Banco de Oro-Equitable PCI Bank Merger - The Question of Chinabank

The Question of Chinabank

Analysts who are monitoring the Banco de Oro-Equitable PCI merger are foreseeing the possibility of a three-way merger between Banco de Oro, Equitable PCI Bank and Chinabank, another SM-controlled bank and the eighth-largest bank in the Philippines.

If a three-way merger does push through, this could ultimately create the largest Philippine bank, dislodging Metrobank. Although it is possible, Banco de Oro has no intention to include Chinabank in the BDO-Equitable PCI merger deal, saying that its stake in Chinabank is but an "investment". It also claims that Chinabank is better off independent rather than under Banco de Oro, specializing in its own field of expertise.