by UnionBank Human Resource Group
UnionBank’s Data Quality Score for 11 key KYC (Know Your Customer) attributes had dropped to a critical low of 70%, exposing the Bank to serious regulatory, operational, and reputational risks. Inconsistent data across multiple systems threatened customer contactability, reporting accuracy, and day-to-day efficiency. As UnionBank embraced
the Aboitiz Group’s Great Transformation—a bold move to become the Philippines’ first “techglomerate”—there was an urgent need to elevate data governance and ensure the integrity of foundational customer data.
Despite leading a lean team of data quality analysts, Cirene Simbahan took a strategic and structured approach to remediation. He established clear service-level agreements (SLAs), built the internally developed Data Quality Service Desk to streamline intake and resolution, and fostered alignment across product owners, compliance teams, and governance units. These efforts created transparency, strengthened accountability, and elevated the Bank’s data governance maturity. His consistent reporting to the Data Governance Management Committee ensured visibility and sustained momentum.
Cirene’s leadership and cross-functional collaboration led to a dramatic turnaround: the Data Quality Score surged from 70% to consistently above 99% over the past 12 months. Over 2.6 million records were successfully cleansed across multiple data sources, significantly reducing regulatory exposure, improving operational efficiency, and reinforcing UnionBank’s commitment to trustworthy, high-quality data. This achievement reflects the Bank’s techglomerate mindset—leveraging technology and collaboration to drive innovation, safeguard compliance, and deliver superior customer experiences.
