Banking & Finance

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) obtained EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification for 11 of its branches in 2024, bringing the total number of branches awarded with the green building recognition to 22. This milestone further underscores BPI’s leadership in sustainability and responsible operations, as EDGE certification—developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a division of …

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the public offering of up to ₱5 billion in fixed-rate bonds by listed real estate developer A Brown Company, Inc. (ABCI), paving the way for the firm’s fundraising activity under its shelf registration program. In a statement last week, the SEC said its Commission En Banc, in a meeting held Tuesday, “resolved …

Foreign direct investments (FDI) posted net inflows of $611 million in March this year, according to data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), reflecting continued but slightly moderating investor activity. The March figure was higher than the $485 million recorded in the same month last year, but 4.2 percent lower than February’s $638 million, indicating month-to-month fluctuations amid …

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 …