The United States Agency for International Development-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program conducted an operations review of Banco Dipolog’s housing microfinance (HMF) product last August 23-25. The technical assistance was designed to assess the product’s performance, determine and evaluate its strong points and areas for improvement, and provide recommendations for product enhancement. During the conduct of the product review, the bank staff were also trained to develop the bank’s internal capacity to conduct their own product operations review. The training provided the staff with the tools, processes and techniques to conduct a product review.

Left photo: Banco Dipolog's building prior to renovation. Banco Dipolog's new building as of August 2011

Banco Dipolog has been a MABS participating rural bank since 2000.  They have disbursed more than 13,600 microfinance loans totaling more than PhP 326 million since they introduced microfinance services at the bank.  Banco Dipolog, formerly known as the Rural Bank of Dipolog, has gone through several major changes and have further invested in developing their branch offices and changed their brand and overall image in the community.  The bank, with over PhP 900 million in total assets and more than 5 branches and other banking offices is also planning to open up several Micro Banking Offices in the coming year and is now accredited to offer mobile phone banking services via the GCASH platform.  With a renewed effort and commitment to focus on microfinance, the bank is gearing up to become a major microfinance provider in its region.