When teacher Concepcion Hechanova needed cash to buy all too critical supplies, she faces a predicament familiar to residents under quarantine. Most, if not all, commercial establishments have temporarily suspended operations in an effort to prevent transmission risk, leaving consumers without easy access to critical services.

Although a number of banks are keeping branches open for transactions under reduced operating hours, some lenders, especially across urban areas, have shuttered operations following the declaration of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. Lenders have called on customers to bank using digital channels instead, although this may not be an option for a certain segment of the population, especially in far-flung areas.

Recognizing this, CitySavings continues to process loans for customers with immediate financial needs through its unique lending facility. The bank’s sales associates or loan rangers physically visit areas to process and approve a loan, doing away with the need to visit a branch.

Concepcion, who teaches at Polomolok Creek Integrated School in South Cotabato, was one of those who took up this service and lauds its accessibility in these unprecedented times. "The loan will help me a lot, particularly in this time of crisis where I need to buy food, my maintenance medicine, and important household necessities," she said. “I feel so relieved because of CitySavings' service. It was excellent and beyond my expectation.”

Our lives have come to a standstill as we battle COVID-19 but I know that we at CitySavings have been working tirelessly to ensure that service to our customers remains unhampered

– Larry Ocampo, President & CEO, CitySavings

Melanie Maranan, a teacher from Ilat Elementary School in San Pascual, Batangas also expressed gratitude for the service. “They did not think twice to accommodate my loan application and met me personally despite the risks that the current situation brings. Their act of service is a testament of their love for us teachers."

To date, 188 loan rangers have been deployed in Luzon and 109 in Visayas and Mindanao. Since the government put Luzon under enhanced community quarantine (from March 17 to April 13), CitySavings has been able to release 4,435 teachers’ salary loans.

“Our lives have come to a standstill as we battle COVID-19 but I know that we at CitySavings have been working tirelessly to ensure that service to our customers remains unhampered. Our sales associates (‘loan rangers’) now meet up with clients near checkpoint borders to process loans and they use our Loan Ranger application,” said Larry Ocampo, CitySavings President and Chief Executive Officer.

CitySavings also continues to find ways to deliver motorcycle loan services to clients. The bank announced earlier that it is extending motorcycle loan payment moratorium by 30 days for borrowers in good standing. “Our Motorcycle Loan Rangers have also become creative in sourcing and releasing motorcycles to clients. Branches watch out for each other by servicing both borrowers and depositors from other branches,” Ocampo said.

“Our work goes on and  I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with all of you,” he added.

In 2019, CitySavings’ Loan Ranger qualified as a finalist at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 16th Awards Ceremony, which honors visionaries of change in the financial services industry.