Question 1

What is Cantilan Bank?

Accepted Answer

Cantilan Bank is a leading rural bank in the Philippines that specializes in community banking and financial inclusion services. Operating across Mindanao and the Visayas regions, the bank serves over 100 communities through its network of 47 branches and branch-lite units spanning 13 provinces.

With total resources of approximately PHP 2.4 billion as of December 2024, Cantilan Bank is recognized as one of the country's top rural banks. The institution is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and maintains membership with the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP), Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), and BancNet.

Question 2

When was Cantilan Bank founded?

Accepted Answer

Cantilan Bank was established on June 8, 1980, originally opening as the Rural Bank of Cantilan, Inc. in Barangay Magosilom in the town of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur. The bank was founded with the mission to provide accessible financial services to farmers, merchants, and rural communities in the region.

Since its inception, the bank has steadily expanded from its modest beginnings, growing from just three branches in the late 1990s to its current extensive network. Throughout its evolution, Cantilan Bank has consistently focused on improving the economy of rural communities through innovative products and services tailored to local needs.

Question 3

Where is Cantilan Bank headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Cantilan Bank's corporate headquarters is located at Orozco Street, Magosilom, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur 8317, Philippines. The bank is named after the coastal town of Cantilan in Surigao del Sur, which is known for its scenic beaches and historical Spanish-era structures.

Key regional offices include branches in major cities such as Butuan City, Surigao City, Tandag City, Tagum City, Gingoog City, Davao City, and Cagayan de Oro City.

Question 4

Where does Cantilan Bank operate?

Accepted Answer

Cantilan Bank operates throughout the Mindanao and Visayas regions of the Philippines. The bank's 47 branches and branch-lite units serve communities across 13 provinces, including Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Southern Leyte, and Leyte.

The bank's expansion strategy focuses on reaching underbanked rural and coastal communities, with branches strategically located in towns and municipalities where access to formal banking services has traditionally been limited.

Question 5

What services does Cantilan Bank offer?

Accepted Answer

Cantilan Bank offers a comprehensive range of banking products designed for rural communities. Savings products include Regular Savings Accounts, Regular and Premium Time Deposits, Current Accounts, MoneyCard (ATM), Students Savers' Club, and Commitment Savings Deposit Accounts.

The bank's loan portfolio encompasses Agricultural Loans, Agri-Value Chain financing, Home Financing Loans, Back-to-Back Loans, Salary Loans, Pension Loans, and Small-Medium Enterprise (SME) Loans. Microfinance offerings include KITA Loan (individual lending), MAKITA Loan (group lending), HOME Loan (Housing Microfinance for Entrepreneurs), and specialized products like Pag-uma Loan and Pang Eskewela Loan.

Digital services include the iCAN mobile banking app, which enables fund transfers, bills payment, prepaid phone reloading, and QR code payments. The bank operates as an Electronic Money Issuer-Bank (EMI-Bank) with e-wallet capabilities and offers agency banking services. Clients also benefit from ATM services through BancNet, InstaPay for instant fund transfers, and remittance services including partnerships for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Additional services include microinsurance products (CB Kalinga and NegoAsenso) and partnerships with government programs such as the DSWD's Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program.

Question 6

What makes Cantilan Bank unique?

Accepted Answer

Cantilan Bank is renowned as a pioneer in digital banking innovation within the Philippine rural banking sector. In January 2019, it became the first BSP-regulated financial institution in the Philippines to implement a cloud-based core banking system, partnering with Oradian and supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

This groundbreaking achievement earned the bank the BSP's Digital Trailblazer Award in 2019, the NorthStar Impact Award-APIX in 2021, and the Digital Champion-MFI Category award from the Microfinance Council of the Philippines in December 2022. The bank's successful cloud migration paved the way for over 40 other Philippine banks to adopt similar technology.

Beyond technology, Cantilan Bank distinguishes itself through strong corporate social responsibility initiatives, including financial literacy programs, environmental protection efforts, support for sustainable farming, and advocacy for peaceful elections. The bank's commitment to transparency, integrity, and community development reflects its core values of being "the country's friendliest community bank."

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Cantilan Bank?

Accepted Answer

Cantilan Bank is classified as a Rural Bank under Philippine banking regulations, operating under Republic Act No. 7353 (the Rural Bank Act of 1992). Rural banks in the Philippines are specialized financial institutions designed to provide credit facilities and banking services primarily to farmers, fishermen, merchants, and rural communities.

As a rural bank, Cantilan Bank focuses on meeting the normal credit needs of agricultural communities, cooperatives, and small businesses while promoting balanced rural economic growth. The institution operates as a stock corporation with over 200 shareholders, which provides unusual institutional strength and stability for a rural bank of its size. Its operations are governed by BSP regulations specific to rural banking, including minimum capitalization requirements, reserve requirements, and lending limits designed to support countryside development and financial inclusion.

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