MANILA, Philippines — Rural Bank of Sta. Maria (Ilocos Sur) Inc. (“RBSM”), the banking arm of Billease, today announced two milestones: (1) The Bank has officially been renamed Billease Bank, Inc. (A Rural Bank), and (2) Its board of directors has elected Eduardo G. Bobier, former deputy governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), as an Independent Director, subject to confirmation by the BSP.
About Eduardo G. Bobier
Mr. Bobier brings more than three decades of experience in central banking, treasury operations, and corporate governance to the Board. He most recently served as deputy governor of the corporate services sector at the BSP, where he oversaw control, budget, and administrative functions for the country’s central monetary authority.
His earlier BSP roles included assistant governor and managing director of the comptrollership sub-sector, as well as senior posts within the BSP Treasury Department, including chief investment analytics officer and chief reserve management officer.
Throughout his BSP career, he chaired or served on several institutional committees, including the BSP Budget Committee, the BSP Performance Review Committee, the BSP Foreign Travel Committee, and the BSP Provident Fund Board, and represented the BSP on external bodies such as the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Inc. and the Philippine Guarantee Corporation Board.
A Unified Brand to Serve More Filipinos
“Bringing the Bank under the Billease name is a natural next step in our mission to expand access to responsible financial services for underbanked Filipinos,” said Georg Steiger, CEO and co-founder of Billease. “A unified brand allows us to offer a more complete suite of financial products from credit to savings and deposits under one roof, helping more Filipinos build stronger financial futures.”
The move integrates the Bank into Billease’s broader digital ecosystem, laying the groundwork for seamless product delivery across a single platform.
Strengthening Governance for the Next Chapter
Mr. Bobier’s election reflects the Bank’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its governance framework as it grows within the Billease ecosystem. His background in central bank oversight, financial comptrollership, and institutional risk management is expected to support the Board’s governance and risk oversight functions, consistent with the responsibilities of an independent director under Philippine banking regulations.
“This is an important milestone for our institution as we adopt the Billease Bank name and continue building a stronger, more resilient organization,” said Dennis Valdes, president and CEO of Billease Bank. “As one unified brand, we’re better positioned to bring relevant, responsible financial services to more Filipinos and support their financial wellness. Mr. Bobier’s decades of experience in central banking, treasury, and institutional oversight will be a valuable addition to our Board as we strengthen our governance framework and support our long-term growth.”
