CARD SME Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Aristeo “Boyet” A. Dequito is named as the 2019 Outstanding San Pableño in the field of microfinance and SME banking as recognized by the City of San Pablo on May 7, 2019, in time for the city’s 79th Charter Anniversary.
Dequito is recognized for his contributions in the field of Banking (microfinance and SME) for 31 years now.
“This award reminds me of my journey as a development worker at CARD. I am forever thankful to the City of San Pablo for recognizing the efforts I and CARD have done for more than three decades,” said Dequito.
Back in 1988 when the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) became operational in San Pablo City, Laguna, Dequito is the institution’s first Account Officer (AO), who was working as a social-development agent that provides communities with various development-oriented programs and financial services.
After working as an AO, he was then promoted to several positions. After nine years of working in CARD, Inc. (A Microfinance NGO), he was transferred to CARD Bank from 1997-2005. According to Dequito, the transition of his work from an NGO to bank allowed him to expand his horizons.
“Eventually, my work at CARD became more challenging every year. But I didn’t give up. I even pushed myself so I could gain more knowledge that would be useful in managing organizations in the future,” recalled Dequito.
Dequito’s first break was when he became the first president and CEO of CARD-Business Development Service Foundation Inc. (CARD-BDSFI).
“We were planning to professionalize the business development program of CARD back then. Fortunately, Boyet was taking up his master’s degree at Asian Institute of Management (AIM). So I challenged him to consider the establishment of CARD-Business Development Service Foundation as a subject of his thesis,” said Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip, founder and chair emeritus of CARD MRI.
Dequito’s graduation and CARD-BDSFI’s official registration at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) both happened in 2008.
At CARD-BDSFI, Dequito ensures that the business development and marketing needs of the microfinance clients of CARD MRI will be addressed accordingly. “CARD has hundreds and thousands of clients already that time, which is quite a challenging task on our end. But with the trust and support of the management, we were able to provide interventions to our clients tailored fit to their needs,” he added.
During the term of Dequito, he established the Mga Likha ni Inay (MLNI), a marketing program of CARD-BDSFI, which was then registered as a separate entity in 2014, adding to the growing institutions under CARD MRI.
The CARD-BDSFI was also the inspiration on the establishment of CARD Leasing and Finance Corporation (CLFC) in 2013. The roots of activities of CLFC can be traced back from CARD-BDSFI’s development of scalable projects. Among their projects are solar products, printing, and finance lease, among others.
Dequito was the president of these three social enterprises until 2015 when he was given a new challenge by CARD MRI to lead its CARD SME Bank. Dequito is the second president and CEO of the bank after it was acquired in 2007.
The bank is CARD MRI’s thrift bank that provides SME loans and other financial and community development programs to its more than 840,000 clients nationwide. (CARD/PR)
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