Banking & Finance

The non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of Philippine banks improved to 3.08 percent in December 2025, down from 3.32 percent in November, marking the lowest level since August 2020, based on Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data. Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief economist Michael Ricafort said the decline in NPLs amid rising bank loans is partly due to a total 200-basis-point reduction …

Confidence in the Philippine economy is showing signs of recovery, BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said Wednesday, projecting a growth rebound in the second half of 2026. Citing the central bank’s survey of supply chain managers, Remolona noted that the confidence index has risen above 50 percent, signaling improving sentiment. He also pointed to declining yields on Bureau of the …

The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has been recognized internationally for promoting agricultural growth and reforestation efforts, DBP President Michael O. de Jesus said. DBP was named Top Community-Centric Company at the 2025 Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards for its Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program (APPP), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, and for a 100-hectare reforestation …

More than 200 nano-entrepreneurs in Quezon City joined “Ayusin ang Pera, Palaguin ang Negosyo,” a financial literacy and entrepreneurship session organized by the Quezon City Small Business Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (QC-SBCDPO) in partnership with the BDO Foundation at the Amoranto Sports Complex. The session was facilitated by personal finance coach Chinkee Tan, who shared practical lessons on managing …

East West Banking Corporation (EastWest Bank) expects low- to mid-teen growth in assets and loans this year, building on strong performance in 2025. While full-year results for last year are yet to be released, the bank reported that as of end-October, net income rose 14 percent to ₱6.6 billion, revenues grew 16 percent to ₱37.3 billion, and consumer lending increased …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Thursday said its monetary easing cycle is “nearing its end,” as domestic demand is expected to improve following a series of policy rate cuts since 2024. January inflation rose to 2 percent from 1.8 percent in December 2025, remaining at the lower end of the government’s 2–4 percent target and within the BSP’s …

The Philippine government’s total liabilities reached ₱17.71 trillion at the end of 2025, up 10.3 percent from ₱16.05 trillion at the close of 2024, as authorities emphasized that the debt portfolio remains resilient with the bulk sourced domestically. Data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed domestic creditors accounted for 68.4 percent of the total, or ₱12.12 trillion, while …

Security Bank Corporation (PSE: SECB) has partnered with the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) to provide foreign and returning Filipino retirees applying for the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) with priority banking, exclusive Time Deposit rates, and enhanced account services. Under the partnership, SRRV applicants can open Security Bank accounts as part of the SRRV process and enjoy premium onboarding support, …

SEN. Joel Villanueva on Wednesday filed a bill aiming to lift some restrictions in the country’s existing bank secrecy law to enable “measured“ transparency and fight corruption. Senate Bill 1728 seeks to “modernize a legal framework that has remained virtually untouched for more than seven decades.“ Senator Villanueva declared in Senate: “For over seventy years, the Philippines has maintained one …

Cocolife will soon extend its emergency insurance services to Grab Philippines and its motorcycle taxi arm Move It. In an announcement,  Grab and Move It said that under their expanded emergency insurance framework with Cocolife, rider-partners and passengers gain 24/7 access to a wider network of more than 700 Cocolife-accredited hospitals nationwide for emergency situations involving its booked ride. Under …