viable projects; and, • To ensure that the poorest Filipinos are provided with financial and non financial services. Achieving 5-8-40 and Beyond 5 CARD MRI RIZAL BANK, Inc. (CARD RBI) is a started migrating our units into the core banking system young institution, but undeniably, it has an incredible (CBS), marking our commitment to the Herculean task potential. At CARD RBI, we understand that our role as a of digitally transforming the institution. We continue with financial institution offering both banking services and our community-based activities as well as our banking microfinance assistance is a special opportunity for and microfinance operations. Poverty eradication, helping people, most especially women and families, meanwhile, is business as usual. secure a good future. Challenges will keep rolling in, especially as the From the beginning, we have been committed to institution continues to grow. Whatever these challenges serve the underprivileged families of the community. may be, I am positive that with the consistently Even before it carried the CARD MRI name and was dependable staff, guidance from management and known simply as Rizal Rural Bank, the institution was mentors, collaborations with partners, and especially always staunch in internalizing and applying the core a close relationship with our clients, we will always values imparted by CARD MRI. This small but significant overcome. shared desire to help others became the seeds buried beneath the foundation of CARD RBI. Looking back at what CARD RBI has accomplished, it is exciting to see what is in store for us in the next few This year brought many changes to the CARD RBI years. I hope to see and be part of its efforts coming family. We opened a total of eight new branches, a to fruition soon. We have a long way to go, but we are landmark win for our expansion efforts. We have also ready. Flordeliza L. Sarmiento 6 CARD MRI RIZAL BANK, Inc. ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Financial institutions can do a lot to uplift the lives of these innovations will help us fulfill our mission and those in need. At CARD MRI RIZAL BANK, Inc. (CARD RBI), effectively realize the 5-8-40 goal. After all, CARD RBI is we hold firm that by providing products and services in the business of ending poverty. that are efficient and responsive to the needs of time, banks can be powerful vessels for improving people’s The CARD RBI Way overall welfare. In its almost six years of existence, CARD The youngest among the CARD Banking Group, RBI has toiled to make this vision of improving people’s CARD RBI was quick to establish its own identity. After its lives a reality. In this pursuit, we always do meaningful acquisition in 2013 by CARD MRI, its name was changed work in providing financial assistance especially to the from Rizal Rural Bank and a microfinance program was underprivileged. subsequently implemented. It was recognized as a rural institution with an advocacy for the people. This year has been another opportunity for CARD RBI to improve the lives of the socioeconomically The year 2018 was a big year for us. We started by challenged sectors of our society. It is also a year officially carrying the CARD MRI name, an amendment marked with remarkable performance and growth. the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) approved. Today, Driven by the 5-8-40 strategic direction of CARD MRI, CARD RBI has grown into a reputable financial institution we are all the more challenged to double down on with 25 branches and more than 400,000 clients, many our mandate to help eradicate poverty by financially of which were transitioned from CARD, Inc. We opened empowering Filipino women and families. eight new branches in Aparri, Cauayan, Cabarroguis, Baliuag, Ilagan, Marikina, Solana, and Tuguegarao. This With digital transformation dawning in our is the most number of branches we have opened in a institution, we find ourselves in a position to make a year. We are pleased that our commitment to making bigger and lasting impact on the lives of our clients the institution grow saw fruition. and their loved ones. This is amid the many digital innovations we have introduced and are about to This year, the Bank’s savings generation also introduce. With eager minds, we welcomed these digital increased. A large part of this feat was achieved through transformations in 2018 and we are ready to welcome the Savings Caravan that yielded over 3,000 new the same challenges in the years to come. We know accounts in 14 branches. Central to the Savings Caravan President and CEO’s Report 7 is the official mascot of CARD RBI, an ant called Anty which runs through the different moving parts working Pid. We chose the ant because its community-centered on their own to achieve a higher function. nature reflects the mission and vision of our institution that we do not gather to serve ourselves but to serve We emphasize to our staff to imbibe a culture the other members of the community. Truly, Anty Pid of excellence in work and the importance of their has played a vital role in raising awareness on the commitment to continuously improve skills and bank’s savings products. professional capacities. The culture of excellence and commitment is imperative and had been proven From the beginning, empowering women and effective. From transitioning efforts when the bank families has been at the forefront of our advocacy; was initially set up to venturing into the wave of thus, our programs are geared to assist wives and digital transformation, the commitment of our staff mothers in securing their families’ future. With the and management, as well as their professional availability of the Special Agri Loan, we have observed excellence, served as solid and impressive pillars of that more male members have become actively our institution. involved in CARD RBI. We are happy that we have created an environment that fosters partnership This year, our growth has taken us from the between husbands and wives. e-banking system to the new core banking system (CBS), which would centralize processes and make Moving Parts transactions easier for our clients. Three branches At CARD RBI, we recognize that our strength lies located in Santa Cruz, Taytay, and Taguig piloted the in our people. Our institution is similar to a machine, CBS by the end of 2018. Our competent staff facilitated 8 CARD MRI RIZAL BANK, Inc. ANNUAL REPORT 2018 waning as the needs of humans and of impoverished communities are never ceasing. We intend to be of service to more communities as we make our presence felt in more places, especially the rural areas. We always seek to be partners of the community. Through center chiefs and agents, we make sure our presence is felt by our clients, most especially in the hard-to-reach areas. We at CARD RBI fully understand the value of cooperation. We are proud to have collaborated with CARD MRI’s Microfinance and Health Protection (MaHP) Program to conduct Community Health Days in Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Zambales, Pampanga, the smooth transition. The staff’s capacity-building Cebu, and Negros areas. We have also continued our programs ensure the same seamless transition to CBS role as non-financial service agent in partnership with from e-banking system in all our branches. the Social Security System (SSS), through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last January As with any change comes challenges. In our 2018. transition to CBS, there were hesitations among the clients as well as technical problems, especially in Likewise, the Kabuhayan Program continued setting up the system. It necessitated our staff to be its expansion this year and was implemented in 12 well-prepared, not only in talking to the clients but in units, generating PhP18 million savings with 98.07% coming up with actual solutions.