Enriching lives, building communities: Security Bank advances CSR initiatives

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Security Bank’s BetterBanking promise of service excellence aligns with its mission to enrich lives, empower businesses, and build communities sustainably. Each year, the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) advocacies focus on education, health and wellness, livelihood development, and community building.

Advocating for education: Investing in the future

Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI), the Bank’s CSR arm, has made remarkable strides in its mission to enhance education. Since the inception of its “Build a School, Build a Nation” program in 2011, SBFI has donated an impressive 845 classrooms across 145 schools in 86 cities and municipalities throughout the Philippines.  In 2024 alone, SBFI constructed 62 classrooms in various locations and repaired 70 classrooms, benefiting over 266,000 students. The three-year “Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building” program also expanded its reach by training 53 principals and 90 teachers in 2024, enhancing educational quality nationwide through partnerships with prestigious institutions.

SBFI involved Security Bank employees in education advocacy by painting 29 classrooms. SBFI also partnered with Ideal Vision Center to offer free vision screenings and eyeglasses to over 1,000 students. Additionally, SBFI partnered with FWD to offer college scholarships to 10 students annually over five years, further cementing their commitment to fostering educational opportunities.

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Security Bank supported the Lokalakalan: Kultura, Kababaihan, at Kabuhayan Fair which featured bags and accessories, home and garden decor, artwork, prints, and ornaments.

Fostering community and culture-building

In a bold celebration of conscious consumerism, women’s empowerment, and environmental sustainability, the Bank made waves in 2024 by supporting several illustrious events. Among them were the ArteFino Fair, 11th FilipinaZ Fair, Lokalakalan: Kultura, Kababaihan, at Kabuhayan Fair, and the third season of the Retaso + Atbp: Totally Upcycled Design Challenge 2024. Each event underscored the Bank’s commitment to fostering Filipino artistry and culture.

The Bank’s support for the Presente Fair by ArteFino was also noteworthy, showcasing over 100 curated contemporary Filipino brands. This event fostered an appreciation for Filipino craftsmanship, positioning the Bank at the heart of a cultural renaissance that aims to reshape consumer habits.

Security Bank’s dedication to community and culture was further highlighted during National Heritage Month and National Flag Day. Spearheaded by the Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. (FHFI), the celebrations were a vibrant tapestry of national pride. Highlights included a cultural immersion tour in Intramuros and Binondo, a fashion and dance show dedicated to preserving Filipino garments and styles, and an exhibit tour featuring the work of Larry Alcala. The celebrations also featured a youth essay writing contest, a larong Pinoy display, and the Philippine Postal Corporation’s launch of a commemorative stamp featuring the Narra, the Philippine National Tree.

Taking its community engagement a step further, the Bank collaborated with the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) to conduct art workshops for both bank employees and 30 brave Kythe cancer warriors and survivors. This initiative promoted a culture of giving, allowing bank employees to sponsor gift packs for Kythe patients. And through creative activities, the art therapy provided these young warriors a sense of healing and empowerment—a testament to the transformative power of art.

Security Bank and WWF-Philippines championed food and nutrition security in Negros Occidental by constructing food sheds that provide a sustainable livelihood for local farmers and ensure access of households to fresh, locally-grown produce. 
 

Enabling better livelihoods

In collaboration with WWF-Philippines, the Bank has taken a step towards food security and sustainable livelihood through the Food Shed Farming Enterprise Project in Negros Occidental. This initiative was not just about agriculture; it was about transforming lives. By promoting agri-enterprise development, capacity building, and financial literacy, the project empowered local farmers to achieve sustainable success. The Financial Wellness Workshop, a highlight of the project, imparted essential financial management skills, teaching participants the importance of budgeting, saving, and maintaining healthy credit.

Last November, the Bank launched the Go Organic Kabukiran project, partnering with Angat Pinas, Inc. and Angat Nueva Ecija (ANE). This project provided PWD organizations in Nueva Ecija with tools like shredder machines for organic fertilizer production, essential supplies, and six months of expert guidance.

Other community projects of the Bank included its partnership with Rural Rising Philippines (RuRi) for the “Box-All-You-Can” which benefitted about 100 local farmers and saved 4,000 kgs of agricultural produce that would have otherwise gone to waste; a gamified food packing with International Care Ministries as a disaster resilience and employee volunteerism initiative; and Operation Smile Philippines (OSP).

With continued collaboration with OSP, the Bank completed its Nutrition Pilot Program and donated four consultation rooms at the Comprehensive Cleft Care Center, OSP’s largest Center globally. After the rooms opened in October 2024, OSP conducted 33 operations. Their goal is to provide surgical and comprehensive care to 10,000 patients in the next four to five years, train medical professionals, and develop future local medical leaders to serve nationwide.

BetterBanking means doing good

Security Bank believes in more than just banking; it’s dedicated to making a positive impact on the communities where it operates. By focusing on advocacies and purposeful partnerships that align with its mission to enrich lives, empower businesses, and build communities sustainably, it also fosters a legacy of doing good.

To learn more about Security Bank’s CSR programs, visit https://www.securitybank.com/sustainability/sustainability-partnerships.

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