History

CARD SME Bank, Inc. is formerly known as the Rural Bank of Sto. Tomas (Batangas), Inc. (RBSTI). It provided loan facilities to rural producers for their various productive endeavors. Being the pioneer bank to operate in Sto. Tomas Batangas, it became a catalyst for growth and progress in the municipality.

The Monetary Board of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas issued a certificate of authority to operate as rural bank to RBSTI on May 10, 1962 and became the 14th rural bank in the province of Batangas. It was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 7, 1962 with an authorized capital stock of one million pesos and five (5) incorporators from the Malvar and Castillo families. Two (2) branches were opened: Silang, Cavite in 1996 and Lipa City, Batangas, in August 1997. In December 2008, Silang branch was transferred to Tagaytay City, Cavite.

On July 2002, the bank encountered difficulties that led them to the decision of selling majority of the shares of stocks to CARD MRI. The Rehabilitation Court and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas officially approved the sale/transfer of shares of stock on September 5, 2007 and February 7, 2008, respectively.

CARD MRI assumed the ownership of RBSTI on July 31, 2007. This strategic move will support the graduating microenterprises clients of CARD, Inc. and CARD Bank, Inc., by empowering them through continuous access to financial resources and non-financial services. CARD MRI’s social mission of poverty alleviation has been integrated into RBSTI’s microfinance operations.

On May 20, 2010, the Monetary Board of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has approved the increase in the authorized capital stock of the bank from Php20 Million to Php500 Million and the number of Board of Directors from 5 to 9 members and was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 5, 2010. Subsequently on December 9, 2010, the Monetary Board of BSP through Resolution No. 1757 has lifted the Bank from Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) and approving the conversion of the operation of the bank from rural bank category to a thrift bank. The Amended Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws as a thrift bank was approved by the BSP on April 8, 2011 and was registered with SEC on May 11, 2011. The Governor of the BSP signed the Bank’s Certificate of Authority to operate as thrift bank on June 15, 2011.

On July 25, 2011, the bank has inaugurated the opening of its new Head Office in San Pablo City, Laguna and started operating under its new name “CARD SME BANK, INC., A Thrift Bank”, while retaining Sto. Tomas, Batangas as one of its braches. Afterwards, it opened additional branches in Batangas City, Sta. Rosa City and Cavite City Branch on year 2012 and Calamba City, Balayan, Batangas and Dasmariñas City in 2013.

Vision and Mission

Vision

CARD SME Bank, Inc. supports CARD MRI’s vision statement as a Group of Mutually Reinforcing Institutions that is dedicated to empower the poor by upholding the core values of competence, family spirit, integrity, stewardship, humility, culture of excellence, and simplicity. As one of the institutions that comprise the CARD MRI and in support of its mission, CARD SME envisions building a sustainable financial and capacity building institution owned and led by socially-and-economically challenged families by providing integrated Microfinance, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) and social development (credit with education, leadership with a heart, innovative community programs) services to an expanding membership base by organizing and empowering women and their families; and continue upholding the highest standards of stewardship of financial, human, and institutional resources.

Mission