Banking & Finance

Philippine National Bank (PSE: PNB), in partnership with JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCBI), has introduced the PNB JCB Platinum credit card, designed to match the evolving spending habits of Filipino consumers. As more users balance digital, in-person, and international transactions, the card supports everyday purchases while offering added convenience for travel and bigger expenses. It features rewards earning, flexible payment …

The Philippine banking sector remains capable of weathering potential economic shocks despite emerging risks to credit quality, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Friday. The statement came after Fitch Ratings warned that recent economic headwinds could lead to higher loan impairments and weaker profitability among local banks this year. Monetary authorities said they continue to closely monitor developments affecting …

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and BDO Unibank are strengthening efforts to help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) prepare for life after employment abroad, focusing on financial literacy, skills development, and entrepreneurship as part of long-term reintegration programs. OFWs continue to leave the country in search of higher-paying jobs overseas, enabling them to support their families’ basic needs, education, and …

The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Thursday raised its key policy interest rates by 25 basis points, citing continued inflationary pressures driven by elevated global oil and fertilizer prices. The latest adjustment brings the BSP’s target reverse repurchase (RRP) rate to 4.75 percent. Correspondingly, the overnight deposit facility rate was increased to 4.25 percent, while …

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 …