Land Bank of the Philippines
A Philippine government-owned universal bank with a statutory mission to finance agriculture, agrarian reform, and countryside development.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Land Bank of the Philippines, commonly known as LandBank, is a government-owned Philippine banking institution established in 1963 under the Agricultural Land Reform Code. Its original purpose was to support land reform by financing the acquisition of agricultural estates, enabling their transfer to smaller landholders, and helping agricultural lessees purchase land. Although its historical mandate is closely associated with farmers, agrarian-reform beneficiaries, and rural communities, LandBank operates with a universal banking license and provides a broad range of commercial and development-finance services. The bank’s role expanded substantially in the 1970s. Presidential Decree No. 251, issued in 1973, revitalized LandBank after it experienced financial and institutional difficulties in carrying out land-reform programs. The decree gave it a universal banking license and broadened its lending authority to include agriculture, industry, housing, home finance, cooperatives, and other productive activities. It also made the bank a central financial instrument for implementing agrarian reform and supporting economic activity outside the major urban centers. LandBank’s services include agricultural and fisheries lending, loans for agrarian-reform beneficiaries, countryside and infrastructure finance, corporate and commercial credit, government-sector banking, deposits, payments, remittances, treasury services, investment banking, and digital banking. It serves national government agencies, local governments, government-owned corporations, private enterprises, farmers, fisherfolk, cooperatives, rural households, and individual depositors. Its public-policy role means that it operates both as a commercial bank and as a development institution, often financing sectors or geographic areas that may be underserved by purely commercial lenders. The bank has maintained an extensive Philippine branch and service network, including a presence across the country’s provinces, lending centers, extension offices, and automated teller machines. This reach allows it to provide banking services in rural and agricultural communities where private-bank coverage may be limited. LandBank also works alongside, and at times competes with, other major Philippine banks and government financial institutions such as the Development Bank of the Philippines. LandBank is not publicly listed. The Government of the Philippines is its shareholder, with ownership exercised through the Secretary of Finance. The institution has also developed or maintained affiliated businesses in leasing, insurance brokerage, real-estate and resource development, securities, and overseas Filipino banking. In 2021, the government ordered its merger with United Coconut Planters Bank, with LandBank designated as the surviving institution. The transaction strengthened its role in serving coconut farmers and expanded its consolidated banking operations. Today, LandBank remains one of the Philippines’ largest banks by assets and the country’s largest government-owned bank. Its positioning combines universal banking capabilities with a public-development mandate: supporting agricultural production and land reform while financing public institutions, businesses, infrastructure, households, and digital financial services.
History
Land Bank of the Philippines was created on August 8, 1963, through the Agricultural Land Reform Code. Its initial mission was closely tied to land reform: the bank was expected to finance the purchase of agricultural estates for subdivision and resale to small landholders, as well as land purchases by agricultural lessees. Its first institutional rules were approved in 1965, when its initial board of trustees was constituted with the Secretary of Finance as chair. The bank became more important after the Philippine government intensified land-reform implementation in the 1970s. Presidential Decree No. 27 of 1972 emancipated tenant farmers on private rice and corn lands, and LandBank was assigned responsibility for collecting long-term land amortizations from beneficiaries. The assignment placed considerable financial and administrative demands on an institution that was still developing its capacity. By 1973, LandBank faced financial distress and lacked the capital and organizational structure necessary to execute its expanded land-reform responsibilities. Presidential Decree No. 251, signed on July 21, 1973, reorganized and revitalized the bank. It granted LandBank a universal banking license, broadened its lending powers beyond agriculture to industrial, housing, home-finance, cooperative, and other productive projects, and made it a principal financial instrument for countryside development and agrarian reform. The decree also increased its authorized capital and provided certain tax exemptions. In 1977, the bank was divided into Agrarian, Banking, and Operations sectors to improve specialization and customer service. In 1982, the Agricultural Credit Administration