EastWest Bank eyes mid-teen growth in assets, loans

East West Banking Corporation (EastWest Bank) expects low- to mid-teen growth in assets and loans this year, building on strong performance in 2025.

While full-year results for last year are yet to be released, the bank reported that as of end-October, net income rose 14 percent to ₱6.6 billion, revenues grew 16 percent to ₱37.3 billion, and consumer lending increased 17 percent.

Total assets climbed 11 percent to ₱552.9 billion, supported by a 12-percent increase in low-cost deposits to ₱415.8 billion.

CEO Jerry Ngo said loan growth has remained aligned with funding, driven largely by expanding low-cost deposits.

“The growth of our loan book was almost the same as the loan funding cycle. Low-cost is growing quite nicely also. So when you’re able to achieve that, it’s okay, rather than getting long-term fundings which you have to pay for the tenor premium,” he told reporters Wednesday night.

Ngo noted that an ideal loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) is around 70 to 80 percent, adding that balanced growth in both assets and deposits reflects a healthy trajectory.

“If my growth on both sides are approximating each other, then it’s a good growth. It’s robust,” he said.

The bank has followed the same growth strategy for the past three years and plans to continue it, emphasizing the importance of sustaining long-term growth.