Banking & Finance

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of Energy (DOE) led the “Roundtable Discussion on Unlocking Financing for the Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP)” on 12 December 2024 at the BSP Head Office in Manila. The event gathered policymakers, financial institutions, and energy industry players to explore market reforms and innovative financing instruments for renewable energy (RE) development. …

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 30 million loan to support public-private partnership (PPP) projects in the Philippines. The loan will replenish the Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF), managed by the Public-Private Partnership Center (PPPC), which aids in preparing and structuring PPP projects. It will also enhance the capacity of government agencies and local government units …

Fitch Ratings predicts that the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of Philippine banks will improve in 2025, driven by strong economic growth and lower interest rates. According to Fitch, “We expect NPL ratio improvements across five out of 14 larger APAC (Asia Pacific) markets in 2025 before rising to nine in 2026.”  The Philippines, along with India and Vietnam, is expected …

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto championed the central role of sound corporate governance anchored in sustainability in fostering inclusive growth across Asian economies during the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)-Asia Roundtable on December 11, 2024. “For we believe that a strong corporate governance framework is the very foundation upon which a thriving investment climate and well-functioning capital markets …

Security Bank and its investment banking arm, Security Bank Capital, received multiple accolades from The Asset Benchmark Research team for 2024, including top rankings in several categories.  The awards, presented recently at the Four Seasons in Singapore, recognized the top performers in the financial services industry. Security Bank earned second place for Top Investment House – Philippines and Top Sellside …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the new polymer banknotes to be released in the first quarter of 2025 will be circulated alongside the existing paper banknotes. “Paper banknotes shall remain legal tender,” the BSP said in a statement last week. In a recent social media post, the BSP announced the issuance of the First Philippine Polymer banknote series. …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may increase the number of digital banking licenses it plans to issue in 2025, according to Chuchi Fonacier, the BSP’s Deputy Governor for financial supervision. Fonacier explained that while the BSP is open to the possibility of issuing more licenses, any increase would require approval from the Monetary Board (MB). Currently, six digital banks …

Landbank led the roster of government agencies recognized for exemplary service, with 12 of its branches earning top marks in the 2023 Report Card Survey (RCS) 2.0 by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA). The LANDBANK branches were honored at the ARTA RCS Awards Ceremony at Conrad Manila on 30 October 2024, underscoring the Bank’s collective commitment to providing efficient, high-quality …

Former Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) housemate Bryan “Brx” Ruiz expressed his appreciation for being given the opportunity to share his financial knowledge to fellow Negrenses during the recent BDO mini-fiesta held at the Sipalay City Gymnasium. Tapped to co-host the event, the 32-year-old Ruiz—dubbed as Seamanluluto ng Bacolod during his PBB: Gen11 days—said his experience as a seafarer helped him …

The Philippine local currency bond market saw significant growth in the third quarter of 2024, driven by strong performance across all bond segments, according to the latest report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In its Asia Bond Monitor report released Wednesday, the ADB noted that total bonds outstanding rose to P13 trillion, reflecting a 3.8 percent quarter-on-quarter increase. This …