Top Banks in the Philippines

The country's banks are supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), which is the country’s central bank.

Author: Adin Lykken
Adin Lykken
Adin Lykken
Consulting | Private Equity

Currently, Adin is an associate at Berkshire Partners, an $16B middle-market private equity fund. Prior to joining Berkshire Partners, Adin worked for just over three years at The Boston Consulting Group as an associate and consultant and previously interned for the Federal Reserve Board and the U.S. Senate.

Adin graduated from Yale University, Magna Cum Claude, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics.

Reviewed By: Christy Grimste
Christy Grimste
Christy Grimste
Real Estate | Investment Property Sales

Christy currently works as a senior associate for EdR Trust, a publicly traded multi-family REIT. Prior to joining EdR Trust, Christy works for CBRE in investment property sales. Before completing her MBA and breaking into finance, Christy founded and education startup in which she actively pursued for seven years and works as an internal auditor for the U.S. Department of State and CIA.

Christy has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administrations from the University of London.

Last Updated:December 5, 2022

The Philippines is a country with a large number of banks and a well-developed banking system. The country's banks are supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), which is the country’s central bank.

Philippines

The BSP is responsible for issuing currency, maintaining price stability, and supervising the banking system. There are several different types of banks in the country, including commercial, development, rural, and thrift banks.

Commercial banks are the most common type of bank in the Philippines.

Banking has a long history, with the first banks being established in the early 1800s. Since then, the Philippine banking system has continued to grow and evolve, providing a wide range of banking services to the country's citizens.

Today, banks offer various services, including deposit-taking, lending, money transfers, and foreign exchange. They also offer a wide range of specialized services, such as leasing and trade financing.

The Philippines is a Southeast Asian country located in the Western Pacific Ocean. The country has a coastline of over 7,000 islands, and its territory includes the island of Luzon, as well as the archipelagos of Visayas and Mindanao. 

Scenery

It is a republic with a presidential system of government, and its capital city is Manila.

In this article, we’ll discuss the financial sector in the Philippines, its geography, economy, service sector, some of the country’s top businesses, and the country's top banks and financial institutions.

Geography

The country is an archipelago made up of more than 7,000 islands. The four largest islands are Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, and Leyte. 

Islands

The archipelago is located in Southeast Asia and is bounded by the South China Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the south. The country has a land area of 300,000 square kilometers and a coastline of 36,289 kilometers.

The country has a tropical climate and is characterized by high temperatures and humidity. The average temperature is 27 degrees Celsius, with temperatures rising to 32 degrees Celsius in March and April. June to October is the country's rainy season.

It’s home to a diverse range of geographical features, from active volcanoes to tropical rainforests. The country also has a rich history and culture, with many different ethnic groups.

Archipelago

The country is divided into three major geographical regions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Luzon is the largest and most populous region, accounting for about 60% of the country's population. The Visayas is the second largest region, and Mindanao is the third largest.

The country’s tropical climate and geography make it prone to typhoons and earthquakes.

Economy

The country has a fast-growing economy, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that has been expanding by an average of 6.5% over the last decade. The country is also one of the world's leading exporters of electronics and semiconductors.

Exporter

It has a young and growing population, which is one of the main drivers of economic growth. The population's average age is just over 24 years old, and the labor force is expected to grow by 1.6% per year over the next decade.

It is also one of the most attractive countries in Southeast Asia for foreign investment. The government has been improving the business environment and attracting more investment. Economic growth is expected to continue to be strong in the years ahead.

It is the world's 34th largest economy by nominal GDP, according to the International Monetary Fund 2020, and about the 19th largest economy by GDP, according to the World Bank. 

North Luzon, which includes Metro Manila, was the country's fastest-growing economic region, with a 7.5% growth rate.

It is a newly industrialized country with a developing economy. The country is designated as a newly industrialized country, with a mix of manufacturing and service industries. The service industry is the largest contributor to the economy, followed by industry and agriculture. 

It is a member of the World Trade Organization and is categorized as an emerging market economy. The country is one of the ASEAN 6, a group of nations with the largest economies in Southeast Asia.

Service Sector

​​The service sector is the fastest growing and largest sector of the Philippines’ economy, accounting for 56.5% of the country’s GDP in 2017. 

Service sector

The sector is expected to continue its strong growth in the coming years, driven by the increasing demand for services from domestic and foreign consumers.

The service sector plays a vital role in the economy, and the country is continuing to work to improve the sector's competitiveness. 

By improving infrastructure and promoting the country as a tourist destination, it is working to attract more foreign investment and grow the service sector even further.

The service sector is composed of a wide range of industries, including but not limited to transportation, tourism, retail, banking, telecommunications, and healthcare. 

The Filipino workforce is highly skilled and competitive, making the country an attractive destination for foreign investment.

The service sector plays a vital role in the economy and is a key driver of economic growth. The sector employs millions of Filipinos and contributes significantly to the country’s export earnings.
 

Travel industry

The sector is an important source of employment and income and contributes to the country's economic growth. The service sector also provides essential services that improve the quality of life of Filipinos.

Businesses

In 2018, the top 10 largest businesses in the country by revenue were:

1. SM Investments Corporation

2. Ayala Corporation

3. BDO Unibank, Inc.

4. Metrobank

5. Bank of the Philippine Islands

6. JG Summit Holdings, Inc.

7. San Miguel Corporation

8. Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.

9. GT Capital Holdings, Inc.

10. Ayala Land, Inc.

These businesses bring in billions of dollars annually and employ thousands of people. They are a vital part of the economy and contribute greatly to its GDP.

The businesses listed represent a cross-section of industries in the Philippines, including banking, conglomerates, construction, and food and beverage. 

Together, they generated combined revenue of over PHP 3 trillion in 2018, which is equivalent to approximately USD 57 billion. The largest businesses in the Philippines have a significant impact on the economy and the standard of living of the people.

The businesses employ the people and produce goods and services essential to the country. They also generate revenue for the government through taxes. 

The businesses help improve the country's infrastructure and contribute to the foreign exchange reserves.

Philippines

financial institutions and Top Banks in the Philippines

There are many top banks that offer a variety of services to their customers. These banks provide a wide range of products and services, including savings accounts, checking accounts, loans, and credit cards. 

They also offer various other services such as investment banking, wealth management, and private banking.

Each bank has a different focus and offers different products and services to its customers. However, they are all committed to providing their clients with the best possible banking experience.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is the largest bank in the Philippines, with over 2,000 branches nationwide. The Punjab National Bank (PNB) is the second largest bank in the country, with over 1,000 branches. 

The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is a state-owned bank that provides financing for infrastructure projects.

Like banks across the world, the banks here offer a wide range of services and products to their clients. They are always looking for ways to improve and better serve their customers.

A list of the top banks in the Philippines includes:

• BDO Unibank

• Metrobank

• Banco de Oro

• Philippine National Bank

• Asia United Bank

• Security Bank

• Chinabank

• EastWest Bank

• Union Bank of the Philippines

• Robinsons Bank

These are just some of the many great banks available in the Philippines. If you are looking for a new bank or are just curious about what is available, check out these and other top banks in the Philippines.

Researched and authored by Jake Heimowitz | LinkedIn

Reviewed and edited by James Fazeli-Sinaki | LinkedIn

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