Recognized as the Most Outstanding Rural Bank in the Philippines for calendar year 2008, the Rural Bank of Marayo Inc., celebrated its 40 th anniversary with a promise of “constant innovation and new ways to satisfy the needs of their clients,” RBMI chairman Franklin Fuentebella said at the Planta Centro-Bacolod Saturday.

In their 40 years in the banking business, Fuentebella said they were gratified and proud to survive and made the province progress.

Though many banks closed down due to the Asian financial crisis and put to question the stability of the other banks, RBMI stood stable despite all these, Fuentebella added.

To prove their stability in the business, Fuentebella said, the Central Bank of the Philippines approved the opening of five business centers in Bacolod City , Kabankalan City , Cadiz City , Binalbagan, and in Capiz, Roxas City .

RMBI had its two branches, the RBMI-EB Magalona and RBMI-Banate, Iloilo , and its main branch in Pontevedra, Negros Occidental.

The RBMI was founded on November 18, 1969 by Enrique Usay Jr. and one of their founding incorporators Emma Campos, Fuentebella said.

Among the other awards RBMI received were the Most Outstanding Rural Bank in Region VI CYs: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008, Best In Capital Build-UP 2003 and 2008, and 4 th and 5 th Most Outstanding Rural Bank in 2002 and 2004 respectively.

All these awards are given by the Land Bank of the Philippines .

Other guests at the celebration were LB Technical Assistant to the Regional Head Rodillo Gasparillo, LB Branch Manager Jocelyn Amodia, Negros Occidental Lending Center Manger Jeffrey Manigo, and Account Officer Ronald Zamora.*LTG

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