It has the largest loan portfolio as well as the largest trust of Philippine banks.

It takes only a month, a few dozen overseas phone calls to get the guarantee from the Philippine bank, which is handing them out like free samples.

This translated to higher transaction costs, and often, outright restrictions on the international transactions of Philippine banks to ensure that they did not involve dirty money.

Metrobank, as the 2nd largest Philippine bank, is always trying to stave off competition to stay as one of the country's largest banks.

But the Philippine bank also paid the brokerage commissions, and bought out a retail tenant's lease.

If a three-way merger does push through, this could ultimately create the largest Philippine bank, dislodging Metrobank.

BPI is highly regarded as one of the best Philippine banks.

The Philippine central bank said repayment would start in April 1993 after a five-year grace period.

During the Commonwealth period, the discussion about a Philippine central bank that would promote price stability and economic growth, continued.

The building is the home of PBCom, one of the oldest Philippine banks.