was abolished and its assets and functions were transferred to LandBank, further expanding the bank’s role in extending credit to small farmers. That year LandBank also acquired a 40 percent interest in the government-owned commercial bank that became UnionBank of the Philippines. The stake was later sold during UnionBank’s gradual privatization. LandBank became a financial intermediary for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program in 1988. It joined Expressnet in 1991 and later became associated with BancNet, linking its customers to broader interbank and ATM networks. A 1995 charter amendment increased its authorized capital, formalized its status as a government depository, and enlarged and restructured its board. Further capital increases followed, reflecting the institution’s expanding public and commercial functions. The bank’s relationship with other government financial institutions has periodically produced structural proposals. In 2016, an executive order established a proposed LandBank–Development Bank of the Philippines merger, with LandBank as the surviving institution. The plan was later cancelled. In 2021, the government instead ordered the merger of LandBank and United Coconut Planters Bank, again with LandBank as the surviving bank. This combination reinforced LandBank’s role in serving coconut farmers while broadening its consolidated operations. LandBank now operates as a government-owned universal bank with a nationwide presence. It serves farmers, fisherfolk, agrarian-reform beneficiaries, cooperatives, public agencies, local governments, corporations, small businesses, and individual customers. Its distinguishing feature is the combination of ordinary banking products with a continuing development mandate. It competes with major private banks in commercial markets while cooperating or overlapping with the Development Bank of the Philippines and other public financial institutions in development finance.
- 2021
UCPB merger is ordered
[1]Executive Order No. 142 directs the merger of United Coconut Planters Bank into LandBank, with LandBank continuing as the surviving bank.
- 2016
Proposed DBP merger is authorized
[1]Executive Order No. 198 establishes a framework for a proposed merger with the Development Bank of the Philippines, but the plan is later abandoned.
- 1995
Charter is amended
[1]A charter amendment increases authorized capital, confirms LandBank as an official government depository, and expands its board structure.
- 1991
Joins Expressnet
[1]LandBank joins the Expressnet interbank network and later participates in BancNet.
- 1988
LandBank becomes a CARP intermediary
[1]The bank takes on a financial-intermediary role for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
- 1982
Agricultural Credit Administration functions transfer to LandBank
[1]After the Agricultural Credit Administration is abolished, its assets and small-farmer credit functions are transferred to LandBank.
- 1977
Bank is reorganized into three sectors
[1]LandBank establishes Agrarian, Banking, and Operations sectors to improve organizational focus and long-term viability.
- 1973
Universal banking powers are granted
[1]Presidential Decree No. 251 revitalizes LandBank, grants it a universal banking license, and expands its authority to finance agriculture, industry, housing, cooperatives, and countryside development.
- 1972
Land-reform collection mandate expands
[1]Following Presidential Decree No. 27, LandBank is assigned to collect land amortizations from beneficiaries of the rice and corn land-reform program.
- 1965
Initial governance structure is formed
[1]LandBank’s by-laws are approved and its first board of trustees is constituted.
Products and positioning
A government-owned universal bank combining commercial banking with a statutory focus on agriculture, agrarian reform, rural communities, and national development.
Development finance
Agricultural and fisheries lending
Loan programs for farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural producers, cooperatives, and related enterprises. These facilities support production, equipment, working capital, marketing, and other stages of the agricultural value chain.
Agrarian reform finance · 1963
Agrarian-reform beneficiary financing
Financing associated with land reform and the needs of agrarian-reform beneficiaries. The product area reflects LandBank’s original statutory role in land acquisition, amortization collection, and post-transfer support.
Development finance · 1973
Countryside development loans
Credit for productive activities, rural enterprises, infrastructure, local development, and projects intended to broaden economic activity outside the Philippines’ principal metropolitan areas.
Institutional banking
Government and public-sector banking
Depository, payment, collection, lending, and other banking services for national government agencies, local governments, and government-owned or controlled corporations.
Retail banking
Retail deposits and payments
Consumer-facing accounts and transaction services, including deposit products, payment facilities, ATM access, and related everyday banking functions delivered through branches and electronic channels.
