Banking & Finance

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) has released the names of 16 financial institutions that it recognizes as Primary Dealers (PDs) of government securities for the year 2026. In a memorandum dated December 23, 2025, signed by National Treasurer Sharon Almanza, the BTr announced the list of qualified Government Securities Eligible Dealers (GSEDs) under the PD System. The designation grants …

Bigger and more established banks cannot do this: offer eight percent interest on time deposit. But Salmon Bank (Rural Bank) Inc. is offering this product under its “Bank on Eight” promo. Salmon’s “Bank on Eight” promo promises a promotional interest rate of 8 percent per annum available to clients with Time Deposit placements of at least P1 million for a …

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) ended 2025 on the red, reversing its rise for the last three sessions, but the Philippine peso finished sideways against the United States dollar. it was reported by the state-owned Philippine News Agency (PNA). The local bourse’s main index shed 0.21 percent to 6,052.92 points, but the broader All Shares rose 0.25 percent to …

PalawanPay renewed its commitment to the UP Fighting Maroons, highlighting partnership and shared purpose in their pursuit of excellence. PalawanPay, the e-wallet arm of the Palawan Group of Companies, proudly renewed its commitment to the UP Fighting Maroons, reinforcing its role as a steadfast partner in the team’s continued journey toward victory and growth. This renewed alliance reflects PalawanPay’s deep …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) wants the public to know more about the foreign exchange market (FX), especially investors and financial business stakeholders. This is the rationale for the BSP’s current move to engage in a  nationwide information drive for a more investor-friendly FX environment. BSP Director Jodeth Niña R. Yeung has been conducting lectures in key regional centers including …

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill amending the country’s bank secrecy law, which was passed several decades ago. The new measure allows the  Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to look into the accounts of bank officers and employees involved in illegal financial activities. House Bill 6707 aims to fight tax evasion, money laundering, and other …

Security Bank is scaling up efforts to help the communities it serves. The bank is committed to provide tangible support for livelihoods, education, culture, and the environment. From agriculture to disaster response, Security Bank’s initiatives reached communities often left at the margins of growth. In Aklan, the Bank supported 40 solo parents and smallholder farmers by providing cacao seedlings, poultry …

Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has signed a strategic agreement with LANDBANK,  a policy bank driving inclusive and sustainable development and among the country’s largest banks in terms of assets. This will expand digital payment acceptance across key government channels, enabling fast and secure digital transactions for various government services and supporting the government’s vision of a cash-lite …

By Diego C. Cagahastian The Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), decided to prune the nation’s interest rates by 25 basis points at its meeting last December 11. It was the MB’s last meeting for the year, and marked the fifth consecutive time that the rate was decreased. This time around, the Board lowered …

The government, specifically the Senate and the House of Representatives, passes financial laws mandating banks to support  agriculture, small businesses and rural cooperatives by giving them loans. In the case of the agriculture sector, a certain percentage of the banks’ loan allocations should be given to the farmers. But this is seldom observed, with banks giving priority to condominium developers …