SMBC names Balangue as head of corporate banking in Philippines

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March 18, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC) has appointed veteran banker Maria Angelica Balangue as head of its corporate banking department in the Philippines, strengthening its push to expand large corporate business in the country.

In a statement, SMBC’s Manila branch said Balangue would assume the role effective March 16, subject to regulatory approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Balangue replaces Ruben Victa, who is retiring after five years with the Japanese lender.

SMBC said Victa played a key role in expanding the bank’s corporate banking franchise in the Philippines during his tenure.

Based in Manila, Balangue will lead the strategic direction of SMBC’s corporate banking operations in the country and oversee the delivery of integrated solutions to corporate and institutional clients.

She will report to Hiroyasu Kanda, managing director and country head of the Philippines, and Joyce Tee, head of corporate banking department for Asia Pacific. The role will also involve working closely with regional teams to pursue cross-border opportunities and strengthen the bank’s regional connectivity.

“We are delighted to welcome Angelica to SMBC. With her track record in leading transformation initiatives, managing major portfolios and executing milestone transactions across the region, we are well-positioned to grow key sectors in the Philippines and deepen our client relationships,” Kanda said.

Balangue brings more than two decades of experience in banking, with expertise spanning corporate banking, capital markets origination and relationship management.

Prior to joining SMBC, she served as corporate banking team head at BDO Unibank Inc., where she led a group focused on corporate lending and project financing.

She also held leadership roles at several financial institutions including Union Bank of the Philippines, China Bank Capital Corp. and ING Bank.

SMBC said corporate banking remains a major growth driver across Asia Pacific, particularly as regional banks compete to capture financing opportunities from large infrastructure, energy and corporate projects.

“Under Angelica’s leadership, we will continue to leverage our global network and close collaboration with our partner bank in the Philippines, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., to expand our large corporate business and elevate customer satisfaction locally and across the region,” Tee said.

Based in Tokyo, SMBC is a core member of the Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and ranks among the largest Japanese banks by assets. The bank operates in 39 countries and territories through its global network.

In the Asia-Pacific region, SMBC serves corporate, institutional and retail clients through its regional platform and partnerships in markets including Indonesia, India, Vietnam and the Philippines.