Digital banking
Digital banking services
Electronic banking and digital transaction services intended to extend access beyond physical branches and support customers across the bank’s nationwide service network.
Brand decisions
2021
Merge with United Coconut Planters BankM&ABackground
The government pursued consolidation of state-linked banking resources and sought to improve support for the coconut sector.
Action taken
Executive Order No. 142 mandated the merger of UCPB with LandBank, with LandBank as the surviving entity.
Aftermath
The merger expanded LandBank’s consolidated operations and reinforced its development-finance role for coconut farmers and related stakeholders.
2016
Authorize proposed merger with the Development Bank of the PhilippinesM&ABackground
The government sought to consolidate two major state-owned development banks.
Action taken
Executive Order No. 198 provided for a merger in which LandBank would be the surviving institution.
Aftermath
The succeeding administration cancelled the proposed merger later in 2016.
1973
Adopt a universal-bank and countryside-development mandateStrategyBackground
LandBank lacked the resources and organizational capacity needed to carry out its expanding land-reform responsibilities.
Action taken
Presidential Decree No. 251 revitalized the bank, granted a universal banking license, expanded its lending powers, and strengthened its role in agrarian reform and countryside development.
Aftermath
The decision transformed LandBank from a narrowly focused land-reform lender into a broad government development and commercial bank.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Citicore secures financing for Batangas solar projects[3]
Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation secured ₱35.014 billion in syndicated project financing from BPI, LANDBANK, and DBP to develop five solar power projects in Batangas with a combined capacity of 900 MWp.
Reported
Landbank partners in the Kapatid Agri Mentor Me Program[4]
The Land Bank of the Philippines partnered with the Department of Agriculture and Go Negosyo to support the Kapatid Agri Mentor Me Program, including facilitating loan applications and providing credit assistance to eligible graduates.
Reported
O-CITY and LANDBANK partner on transit-payment pilot[5]
O-CITY partnered with the Philippines' Land Bank of the Philippines to pilot contactless payments and digital ticketing for public utility vehicles in Metro Manila.
Reported
Cebu Pacific announces planned bank-loan fundraising[6]
Cebu Pacific said it was seeking to raise between 12.5 billion and 16 billion Philippine pesos through loans from various banks to finance its business recovery efforts; the amount was not final, and the airline aimed to close deals within the quarter.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
LandBank launches RAPID Growth Credit Facility[7]
LandBank launched the RAPID Growth Credit Facility to provide financing support for small farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises involved in selected agricultural value chains.
- Unconfirmed
MYEG Philippines commences online government services[8]
MYEG Philippines commenced online services through its portal with Land Bank-enrolled government agencies and merchants; users can pay electronically or at MYEG Philippines over-the-counter locations.
- Unconfirmed
MYEG Philippines partners with Land Bank for e-government services[8]
MYEG Philippines partnered with the Philippines’ Land Bank to launch digital e-government services, including integration of MYEG Philippines’ electronic payment and collection system by Land Bank.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Landbank launches its first agent banking partnership[9]
Land Bank of the Philippines formally launched its first Agent Banking partner, The Lamac Multi-purpose Cooperative, in Aloguinsan under its Agent Banking Program.
Sources9 sources
- 1Land Bank of the Philippinesen.wikipedia.org
- 2Land Bank of the Philippines official websitelandbank.com.ph
- 3Citicore为巴丹格斯太阳能项目获得融资punto.com.ph
- 4Landbank 加入 Kapatid Agri Mentor Me 农业辅导计划visayandailystar.com
- 5O-CITY与LANDBANK合作开展公共交通支付试点prnewswire.com
- 6宿务太平洋航空宣布计划通过银行贷款融资gmanetwork.com
- 7LandBank 推出 RAPID Growth 信贷服务manilatimes.net
- 8MYEG Philippines 开始提供在线政府服务theedgemalaysia.com
- 9Landbank推出首个代理银行合作伙伴关系sunstar.com.ph
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