History

The RBAP was founded in 1955 but initially remained a non-incorporated association of institutions engaged in a common endeavor. Led by Alfredo Montelibano, Sr., of the Rural Bank of Bacolod City, representatives of the original eighteen rural banks formed a voluntary association.

On June 28, 1957 or two years later, the association finally framed its Articles of Incorporation, submitting the same to the Securities and Exchange Commission for which a certificate of incorporation was issued on August 26, 1957 to the association. The incorporators of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines, Inc. were:

The first (11) incorporators listed above were elected as the original directors. But subsequently, and through a resolution of the members of the association, in a special meeting held in Manila on April 21, 1958, four (4) other incorporators were voted as directors, thus increasing the directorship to fifteen (15) members. RBAP was founded for the following reasons: To promote the general welfare and safeguard the common interests of Rural Bankers; to work for the proper and effective implementation of the laws and regulations on rural banks; to study and devise ways and means of making rural bank facilities more responsive to the needs of the people in rural areas; to act as a medium in the dissemination and operation of Rural Banks; to initiate and develop a program of activities to stir up rural bank consciousness; and, in general , to foster goodwill and mutual understanding among its members.” The leadership of Mr. Montelibano followed a succession of presidents of RBAP who invariably distinguished themselves as champions of rural development, and they are: