Consumer demand for credit continues to grow but its full potential is blocked by a lack of trust, data and high delinquency rates, CIBI Information Inc. said.
CIBI, the country’s first and only local credit bureau, said barriers such as the trust gap and the need for transparency has limited the access to financial services despite the fact that Filipinos have more financing options now.
“As the world becomes more digital and more connected, the need for reliable, responsible, real-time data becomes greater than ever,” according to CIBI President and CEO Pia Arellano.
During its inaugural CIBI Impact 2025 summit held recently, Arellano told 150 participants – these are regulators and senior executives – that they have to innovate and collaborate “so that trust in data keeps pace with demand.”
She said only trusted data and collaboration can unlock financial inclusion in the Philippines.
To do this, Arellano said CIBI will undertake several projects such as the Fraud Bureau and CIBI Advanced Tier platform — designed to enhance transparency, reinforce compliance, and strengthen trust in the system.
During the summit, Metrobank chief economist Nicholas Mapa has noted a surge in the credit demand, while CIBI chief analytics officer Harley Chan also pointed to a remarkable rise in tradelines.
Because of fintech and digitalization, the Pay Later/Buy Now Pay Later (PL/BNPL) products have grown faster than mortgages, auto financing, and credit cards. Its expansion is also driven by improved compliance in data submissions to the Credit Information Corporation (CIC).
CIC President and CEO Atty. Ben Baltazar reported that by mid-2025, Filipinos had accessed over 10 million credit reports, with demand expected to grow with lending activity.
However, the trust gap continues to hamper credit growth. JurisTech CEO See Wai Hun said 49 percent of Filipinos are unbanked, and only 1 percent of their loan applications are accepted due to insufficient credit data.
Misinformation, fragmented records, and inconsistent reporting undermine credibility. Without reliable and transparent information, lenders grow cautious, borrowers are underserved, and decision-making slows across the value chain, CIBI said.
CIBI Vice President for Service and Industrials, Ivy Ramirez, said 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, she added.
CIBI, established in 1982, is a credit reporting intelligence agency for over 500 organizations in the country.
