Edwin Bautista Named New CEO of Philippine National Bank
Manila, Philippines – March 26, 2025 – In a significant shift in leadership, Edwin Bautista has been appointed as the new President and CEO of Philippine National Bank (PNB), succeeding Florido Casuela, who will step down on April 29. The announcement was made public by the bank, which is part of the Lucio Tan Group, on Wednesday.
Transition in Leadership
Florido Casuela has made the decision to resign in order to focus on personal business endeavors, as stated in PNB’s official disclosure. Despite stepping down from the CEO role, Casuela will remain with PNB in a strategic capacity, taking on the position of board advisor. The bank expressed gratitude for his leadership, particularly during the challenging post-pandemic period.
"This impending leadership transition marks a key milestone in PNB’s ongoing strategic transformation," the bank noted in its press statement. The decision to appoint Bautista comes after a report by Biz Buzz earlier this month speculated on the potential candidates for Casuela’s successor.
Edwin Bautista’s Background
Bautista joins PNB after an impressive 27-year career at Union Bank of the Philippines, where he held the role of president and CEO. His tenure at Union Bank was marked by a significant push towards digital transformation and modernization of banking services, making him a suitable candidate to lead PNB in a similar direction.
As of September, PNB boasted assets totaling PHP 1.2 trillion, while Union Bank’s assets were reported at PHP 986.5 billion, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Bautista’s experience in scaling banking operations and enhancing customer service through digital initiatives aligns with PNB’s vision for growth and modernization.
Commitment to Innovation and Growth
PNB emphasized that Bautista’s appointment signals a strong commitment to innovation and customer-centric banking. The bank’s strategic goal is to enhance its operations and financial services while promoting sustainable growth. The statement highlighted Bautista’s wealth of experience and leadership capabilities, which are expected to benefit PNB as it navigates the evolving banking landscape.
“Mr. Bautista brings with him a wealth of experience from Union Bank of the Philippines where he played a pivotal role in driving the bank’s digital transformation and expanding its retail banking,” the PNB press release stated.
As Bautista prepares to take the helm at PNB, the banking sector and stakeholders will be watching closely to see how his leadership will shape the bank’s future and its ongoing transformation in the competitive banking environment.
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