Bank lending growth steadies at 10.3% in NovemberPreliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks amounted to P13.99 trillion in November 2025, 10.3 percent higher than the P12.68 trillion recorded in the same month in 2024. “Bank lending held steady at 10.3 percent because the core drivers of the economy are still moving — business loans stayed solid across real estate, utilities, trade and transport, while consumer lending remained the real powerhouse with credit cards and salary loans growing over 20 percent,” Ravelas said. Credit card loans increased by 29.5 percent to P1.16 trillion, while motor vehicle loans jumped by 16.3 percent to P524.04 billion. The BSP said it closely monitors bank lending as it is “a key transmission channel of monetary policy.” Looking ahead, the central bank said it “will ensure that domestic liquidity and bank lending conditions remain aligned with its price and financial stability objectives.”Ravelas cautioned, however, that risks to confidence could slow momentum. If we fix that and inflation continues to ease, lending growth can pick up more strongly by mid-2026,” Ravelas said.

Source: Philippine Star January 14, 2026 16:32 UTC