Where are the best places in the Philippines to launch a career in banking and finance?
Our latest research compares the popularity and quality of eleven high-ranking graduate employers.
Do you want to know how we work? Here’s the full methodology.
Here’s what our studies reveal about top banking and financial sector opportunities for fresh grads.
Fresh grads in the Philippines can expect generous financial and career-building incentives from many of these institutions. These can include:
If you aim for a long-term career with one bank, most of these top graduate employers are a good choice. Five out of the six top banks have a median employment tenure between 3.9 and 4.9 years.
Regarding percentage ratings based on reviews, not much separates the top financial institutions in the Philippines. However, only two institutions score more than 4.0 out of 5 stars. Numbers are scannable and interesting, but reading the full range of reviews and trusting your gut will give you a more rounded impression of what to expect.
BDO Unibank is the biggest commercial and universal bank in the Philippines based on total assets as of 2022. The bank’s nationwide network spans over 1,400 branches and more than 4,400 ATMs.
As a dominant name in the industry, the bank offers several products and services, from brokerage to trusts and investments. BDO Unibank also claims to be the highest-ranked bank among the Top 1,000 corporations in the country.
BDO Unibank ranks 5th on our list of the Top 100 Employers for 2022.
Employees rate BDO Unibank’s compensation and benefits with 4.0 stars. Career opportunities ranked next with a 3.7 rating.
The ratings for culture and values, diversity and inclusion, and senior management ranged between 3.3 and 3.5 stars. In terms of work-life balance, the bank scores 3.2 stars.
Fresh banking grads should prepare for extended and irregular office hours. Many of BDO Unibank’s branches serve clients even during weekends.
BDO Unibank advertises graduate jobs and internships here. Most banking fresh grads join the company as assistants or tellers.
Founded in 1851, BPI is best known as the first established bank in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. The bank has become the country’s fourth-largest universal bank based on total assets as of 2022.
As the oldest bank in the Philippines, BPI relies on its rich heritage to offer up-to-date banking services. Over the years, the bank cemented its reputation, serving more than 8.4 million clients across 860 branches nationwide.
BPI ranks 8th on our list of the Top 100 Employers for 2022.
BPI scores 4.0 stars for culture and values, diversity and inclusion. The bank scores the lowest for work-life balance (3.4).
Career opportunities and remuneration score 3.8 and 3.9 stars, respectively. Employees gave a lukewarm rating for BPI’s senior management (3.7).
Many employees shared that career progression at BPI can take too long. With over 10,000 employees, fresh banking grads face tough competition.
BPI advertises graduate jobs and internships here. Entry-level banking roles include analysts, assistants and associates.
Founded in 1981, UnionBank sets itself apart from its peers through digital innovation. Its digital-trailblazing practice paved the way for many awards
For example, Capital Finance International ranked UnionBank as the Best Digital Bank in Southeast Asia for 2022. The bank won the award partly because of its innovative programs, including the ‘Tech Up Pilipinas’ initiative.
UnionBank ranks 9th on our list of the Top 100 Employers for 2022.
In terms of overall scores, UnionBank gets the highest among the top six graduate employers.
It achieves more than 4 stars for career opportunities, culture and values, diversity and inclusion, and remuneration. UnionBank gets the lowest marks for work-life balance (3.4) and senior management (3.9).
UnionBank’s pursuit of digital innovation leads to a fast-paced work environment. Fresh banking grads may face tight deadlines and deal with constant workplace changes.
‘I think the best thing about my role is that I’m able to work with different kinds of people. I’m meeting a lot of external clients, and I’m working with a lot of internal officers.’
UnionBank advertises graduate jobs and internships here. Fresh banking grads can join the company as account officers or branch tellers.
Metrobank’s operations in the Philippines began in 1962. It has become the third-largest bank based on total assets as of 2022, with more than 700 branches nationwide.
In 1990, Metrobank became the first bank to launch an ATM with voice technology. Since then, the bank has increased its ATM network to more than 1,900 machines.
Metrobank ranks 25th on our list of the Top 100 Employers for 2022.
Metrobank scores 4.2 stars for its remuneration package. Employees rate the company’s career opportunities, culture and values, diversity and inclusion with 3.7 stars.
On the other hand, the lowest scores are 3.5 stars for senior management and 3.2 stars for work-life balance.
Metrobank’s traditional workplace culture may discourage unconventional practices among employees.
Metrobank advertises its graduate jobs and internships here. Entry-level jobs for fresh banking grads include accounts associates and bank tellers.
AUB is best known as one of the few banks with a commercial license and universal banking status. In 2013, the company bolstered its reputation as a universal bank listed on the Philippine stock market.
AUB serves clients across 270 branches in the country. More than 1,000 employees work for the bank, including its head office in Pasig City, Metro Manila.
AUB ranks 34th on our list of the Top 100 Employers for 2022.
AUB garners the lowest overall score among the top six graduate employers. Employees rate their work-life balance with 3.0 stars. Career opportunities and senior management score 3.3 stars.
Diversity and inclusion, as well as remuneration, score 3.4 stars. AUB achieves the highest rating of 3.7 stars for its culture and values.
Fresh banking grads must juggle multiple tasks amid tight daily deadlines.
AUB advertises its graduate jobs and internships here. The most common entry-level banking roles are accounting associates and risk, management analysts.
China Bank is one of the first private-owned commercial and universal banks in the Philippines. In 2020, the bank celebrated its 100th year in the industry.
China Bank employs over 9,800 employees in more than 600 branches. The bank is part of the SM Group, one of the country’s biggest conglomerates.
