What it does: Philippine National Bank offers corporate banking, investment banking, insurance, remittances, mobile banking and payments, and retail banking services.
Best known for: Philippine National Bank is the country’s first universal bank.
Staff stats: more than 8,000 employees
Financials: Php17.60 billion in net profit before provisions for impairment and taxes in 2020
The good bits: PNB offers an attractive remuneration package that includes a 16th-month pay and comprehensive healthcare plan (eg COVID-19 coverage).
The not-so-good bits: PNB doesn’t offer plenty of entry-level roles. Most vacancies also look for accountancy or business graduates.
PNB started in 1916 as a commercial bank owned by the Government of the Philippines. The financial institution originally catered to agricultural and industrial clients, as well as supporting the government’s economic development efforts.
The bank also served as the de facto Central Bank of the Philippines until 1949. PNB eventually became the country’s first universal bank by 1980. Since then, the company has offered different banking and financial services including:
In 2007, Lucio Tan acquired PNB as part of a privatization deal with the Philippine government. PNB expanded its reach after merging with Tan’s Allied Bank in 2013.
PNB ranks as the fifth-largest commercial and universal bank in the Philippines based on total assets as of 2020. The bank’s total assets amounted to Php1.142 trillion.
PNB’s workplace culture has caught the attention of award-giving bodies. For instance, the bank won CMO Asia Awards’ Best Employer Brand in 2019.
The Asian Banker Leadership Achievement Awards also recognized PNB as the Best Managed Bank in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PNB also ranks among the Top 100 Graduate Employers in the Philippines for 2021. Many insiders agree that the company is a great place for fresh grads to start a career—mainly because of competitive benefits and extensive learning opportunities.
The biggest challenge for young new hires at PNB would involve the pressure of dealing with different clients. This is particularly true for customer-facing jobs like bank tellers.
In terms of work-life balance, many employees work during regular business hours from Monday to Friday. It’s one reason behind the bank’s decent employment retention rate (ie 5.3 years median tenure).
PNB’s biggest competitors include Bank of the Philippine Islands, BDO Unibank, Land Bank of the Philippines, and Metrobank.
In 2020, PNB gained recognition from Asiamoney as the Best Bank for Corporate Social Responsibility. The bank also released the 13th-month pay for employees ahead of schedule for the same year.
The early payment provided employees with much-needed cash amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Other corporate social responsibility efforts include financial literacy and wellness sessions, fundraising campaigns, and disaster relief operations.
Fresh grads with an inherent knack for customer service and excellent interpersonal skills will be a perfect fit for PNB. As an established financial institution, the company offers job security for qualified candidates even during uncertain times.
Fresh grads should apply online by sending an academic transcript and an updated CV with a recent 2x2 photo to [email protected]. PNB’s general selection process may involve up to four rounds:
Previous applicants said that they only had to attend two interviews after passing the aptitude exam. In some cases, candidates may not have to pass a written test depending on the role.
PNB may also conduct several virtual interview rounds for roles such as management trainees. Fresh grads should anticipate questions including:
Students only need to pass an aptitude test or interview to become interns at PNB. They might complete the application process within a few days. PNB takes 29 days on average to complete the recruitment process for entry-level roles.
MTs at PNB earn between Php19,000 and Ph23,000 per month. The bank may pay at least Php5,000 per month to interns. Some of them may earn up to Php12,000 per month depending on the role, based on previous interns’ experience.
Entry-level salaries for bank tellers range from Php14,000 to Php16,000 per month. Sales and service associates’ monthly salaries may reach up to Php19,000 per month.
PNB offers dental and medical coverage to its employees. Other benefits include:
In 2020, the company added COVID-19-related hospitalization expenses for employees’ healthcare coverage.
PNB offers a six-month management training program for qualified fresh grads with a business or IT degree. Management trainees (MTs) must have no failing marks in any subject.
During the program, MTs develop technical competencies that are important for becoming PNB officers. The bank may designate MTs to a specific city in Metro Manila as their work location.
Other entry-level roles include bank tellers and sales and service associates. The following degrees and disciplines qualify for the two positions:
Fresh grads with Fookien and/or Mandarin fluency will stand out. PNB doesn’t require employees to be fluent in these languages, but it will give them an edge.