Edwin R. Bautista is a distinguished Filipino banking executive with over three decades of leadership experience in the financial services industry. Appointed president and chief executive officer of Philippine National Bank (PNB) effective April 29, 2025, he leads one of the country’s largest and most established banking institutions at a pivotal stage of strategic modernization and growth.
Prior to PNB, Bautista spent 27 years at Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank), where he served as president and CEO. He is widely credited with architecting and executing UnionBank’s award-winning digital transformation strategy, positioning it as a leading digital bank in Asia. Under his leadership, the bank accelerated retail banking expansion, strengthened institutional and transaction banking franchises, and successfully led the acquisition and integration of Citigroup’s Philippine retail banking business—solidifying its scale, innovation capability, and competitive standing.
Bautista’s career foundation combines global banking expertise and brand-led strategy. He previously headed Citibank Philippines’ Global Transaction Services Group and began his professional journey at Procter & Gamble Philippines as a brand manager, where he developed a strong customer-centric and marketing-driven leadership approach that continues to define his executive style.
Recognized internationally for excellence in governance, innovation, and digital leadership, Bautista has received multiple distinctions, including Best Banking CEO (2018) from European Global Banking & Finance Awards, Banking CEO of the Year in Asia from International Banker, and Asia’s Best CEO (2022) from Corporate Governance Asia. In 2019, he was honored with the Lasallian Achievement Award for his contributions to digital transformation in Philippine banking.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from De La Salle University, where he graduated as Most Outstanding Graduate and earned the Brother Gabriel Connon Award, and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
A visionary strategist known for articulating compelling institutional narratives, Bautista combines engineering discipline, marketing insight, and digital innovation to drive sustainable growth, customer-centric transformation, and long-term shareholder value.
