Banking & Finance

Consumer finance platform Billease has injected ₱500 million in fresh capital into its banking arm, the Rural Bank of Sta. Maria in Ilocos Sur, as part of a broader push to strengthen digital banking capabilities, governance, and product innovation. The company said the investment will support an end-to-end upgrade of the bank’s core systems, enabling a more scalable and digital-first …

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) will auction off two prime commercial lots and dozens of other properties across Luzon through an electronic public bidding scheduled on July 8 and 9. In a statement last week, PDIC said the submission of bids will run from 9 a.m. on July 8 until 1 p.m. on July 9, with the opening of …

State-owned Land Bank of the Philippines has temporarily closed several branches in South Cotabato and Sarangani following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake as part of precautionary safety measures. In an advisory issued last week, LandBank said the affected branches in South Cotabato include Calumping, General Santos Highway, General Santos-Pioneer, and Koronadal Highway. Also closed are the Alabel and Glan branches in …

Philippine National Bank (PSE: PNB) has strengthened its push for global-ready financial services through a new partnership with Japan’s JCB International, aimed at expanding access to secure, innovative payment solutions for Filipino customers. The agreement was formalized on May 19, 2026, at Okada Manila, bringing together PNB’s domestic banking network and JCB’s international payment expertise under a shared goal of …

Loans from universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) increased by 11.4 percent year-on-year in April, from 10.7 percent in March. After adjusting for seasonal fluctuations, outstanding U/KB loans were higher by 1.1 percent month-on-month, reflecting banks’ expectations of steady loan demand from businesses and households in Q2 2026. Outstanding loans to residents expanded by 11.8 percent year-on-year in April from 11.1 …

The Philippine banking system continued to expand its asset base, with total assets rising by nearly 12 percent as of April this year, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Latest figures showed that total banking system assets reached ₱30.1 trillion in April, up 11.8 percent from ₱26.9 trillion recorded in the same period last year. However, …

Digital payments giant Visa has announced that eligible Visa debit and credit cardholders in the Philippines can now add their cards to Garmin Pay, allowing contactless payments through compatible Garmin smartwatches. In a statement last week, Visa said the new feature enables users to make secure and seamless transactions at any contactless-enabled terminal nationwide, expanding the country’s growing digital payments …

Security Bank has entered into a partnership with AC Health subsidiaries I.E. Medica and MedEthix to extend financing support to their nationwide network of dealers and distributors through a dedicated dealer financing program. In a statement last week, Security Bank said the initiative will provide accredited partners with access to short-term revolving credit lines and inventory financing solutions designed to …

Land Bank of the Philippines will waive convenience fees on select online government payments as part of efforts to make public transactions more affordable and accessible amid ongoing economic pressures. In a statement, LandBank said the zero-fee policy will cover eligible person-to-government (P2G) transactions made through QRPh-enabled channels from June 1 to December 31, 2026. The covered payment channels include …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is urging businesses to actively promote the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) program, highlighting its tax incentives and long-term benefits for both employers and workers. BSP Deputy Governor Lyn Javier said in a statement that encouraging PERA participation can help employees build stronger retirement savings while also improving workplace retention and satisfaction. “By promoting …