First bank museum opens in Cebu City

The first bank museum in the country was opened in Cebu City by one  of the oldest banking institutions, the Bank of the Philippine Islands, to mark its 160th year of operations.

On display is a  collection of old money billls, vintage vaults and the first automated teller machines in the country.

There’s also a gallery of paintings by  Cebuano portrait artists like Romulo Galicano.

The first bank museum is inside the BPI Cebu Main Building in Magallanes Street.

The building was  declared a national historical landmark in 1991 with its national historical marker unveiled on 2010.

This is the third BP buranch in the country, said BPI president Mr. Aurelio R. Montinola III.

The building was constructed in the early 1940s and is located across  Plaza Sugbo and Cebu CIty Hall and is near the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino.

The museum displays are historical pieces that show how BPI contributed to the  Philippine banking industry.

One artifact is a 156-year-old original handwritten bank journal of Banco Español Filipino de EIsabel II.

Montinola  said the museum’s theme of “Timeless Modernity” underscored the bonds  between tradition and innovation that made BPI, a pioneering Filipino institution.

Montinola said the bank would invest in further improving its strong online banking system.

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and BPI chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel attended the museum opening.