About Us
Awards and Recognitions
BSP CAMELS Rating
The 2002 Central Bank General Examination Report
covering the period February 1, 2001 up to February 28, 2003
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) or Central Bank is the central monetary authority in the Philippines which provides policy directions in the areas of money, credit, and banking. It supervises the operations of banks and exercises regulatory powers over banking operations, conducting periodic and special examinations. The latest annual General Examination of the New Rural Bank of San Leonardo was last March 31, 2002.
The results of the examination is solid proof that a bank for the poor can perform profitably and well, with no need to sacrifice its principles, and at par with the standards of regulatory bodies.
The overall conclusion of the examination is that the Bank is solvent with total assets of P177.019 M exceeding total liabilities by P41.209 M. Risk assets ratio of 24% is 14 percentage points above the statutory required minimum. The Bank's net worth exceeds required minimum capital by P37.309M. The past due loans ratio of 1% is 16 percentage points better than the RB system average. Liquidity ratio is 30 percentage points higher than the RB system average. On the overall, operating performance is very impressive.
The CAMELS composite rating of "5" which is rounded from 4.67 is an indication that the Bank is operating soundly in every respect, is very stable, and with satisfactory condition that warrants minimal supervisory concerns.
RaboBank Evaluation
The RABOBANK-Nederlands Evaluation
Impressions of a visiting team from Netherlands
A team from the RaboBank of Netherlands headed by Mr. Charles Ruys visited the Bank last October, 2001. Based on interviews made on Bank clients, plus documents received from and made by Bank employees and from the Central Bank of the Philippines, the team was able to form an impression of the quality of the Bank. The highlights of their impression are as follows:
1. The Bank has a clear concept of banking.2. The Bank is in good financial shape.
3. Bank products are well-designed.
4. Procedures and systems are outstanding.
5. Bank employees are well-trained, competent, and committed.
6. The Bank works with a high percentage of women as clients.
UPCSWCD Impact Assessment
The UP College of Social Work and Community Development
(UPCSWCD) Impact Assessment
This study concluded that the centerpiece microfinance program of the Bank, the Lima Para Sa Lahat (Five for All) is succeeding in its economic mission. The ball is in NRBSL's court now, as the social development agenda must follow; thus, the advocacy for local economy development.
To cite a portion of the report's conclusion:
Lima Para sa Lahat (Five For All Program) has made non-collateralised credit available to the enterprising poor of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Tarlac at a relatively lower interest rate and just the right period of repayment. It has enhanced women's entrepreneurial qualities, making it possible for those with existing enterprises to continue, even expand their level of operations, thereby increasing their disposable income. And for women who did not have the capital, Lima gave them the opportunity to go into business and contribute to the family coffers. To the women, this is an expression of trust in them by the bank. One respondent said this trust motivates her to make good, to persevere and prove that she is worthy of it.
The program is clearly making its impact felt in the lives of thousands of beneficiaries, with marked changes on the individual, family, and community level, including increased personal and family incomes, increased savings, social interaction, sense of responsibility, ownership and management of the micro-enterprise. Its members are transforming into genuine entrepreneurs, becoming major players in the development of their respective local economies.
USAID-RBAP-MABS Assessment
An institutional assessment and rapid market appraisal
of the Bank's operations
This was conducted by the Technical Support Unit of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP), the national organization of rural banks in the Philippines, in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Microenterprise Access to Banking Services in Mindanao (MABS-M).
In this assessment, the Bank was rated in terms of organizational and financial strength and stability and its commitment to and potential for microfinance. More specifically, the team assessed the Bank's organization and management, financial position, commitment to microfinance, and the actual and potential access to microenterprises.
In summary, because the Bank is already so far advanced in microfinance, is under exceptionally strong leadership, and has a strong guiding vision that includes microfinance, MABS has reluctantly decided that the USAID-RBAP-MABS program can offer the Bank little value-added assistance in further developing its microfinance operations. The Bank simply does not need MABS help in microfinance.
AIM Study
The Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Study
an academic's insight of the Bank
Last February, the Asian Institute of Management came up with a research on social and development entrepreneurship. A case study entitled "The New Rural Bank of San Leonardo, Banking with the Poor" was developed under the AIM's Program on Social and Development Entrepreneurship. The case, an in-depth study of the NRBSL's kind of banking with a social mission, has been approved by the AIM Research Review Committee for use in the different AIM programs. It is an academic's insight of our kind of barefoot banking, banking with the poor that works.