EWRB's Pres. & CEO Elpidio F. Masbad III. (center) and Customer Experience Group Leader Jo Ann S. de Asis (4th from right) receive the SSS Balikat ng Bayan plaques of recognition from SSS President & CEO Emmanuel F. Dooc (4th from left). Also in photo are SSS officials (from left) VP Antonio Argabioso, SVP Jose Bautista, SVP Judy See, and SVP May Ciriaco (rightmost); and EWRB's Finance Services Group Leader Sheila M. Bajado 
and NCR Division Leader Florinda S. de la Cruz.

EastWest Bank's rural banking arm, EastWest Rural Bank (EWRB), was named by the Social Security System (SSS) as the 2017 Balikat ng Bayan awardee for both Best Collecting and Best Paying Partner in the rural bank category. EWRB was able to bag two awards immediately on its first win.

"We are honored and grateful to win these awards for the first time. We are committed to do our part in advancing the welfare of Filipino workers and in helping SSS achieve its mandate," said EWRB President & CEO Elpidio F. Masbad III.

EWRB won the Best Paying Rural Bank award for achieving the highest amount of benefits disbursed to SSS members and pensioners and for actively participating in SSS thru-the-bank payment programs. At the same time, it was lauded as Best Collecting Rural Bank for its faithful compliance with the SS Law as an employer, and accreditation guidelines as a collection partner, including efficiency in terms of collecting payments for members' contributions and salary loan amortizations.

Established in 2013, EWRB is dedicated to serve the unbanked and underserved Filipinos outside urban areas to promote countryside development. It has a total of 58 stores, 17 extension offices, and 16 Other Banking Offices all over Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The Balikat ng Bayan Awards started in 1995 as one of the highlights of SSS' anniversary celebration.