RCBC Recognized for Sustainability Leadership at BMAP Awards

Sustainability has become a buzzword in recent years. Many organizations talk about it, but only a few apply it in the way they actually operate.

For Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), sustainability is no longer a campaign theme or a corporate talking point. It has become part of how the bank defines growth, partnership, and long-term value.

This commitment was recently recognized when RCBC was named winner of the Best Sustainability Drive category at the 6th Bank Marketing Awards Ceremony of the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines (BMAP).

Sustainability as Culture

The Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines is an annual awards program that highlights the most innovative, strategic, and high-impact marketing and communication initiatives across the country’s banking industry.

The award recognized RCBC’s strengthened commitment to embedding sustainability across its organization and client partnerships. In other words, sustainability at RCBC is not confined to a single department. It is becoming part of the bank’s operating culture.

Earlier this year, RCBC also received the Platinum Award at The Asset Corporate Sustainability Leadership Awards 2025 and was recognized as a Circle of Excellence Awardee for Sustainability Company of the Year at the Asia CEO 2025 Awards.

For Chief Sustainability Officer Armi Lamberte, the recognitions reflect something bigger than external acknowledgment.

“The recognition affirms that sustainability is not just a program for us, it is a culture we continue to build,” he emphasized.

A program can be launched. A campaign can be rolled out. But culture requires consistency. It demands participation from leadership and employees.  And culture is what sustains impact over time.

Building Awareness From Within

One of RCBC’s flagship internal initiatives is the Sustainability Matters campaign. It is a monthly, electronically circulated newsletter designed to make sustainability relatable, understandable, and actionable for employees.

Rather than presenting dense reports or technical jargon, the newsletter uses creative infographics, even personifying the planet Earth, to make complex sustainability topics easier to digest.

 It highlights developments in sustainable finance, regulatory updates, and environmental insights while encouraging solidarity among employees.

Since launching in March this year, Sustainability Matters has maintained consistent visibility. Each issue introduces fresh content to keep engagement high and reinforce awareness across teams.

This internal focus is important. Because before a bank can lead sustainability conversations externally, its people must understand what sustainable finance means in practice. Awareness builds accountability. And accountability builds action.

Extending Impact Beyond the Organization

While internal education strengthens culture, sustainability at RCBC doesn’t stop at employee engagement.

The bank has expanded its advocacy through meaningful client partnerships — demonstrating that sustainable banking is not only about reducing environmental impact but also about enabling clients to participate in positive change.

A standout example is RCBC’s five-year collaboration with the Haribon Foundation, one of the Philippines’ leading environmental organizations.

Haribon is widely recognized for its work in protecting the habitat of the endangered Philippine Eagle and restoring vital forest ecosystems across the country. Through this partnership, RCBC supports biodiversity conservation and community-based environmental programs that have long-term ecological impact.

What makes the initiative distinctive is its involvement of clients. Through fundraising activities by RCBC Hexagon Club members, clients can directly contribute to conservation efforts. It transforms sustainability from a corporate responsibility initiative into a shared journey between the bank and its customers.

In effect, banking becomes a channel for collective action.

A Track Record of Leadership

In 2024, RCBC was named the Best Bank for Sustainable Development in the Philippines at the Global Banking and Finance Awards. It also received the 3G Eco-friendly Financial Services Award 2024, among others.

These awards collectively reinforce RCBC’s position as a bank that is actively shaping its sustainability roadmap rather than passively responding to industry trends.

Currently the fifth largest privately owned bank in the Philippines, RCBC continues to demonstrate that scale and responsibility can go hand in hand.

Growth does not have to come at the expense of environmental stewardship. Financial performance need not be divorced from social impact.

From Recognition to Responsibility

Being recognized for sustainability leadership means continuing to evolve. It means strengthening internal programs, deepening partnerships, and finding new ways to embed responsible finance into everyday banking.

It also means recognizing that sustainability is not a fixed endpoint. Environmental challenges shift. Community needs change. Financial systems evolve. The work requires constant learning and adaptation.

The Sustainability Matters campaign is one step. The Haribon Foundation partnership is another. Client engagement initiatives create further opportunities for shared responsibility.

Together, they form a framework that connects awareness, action, and advocacy.

Why Sustainability Matters in Banking

Banks play a unique role in shaping economic behavior. The decisions they finance, the projects they support, and the partnerships they build have ripple effects across industries.

When a bank integrates sustainability into its strategy, it influences capital flows toward more responsible outcomes. It encourages long-term thinking. It strengthens resilience — not only for businesses but for communities.

For RCBC, sustainability is aligned with purpose-driven banking. It is about creating long-term value for clients, communities, and the environment simultaneously.

This broader lens is increasingly important. Clients today are more aware of environmental and social issues. Investors are paying closer attention to ESG performance. 

Regulators are strengthening sustainability guidelines. In this landscape, sustainable finance is no longer optional; it is foundational.

Purpose-Driven Banking in Action with RCBC

At its core, RCBC’s sustainability drive reflects a belief that banks can serve a larger purpose. But more importantly, it highlights a mindset: that responsible banking is not a trend to follow but a commitment to uphold.

As environmental concerns continue to shape global conversations, institutions that invest in long-term sustainability will stand stronger. 

RCBC’s journey shows that embedding sustainability requires both internal engagement and external collaboration. It calls for education, partnerships, and consistency.

The Best Sustainability Drive award may mark a milestone in 2025,  but the work continues. Because in the end, sustainability is not about recognition. It is about responsibility.

For RCBC, that responsibility is rooted in purpose-driven banking that creates lasting value for clients, communities, and the environment. 

To learn more about RCBC’s sustainability initiatives and how you can be part of our purpose-driven programs, reach out to us today.