City Savings Bank (CitySavings), the thrift subsidiary of Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank), is reinforcing its mission to promote financial wellness among the country’s public servants—including teachers, uniformed personnel, and local government unit (LGU) workers—through tailored products and capability-building programs.
“The best time to save is now,” stated Jose Paulo Soliman, CitySavings Senior Vice President - Salary and Pension Loans Business Head. “CitySavings aims to be known as the Bangko ng Barangay (Community Bank),” he added.
Soliman emphasized the strategic focus on public servants: “Serving our public servants is a priority because they are the lifeblood of our communities and need support. Our teachers shape the minds of the young; our uniformed personnel keep our communities safe; and our LGU workers serve as our frontliners. They all look out for us. Who will look out for them?”
To support this commitment, CitySavings promotes responsible financial management through its deposit products and services. The Bank recently launched its Power Savings account with an introductory rate of 4% per annum, offering competitive yields while maintaining accessibility for client withdrawals and deposits.
Complementing its product offerings, CitySavings conducts frequent financial education sessions. “For our teacher and uniformed personnel clients, we hold Project ₱er@parasyon (PeraParasyon) in their schools, regional and local offices, and even off-the-grid camps,” Soliman explained. “This practical wealth management program is designed to educate them on simple and practical steps for saving, investing, and managing debt.”
He continued, “We also collaborate with different subject matter experts (SMEs) for our Project Entre₱ar@syon (EntreParasyon), a capability-building program focusing on practical tools and techniques to turn innovative ideas into profitable and sustainable business ventures tailored for entrepreneurs.”
Recognizing the transition of the current workforce to pensioner status, CitySavings will soon launch Project Pension₱ar@syon (PensionParasyon), a customized program for those nearing retirement.
These programs are conducted before and during client onboarding to support informed borrowing decisions and effective financial management. Since launching in 2016, Project ₱er@parasyon (PeraParasyon) has conducted more than 1,600 sessions nationwide, training close to 120,000 teaching and uniformed personnel in practical wealth management.
The programs have delivered tangible results. Teacher Elizabeth Sanchez from Talon 3 Elementary School in Las Piñas City shared, “The session inspired me to start small but stay committed—reminding everyone that the choices made today will define their financial comfort tomorrow. With discipline, awareness, and the right mindset, achieving financial stability in old age is possible and empowering.”
Similarly, CPO Nelson Corpuz from the Philippine Coast Guard noted, “My key takeaway from Project Entre₱ar@syon (EntreParasyon) is how critical it is to assess one’s financial situation early so you can make necessary adjustments. I learned how to better budget my finances so I can eventually manage my pension better, and how to make wiser investments so my earnings can grow even more.”