China Bank ranks 49th on our list of the Top 100 Employers for 2022.
Employees rate China Bank’s culture and values with 3.9 stars. Diversity and inclusion ranked second-highest with 3.6 stars.
Career opportunities, senior management and work-life balance score 3.4 stars. China Bank gets the lowest score for compensation and benefits (3.3).
Despite a management training program, some employees say it takes over three years to get promoted.
China Bank advertises its graduate jobs and internships here. Entry-level roles include branch operations assistants and management trainees.
Security Bank is best known as one of the ten largest commercial and universal banks in the Philippines. As of 2022, the bank’s total assets reached more than Php 724 billion.
The company focuses on financial markets, retail banking and wholesale banking as its three primary business lines. More than 7,100 employees work in over 300 branches nationwide. The median tenure of these employees is approximately 3.1 years.
Security Banks ranks 68th on our list of the Top 100 Employers for 2022.
Security Bank scores the highest for diversity and inclusion, with 4.1 stars. Employees rate their work-life balance with 3.9 stars.
The company achieves 3.8 stars for culture and values, while career opportunities score 3.6 stars. Its compensation and benefits, though, get mixed feedback (3.5 stars). Security Bank scores the lowest for senior management (3.2 stars).
Fresh finance grads might experience a prolonged career progression at Security Bank. It may take several years to land a promotion.
Security Bank often recruits fresh finance grads as administrative assistants, analytics specialists or telesales associates.
View the latest graduate jobs and internships.
COL is one of the leading stockbrokers in the Philippines. Founded in 1999, the company serves over 500,000 clients. It claims to be the best online stockbroker in the country.
Fresh finance grads can work at the company’s headquarters in Pasig City. COL also has four investor centers in Cebu City, Davao City, Ilocos Norte and Makati City. The financial institution employs more than 200 employees, with a median tenure of approximately 5.3 years.
COL ranks 69th on our list of the Top 100 Employers for 2022.
COL gets the highest marks among the top five graduate employers of finance grads. It only scores below 4.0 stars for benefits and compensation (3.9 stars).
Employees rate the company’s culture and values, as well as work-life balance, with 4.5 stars. Senior management, diversity and inclusion score 4.4 stars. In terms of career opportunities, COL gets 4.1 stars.
COL needs to implement more training programs for professional growth, according to some employees.
COL may recruit fresh finance grads as accounting assistants and equity research analysts. See the latest graduate jobs and internships.
Founded in 1994, EastWest became the first commercial banking licensee in the Philippines. The bank derives its name from two factors: reflecting the East’s hospitality and the West’s progressive ways.
EastWest’s aggressive expansion since the 2000s led it to become among the country’s largest banks. As of 2022, the bank’s total assets reached over Php 380 billion.
EastWest employs more than 5,000 people working in 400+ locations. These employees have a median tenure of 4.7 years.
EastWest ranks 76th on our list of the Top 100 Employers for 2022.
EastWest’s ratings in six categories fall behind the five other top graduate employers. The bank scores 3.8 stars for its culture and values and 3.7 stars for diversity and inclusion.
Employees have mixed feedback on the company’s career opportunities (3.5 stars). EastWest gets 3.3 stars for senior management, benefits and compensation. In terms of work-life balance, the company scores the lowest, with 2.9 stars.
Be ready to cope with an overtime culture and heavy workloads, according to past and present finance employees at EastWest.
Fresh finance grads can join EastWest as collections associates or treasury sales officers. See the latest graduate jobs and internships.
PNB began as a government-owned commercial bank in 1916, eventually becoming the first universal bank in 1980. The company only became a private-owned bank in 2007, following a privatization deal with the Philippine government.
As of 2022, PNB is the country’s fifth-largest bank, with total assets of more than Php 1.1 trillion. The bank employs more than 8,000 people working in 670 branches. These employees have a median tenure of 4.1 years.
PNB ranks 94th on our list of the Top 100 Employers for 2022.
PNB scores decent marks in six criteria with no significant gap among the categories. The bank gets the highest points for career opportunities, diversity and inclusion (3.9 stars).
PNB gets 3.8 stars for benefits and compensation, as well as culture and value. Employees rate their senior management and work-life balance with 3.6 stars and 3.4 stars, respectively.
Past and present finance employees believe that PNB can improve by offering more training programs and opportunities for promotion.
PNB allows fresh finance grads to hasten their career growth through the Junior Executive Development Institute Program. The six-month management training program aims to develop future bank officers. Find out more about the latest graduate jobs and internships.
DBP operates as a government-owned development bank. Founded in 1935, the institution changed its name several times until 1958.
Unlike other banks in the Philippines, most of DBP’s clients belong to the agricultural and industrial sectors. The bank prioritizes small- and medium-scale businesses.
As of 2022, DBP is the country’s sixth-largest bank, with more than Php 1 trillion in total assets. The state-owned bank employs more than 3,500 people working in over 140 locations. Among the top graduate employers, DPB employees have the longest median tenure (i.e., 6.5 years).
DBP ranks 96th on our list of the Top 100 Employers for 2022.
DBP scores 3.7 stars for its benefits and compensation, as well as diversity and inclusion. Employees rate their career opportunities, senior management and work-life balance with 3.6 stars. DBP gets the lowest score for culture and values (3.4 stars).
Most entry-level job applicants at DBP require an eligibility certificate from the Civil Service Commission. This is a common requirement for joining a government-owned financial institution.
DBP advertises its latest graduate jobs and internships on its careers website. Fresh finance grads can join the company as accounts management analysts or bank tellers.
Want more top tips for launching your career as a fresh grad? Head here.