The credit landscape in the Philippines is at a turning point, with consumer demand for financing on the rise despite persistent barriers like limited access to financial services and high delinquency rates.
These issues underscore an urgent need for trust, transparency and collaboration across the financial ecosystem. The country’s first local credit bureau, CIBI Information Inc., addressed these challenges at its inaugural CIBI Impact 2025 industry summit.
The event gathered over 150 regulators, senior executives, partners, and decision-makers to discuss sector realities and chart a path forward. The consensus was clear: the future of Philippine credit hinges on trusted data, cross-sector collaboration, and innovative solutions to expand financial inclusion and fuel sustainable growth.
Insights shared at the summit highlighted the growing reliance on credit among Filipinos.
Nicholas Mapa, chief economist at Metrobank, noted a surge in demand, while CIBI chief analytics officer Harley Chan pointed to a remarkable rise in tradelines.
The growth of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) products is outpacing that of mortgages, auto financing and credit cards, a trend driven by fintech digitalization, stronger initiatives from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and government, and improved data submissions to the Credit Information Corporation (CIC).
Consumer engagement with credit reports is also increasing. CIC president and chief executive Ben Baltazar reported that by mid-2025, Filipinos had accessed more than 10 million credit reports, with demand expected to grow alongside lending activity.
Despite rising demand, a trust gap continues to constrain the industry. JurisTech chief executive See Wai Hun said that 49 percent of Filipinos remain unbanked, and only 1 percent of their loan applications are accepted due to insufficient credit data.
High delinquency rates and billions lost annually to fraud further weaken confidence, altering how institutions assess risk and limiting consumers’ access to financing.
Fragmented records and inconsistent reporting undermine credibility. Without reliable and transparent information, lenders become cautious, borrowers are underserved, and decision-making slows. The result: financial exclusion persists, and opportunities for responsible credit growth are left untapped.
Breaking this cycle requires more than just data; it requires trusted data. CIBI vice president for service and industrials Ivy Ramirez noted that quality data enables companies to make decisions 30 percent faster, boost efficiency by 25 percent and increase profitability by 19 percent. Transparency also strengthens relationships, reduces risk and shortens time to revenue by 63 percent.
Fragmented or misleading data, however, compromise confidence, leading to poor lending decisions, higher defaults and failed partnerships.
CIBI President and CEO Pia Arellano closed the summit by reaffirming the bureau’s role as a catalyst for inclusion.
She announced initiatives such as the Fraud Bureau and CIBI Advanced Tier platform, designed to enhance transparency, reinforce compliance, and strengthen trust in the system. While credit demand is rising rapidly, she cautioned that the trust gap remains the biggest barrier to inclusive access.
“As the world becomes more digital and more connected, the need for reliable, responsible, real-time data becomes greater than ever,” Arellano said.
“Our mission is to innovate and collaborate so that trust in data keeps pace with demand—because only then can we build a future where no Filipino is left behind,” she said.
