SAN LEONARDO, NUEVA ECIJA – December 9, 2025 – The New Rural Bank of San Leonardo (NRBSL) received praise and strong backing from the Land Bank of the Philippines for its ongoing digitization efforts during a high-level strategic visit. The discussion included a comprehensive review and a live demonstration of the ABANX Core Banking System, highlighting NRBSL’s dedication to innovation and modernization.
A Milestone in Rural Banking Transformation
Held at the NRBSL Main Office, the event marked a significant milestone in the bank’s technological development. Key stakeholders gathered to assess the system’s readiness for User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and approval by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), strengthening NRBSL’s position as a leader in rural banking digitization.
Land Bank Reaffirms Commitment to Cooperatives and Rural Banks
A highlight of the visit was a message from Mr. Crisso Pernito, Head of the Development Assistance Department at Land Bank. He praised the project’s progress and reaffirmed Land Bank’s commitment to supporting rural financial institutions in their modernization efforts. Pernito emphasized that these advancements directly benefit Land Bank’s clients—especially cooperatives and rural banks—by strengthening partnerships through the Agent Banking program.
ADFIAP Champions Collaborative Digitization
Setting the strategic context, Mr. Enrique I. Florencio, Secretary General of ADFIAP, emphasized the importance of collaborative digitization. He highlighted how initiatives such as NRBSL’s ABANX implementation improve resilience, broaden reach, and enhance the sustainability of rural banking institutions nationwide.
Leadership and Innovation on Display
The delegation was officially welcomed by Mr. Marcelo Jampil, SVP and Chief of Staff for Finance and Administration at NRBSL. The main event of the visit was an in-depth presentation and live demonstration of the ABANX Core Banking System, led by Mr. Nuwan Nanayakkara, Principal Consultant at Synapsys Ltd. and Senior Consultant for ADFIAPNET, in close collaboration with NRBSL’s Business Technology Department, led by Mr. Gerald De Guzman, AVP.
Constructive Feedback and Forward Momentum
The program concluded with a User Experience Report and an interactive open forum, led by Mr. John Alianza, Head of Business Development and Marketing at ADFIAP and NRBSL’s Business Technology Department (BTD). This session gathered valuable insights from the Land Bank delegation, ensuring that feedback informs the final phases of system implementation.
A Unified Step Toward Digital Transformation
The successful visit strengthened collaboration among NRBSL, Land Bank, and ADFIAP. It marked a key step toward advancing digital transformation for rural financial institutions, enhancing access to modern, inclusive, and sustainable banking solutions in rural areas.