OwnBank has named Don Nino Santos as its new president and chief executive, tasking him with driving the lender’s push into digital banking. Santos steps up from within the bank, where he had served as chief risk officer.
He brings more than 27 years of experience across banking, financial technology, telecommunications, risk and compliance. That mix of backgrounds is increasingly common among leaders of banks trying to blend traditional lending with digital services.
The bank has set its sights on small and medium-sized enterprises as well as families of overseas Filipino workers, groups that often have limited access to convenient banking. Reaching them through digital channels is a central part of the strategy.
Santos said the bank plans to use technology, including artificial intelligence, to offer more personalized services and to make banking easier for customers. Many lenders in the region are exploring similar tools to improve how they serve clients.
Digital banking has grown quickly in the Philippines as more people gain access to smartphones and online services. Smaller and newer banks see an opening to compete by focusing on convenience and on customers that larger institutions have not fully served.
The bank said Santos would lead its efforts to expand its customer base and to build out its digital offerings in the months ahead.
