WINNING | BPI leans on governance to sharpen profit edge

Insider Spotlight

• BPI links strong governance to sustained profitability
• Bank lands Four-Golden-Arrow distinction from ICD
• Executives reaffirm commitment to responsible stewardship
  

Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is sharpening its long-term profit strategy by tying financial performance more closely to corporate governance discipline—a move executives say is central to sustaining the bank’s competitive edge in the next two years.

BPI recently secured a Four-Golden-Arrow distinction from the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), affirming the bank’s governance framework at a time when investors are rewarding firms with strong accountability and risk-management systems.

“This recognition affirms our commitment to our stakeholders and underscores our aspiration to be a center of excellence in corporate governance,” said BPI chief compliance officer Atty. Maria Paz Garcia in a press release. 

Why it matters:

The Golden Arrow ranking places BPI among the top-performing publicly listed banks in the Philippines under the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS)—a benchmark increasingly used by fund managers and regulators to evaluate the stability and long-term value of financial institutions.

Garcia said BPI’s governance standards are designed to feed directly into sustained earnings quality. 

“Our goal is to ensure that our risk-adjusted profitability continues to exceed past year’s levels and remains high over the next months, heading into 2026, underpinned by our franchise as a bank that anchors its operations on the highest standards of corporate governance, responsible stewardship and value-driven management,” she added.

By the numbers

• The ICD awards between one and five Golden Arrows based on ACGS scores.
• Institutions scoring 115–130 points receive five arrows—the highest distinction.
• BPI scored 105–114, earning four arrows and landing in the top tier of the ACGS Financial Sector.

The big picture

Financial-sector analysts have increasingly linked governance quality with resilience amid evolving regulatory requirements and digital-banking risks. 

BPI’s recognition positions it favorably as the sector adjusts to tighter compliance expectations and greater scrutiny of risk culture.

Between the lines

Beyond the award, BPI is signaling that governance isn’t just a compliance exercise but a strategic asset—one it believes can differentiate the bank as competition intensifies and profitability cycles tighten.

What’s next

BPI executives say the bank will continue refining its accountability structures, integrating governance into risk models and decision pathways, and communicating these improvements to stakeholders—actions aimed at reinforcing trust as it pursues growth through 2026. — Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma