Billease Bank also announced that its board elected former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Eduardo G. Bobier as an independent director, subject to confirmation by the central bank.
Billease said the rebranding integrates the rural bank more closely into its broader digital ecosystem and lays the groundwork for offering financial products through a single platform.
Unified brand
In a statement, Billease cofounder and CEO Georg Steiger said adopting the Billease name was part of the company's strategy to expand financial services for underbanked Filipinos.
“Bringing the bank under the Billease name is a natural next step in our mission to expand access to responsible financial services for underbanked Filipinos,” Steiger said.
“A unified brand allows us to offer a more complete suite of financial products from credit to savings and deposits under one roof, helping more Filipinos build stronger financial futures,” he added.
The move brings Billease's banking operations under the same brand as its financial technology business, which provides consumer credit services.
Governance push
The bank is also strengthening its board as it expands within the Billease ecosystem.
Bobier brings more than three decades of experience in central banking, treasury operations and corporate governance.
He most recently served as deputy governor of the BSP's Corporate Services Sector, overseeing control, budget and administrative functions.
His previous positions at the central bank included assistant governor and managing director of the comptrollership sub-sector. He also held senior posts in the BSP treasury department, including chief investment analytics officer and chief reserve management officer.
Bobier chaired or served on several BSP institutional committees and represented the central bank on external bodies, including Philippine International Convention Center Inc. and the Philippine Guarantee Corp. board.
Billease said Bobier's experience in central bank oversight, financial comptrollership and institutional risk management would support Billease Bank's governance and risk oversight functions.
Next chapter
Billease Bank president and CEO Dennis Valdes said the rebranding and Bobier's election marked important steps as the lender positions itself for long-term growth.
“As one unified brand, we're better positioned to bring relevant, responsible financial services to more Filipinos and support their financial wellness,” Valdes said.
He added that Bobier's central banking and institutional oversight experience would strengthen the lender's governance framework as the business expands. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
