When the Rural Bank of Pozorrubio opened in 1965, Pozorrubio was a sleepy, fifth class municipality of Pangasinan. The bank was established by Engr. Vivencio Araos after his philanthropist father, Don Paulino Araos, urged him to set up a bank to help the underserved.

The bank became crucial in transforming Pozzorubio into a first-class municipality. Its clients ranged from farmers and small business vendors to large depositors. Economic activity grew, fast food chains set up shop, and other banks followed suit.

Following the death of Engr. Vivencio Araos in 1988, his son, Engr. Arturo Araos, took over as bank president. He and his sister, Dahlia Araos-Ramos, spent over thirty years running the bank, navigating economic downturns, and keeping their father's legacy alive. In 2022, they decided it was time to hand over the bank's management to someone outside of the family as they were getting older and could no longer handle day-to-day operations.

In what the Araos siblings call divine intervention, they reconnected with Mr. Jose Paolo "Bilbo" Palileo, president of Bayanihan Bank. Engr. Araos had met Mr. Palileo two decades ago in a microfinance seminar and the young Bilbo – who was then just starting his career as the microfinance lead of the Rural Bank of Atimonan - left a lasting impression. Both knew that Bilbo was the dynamic visionary they needed to continue the bank's mission.

Mr. Palileo, on the other hand, saw Bayanihan bank's values in the Araos family and in their employees. They had a deep motivation to help the vulnerable and those who were most in need. Their clients - farmers, fisherfolk, and small vendors - were the people that Bayanihan Bank aimed to serve.

In 2023, the Rural Bank of Pozorrubio officially merged with Bayanihan Bank. While the management and day-to-day operations have transitioned to Mr. Palileo's team, the Araos legacy continues to drive the community's trust as the bank strengthens its operations in Pozorrubio and neighboring municipalities in Pangasinan. The merger also marked Bayanihan Bank's entrypoint into Northern Luzon, as part of its broader expansion strategy across the Philippines.