PBCom acquires Consumer Bank.
Philippine Bank of Communications (PBC) said yesterday it had acquired 100 percent of thrift bank Consumer Savings Bank, a unit of holding firm RFM Corp , for P511.5 million. However, the bank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that the acquisition still needed the approval...

The Art of Better Retail Banking: Supportable Predictions on the Future of Retail Banking.
0470013206 The art of better retail banking; supportable predictions on the future of retail banking. Croxford, Hugh et al. John Wiley & Sons 2005 276 pages $75.00 Hardcover HG2988 This accessibly...

Neighbor to Neighbor.
Fidelity Bank announced the promotion of Michael D. Hewitt to the position of chief operating officer and chief financial designer. Hewitt has been with Fidelity Bank since May 2004 and has served in the position of executive vice president and chief financial designer since joining the organization. He is...

SEC approves Banco de Oro, Equitable PCIBank merger.
Byline: ANA MARIE MACUJA The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), headed by Chairperson Fe B. Barin, has approved the merger of Banco de Oro Universal Bank and Equitable PCI Bank with BDO as the surviving entity. Under the merger, the surviving corporation will be renamed...

Pa. bank links CD rate to the volume of local snow.
To differentiate itself in the certificate of deposit marketplace, Fox Chase Bank, Hatsboro, Pa. (assets: $750 million) this winter offered to improve the interest rate paid on a 23-month CD according to the depth of snowfall. Specifically, the bank offered a $1,000 minimum new money CD with...

HSBC profits up 5% in first semester.
LONDON, Aug. 2 (Reuters) Banking group HSBC reported a 5 percent rise in first half profits on Monday and said it would focus more on business and retail banking in emerging markets, amid tricky interest rate conditions and a weak UK economy. Pretax profit for the six...

BDO finalizes merger with EPCI; Through a share swap of 1.8 BDO shares.
Byline: FIL C. SIONIL Banco de Oro Universal Bank (BDO) owned and controlled by retail magnate Henry Sy, Jr., has finalized its merger with Equitable-PCI Bank (EPCI Bank) through a share swap of 1.8 BDO shares for every share of EPCI Bank, making BDO as the surviving...

Miles Busby: evolving technology.
Miles Busby is the founder and president of Source Technologies, Charlotte, N.C. The company provides integrated solutions for managing financial transactions, such as self-service kiosks, secure disbursement software and magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) printing. Q: Tell us about some of the new technologies that are making...

Buenaventura quits top EPCIB post.
Byline: FIL C. SIONIL Rene J. Buenaventura yesterday tendered his irrevocable resignation as president and chief executive officer of Equitable-PCI Bank (EPCI Bank), the country's third largest lender he valiantly steered during the tumultous impeachment trial in 2001. Sabino E. Acut, Jr., EPCI Bank corporate...

NEWS IN BRIEF; P/$ rate closed at P51.48 to $1.
The peso rate closed at P51.48 to the US dollar last Friday at the Philippine Dealing System of the Bankers Association of the Philippines. The weighted average rate stands at P51.499. AIM completes citiesa ranking The Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center, in collaboration...