, also known as '''Landbank''' or by its initials, '''LBP''', is a
Bank in the
Philippines owned by the Philippine government with a special focus on serving the needs of
Farmer s and
Fishermen . While it provides the services of a
Universal Bank , it is officially classified as a "specialized government bank" with a universal banking license.
Landbank is the fourth largest bank in the Philippines in terms of assets and is the largest government-owned bank. It is also one of the biggest government-owned and/or controlled corporations in the Philippines.
Unlike most Philippine banks, Landbank has an extensive rural branch network. It services many rural sector clients in areas where banking is either limited to rural banks or is non-existent.
Landbank was established on
August 8 ,
1963 as part of the Agricultural Land Reform Code, or
Republic Act No. 3844 to help with
Land Reform , especially the purchase of agricultural estates for division and resale to small landholders and the purchase of land by the agricultural lessee. In
1965 , Landbank's by-laws were approved and its first
Board Of Trustees was formed, with the Secretary of Finance as chairman.
On
October 21 ,
1972 , Presidential Decree No. 27, signed by then-President
Ferdinand Marcos , emancipated all tenant farmers working on private agricultural lands devoted to rice and corn, whether working on a landed estate or not. The system was implemented through a system of
Sharecropping and/or lease-tenancy. Landbank was tasked to collect 15-year land
Amortizations from beneficiaries at the cost of the value of the land plus six percent interest per annum.
By
1973 , Landbank was in financial distress. It lacked the resources and the capital needed to implement the land reform programs and lacked the structure to implement the programs efficiently. On
July 21 , Marcos signed Presidential Decree No. 251 which revitalized the bank. The decree granted Landbank a universal banking license (the first bank in the Philippines to be issued such a license) with a social mission to spur countryside development. The decree expanded Landbank's powers to include lending for agricultural, industrial, home-building and home-financing projects and other productive enterprises, as well as lending to farmers'
Cooperative s and associations to facilitate production, marketing of crops and acquisition of essential commodities. Landbank was also required by the decree to provide timely and adequate support in all phases involved in the execution of agrarian reform and also increased its authorized
Capital to 3 billion
Pesos . It also became exempted from all national, provincial, city and municipal
Taxes and assessments.
Landbank was reorganized in
1977 when it was divided into three sectors to better assess the needs of its customers. It was divided into Agrarian, Banking and Operations sectors to strengthem operations and ensure long-term viability.
In
1982 , the
Agricultural Credit Administration (ACA), established under the same law as Landbank, was abolished and all its assets and functions transferred to Landbank. ACA's function was to extend
Credit to small farmers. Also in this year,
Union Bank Of The Philippines (UnionBank) was formed, with Landbank having a 40-percent stake in the government-owned
Commercial Bank .
Landbank became the financial
Intermediary for the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in
1988 . It was also in that year that UnionBank started a gradual privitization. The
Aboitiz Group Of Companies acquired Landbank's 40% share of UnionBank then which it continues to own. Landbank also became the third member of
Expressnet , an
ATM consortium, in December of
1991 .
On
February 23 ,
1995 , Landbank's charter was once again amended. Its authorized capital was increased to nine billion pesos and it became an official government depository. The number of members of the board of trustees was also increased to nine. On
August 25 ,
1998 , Landbank's authorized capital was once again increased to 25 billion pesos.
Landbank is divided into the following subsidiaries and affiliates:
- Government of the Philippines: 100%
Landbank competes against the major banks such as
Metrobank ,
BPI ,
Equitable PCI Bank and
Philippine National Bank . In rural areas, depending on the situation, it either competes against or complements rural banks.
On the other end of the spectrum, Landbank takes on a dual role with the
Development Bank Of The Philippines , which is another government-owned bank. It either competes against or works with DBP, depending on the situation involved.
- Landbank - Pasig, Rotonda
