CARD SME Bank holds fun run to promote savings consciousness

More than 500 individuals who registered in the fun run dubbed as “Takbo Ko, Impok Ko” held at Sampaloc Lake, San Pablo City, Laguna on July 1, 2017, Saturday got more than what they signed-up  for.

“While we aim to promote a healthy lifestyle, we also want to promote the habit of saving in a bank,” Mr. Aristeo Dequito, CARD SME Bank President and CEO, said.

The P150 registration fee in the fun run either served as their initial deposit in opening a savings account or deposited to their chosen existing savings account in CARD SME Bank.

Participants have selected from different savings products offered by CARD SME Bank where they deposited their registration fee. These are Maagap savings account, designed to teach children the value of saving; iSave, a passbook account ideal for those who want to save up for future expenses; and My A Account, that gives you access to your account anytime, anywhere through an ATM card.

From the total of 521 registered participants, 341 new savings accounts were opened and the rest have already their existing savings account in CARD SME Bank. Participants also received freebies upon registration such as free singlets.

The race is a run around Sampaloc Lake, which is about 3.7 kilometers. The event, which is in cooperation with Savings Bank Foundation for International Cooperation (SBFIC), APEX San Pablo, Matrix Master Marketing, Inc., local government of San Pablo, CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), Philippine Red Cross, and City Health Office, is in observance of BSP’s 2017 Savings Consciousness Week.

Saving in CARD SME Bank

“This fun run is one of our strategies to encourage everyone to develop the  habit of saving money in a bank,” Dequito said.

In the recent Consumer Finance Survey released by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Filipinos are inclined to  saving money, but there are still Filipinos who preferred to save cash at home or in “paluwagan”.  About 86% of Filipinos do not have deposit accounts and most cited reasons were not having enough money to keep and maintain an account due to high initial and maintaining balance required and service charges.

Dequito urges everyone to deposit their savings in a bank because it is  safe and it earns interest.

CARD SME Bank, a thrift bank, offers various savings products intended  to address the needs of its clients and members. “Starting a savings account with CARD SME Bank is easy –  only P100 to open an account.  We designed  our savings products to be easily accessible to  our clients and we are certain that these  products can help improve their lives,” Dequito said.

CARD SME Bank plans to organize similar events in their other branches to help more of their clients develop the habit of saving.

CARD SME Bank is a member institution of CARD MRI that aims to eradicate poverty in the country. The banking institution is also an awardee of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in the  Financial Inclusion category.