PNB Commits ₱1 Billion to Billease for Expanded Consumer Finance in PH

Philippine National Bank (PNB) has committed a ₱1-billion credit facility to consumer finance platform Billease, significantly expanding its funding to provide accessible credit to more Filipinos. This investment, leveraging consumer loan receivables as collateral, underscores growing confidence in the country's fintech sector.

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Philippine National Bank (PNB) has announced a significant ₱1-billion credit facility for the consumer finance platform Billease, marking a key expansion in Billease's funding capabilities. This arrangement, the first between the two entities, positions Billease to further scale its lending operations and enhance access to credit for more Filipinos. The facility employs the Personal Property Security Registry (PPSR), allowing PNB a registered first-rank claim over a pool of Billease’s consumer loan receivables as collateral.

This substantial investment reflects growing confidence among major domestic banks in the consumer finance sector, particularly in lending against consumer finance receivables. Billease has demonstrated robust financial performance, with its revenue soaring over 80 percent to ₱8.7 billion in 2025 and achieving a net profit of ₱782 million—its third consecutive year of profitability. The company's gross loan book also expanded by more than 77 percent to approximately ₱12.5 billion, onboarding over 200,000 new customers and disbursing more than ₱5 billion in loans each month.

Roberto Fo. Abastillas, PNB Executive Vice President and Head of Institutional Banking Sector, highlighted Billease's strong portfolio quality across different market cycles as a key factor in establishing this partnership. Billease co-founder and CEO Georg Steiger emphasized the strategic importance of expanding their local funding base with leading Philippine banks, stating it enables them to continue serving more Filipinos with affordable and responsible credit. This initiative complements Billease's existing roster of local and international funding partners.

Beyond securing new credit facilities, Billease is also broadening its financial ecosystem through the recent acquisition of a rural bank. This strategic move is expected to expand the range of products Billease can offer, including traditional savings and deposits, thereby improving its funding profile and cost of capital. This integrated approach aims to create a more comprehensive and accessible financial service for its growing customer base.

For Filipino households in the Philippines, and those with family ties to Overseas Filipinos in New Zealand and Australia, this development is significant. The expansion of accessible and responsible credit can provide local families with more options to manage their finances, pursue business opportunities, or cover essential expenses, potentially reducing their sole reliance on remittances. Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) indicates that over 2.19 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sent approximately USD 29.2 billion in cash remittances in 2023, underscoring the vital financial links between OFs and their families. The BSP recognizes the crucial role of lending companies and online lending platforms in promoting financial inclusion for unbanked and underserved populations, as highlighted in its regulations on interest rates and fees for such platforms.