CIBI Information Inc. is strengthening its role in advancing financial inclusion in the Philippines by using its access to the Credit Information Corp.’s (CIC) Advanced Tier, which provides a comprehensive view of Filipino credit behavior.
The company holds visibility across 68.4 million individuals and 468.3 million accounts, providing one of the most extensive views of Filipino credit behavior. This vast dataset helps financial institutions make better lending decisions and gives Filipinos fairer access to credit.
CIBI president and chief executive Pia Arellano said the Advanced Tier access allows the company to connect more people to the formal financial system.
“It’s really about data, and having a more comprehensive, a more complete picture for every single Filipino,” Arellano said.
“With Advanced Tier access, we are able to stitch more information pieces of the puzzle together for every single Filipino consumer,” she said.
Under the Credit Information System Act (CISA) of 2012, financial institutions must submit clients’ credit data to the CIC. Credit Transaction and Verification Inc. (CTVI), a CIBI-owned entity, processes this raw information to create actionable products such as credit reports and credit scores.
CIBI chief product, partnership and innovation officer Jasmine Alansalon-Gonzales said the Advanced Tier access allows them to process “millions of data points from banks, cooperatives, and fintechs into insights that help institutions understand their customers better.” She added that this provides “a foundation that allows lenders to balance growth with responsible risk management.”
The company’s data show a growing reliance on smaller, short-term loans, reflecting a shift in financial behavior toward digital channels.
Personal loans and buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) schemes have seen the fastest growth recently, indicating that Filipinos are starting their financial journeys with accessible, low-ticket credit products.
“More Filipinos are borrowing in smaller amounts, typically between P5,000 and P10,000,” said CIBI chief analytics officer Harley Chan.
This provides a clearer picture of how people borrow and repay, helping lenders evaluate creditworthiness beyond traditional loan profiles.
These borrowing patterns capture financial activity that was previously unrecorded. Small, recurring payments through digital lending apps now contribute to a person’s financial footprint, supporting more accurate and inclusive credit scoring. Over time, these insights help consumers move from small loans to larger products such as credit cards, loans, or mortgages.
CIBI’s no-hit, no-pay policy helps lower acquisition expenses for financial institutions, encouraging them to extend services to more consumers. The company is also exploring ways to make credit information more accessible to individual consumers and promote awareness about the value of maintaining a good credit record.
