In Focus
Taiwan SME loans rise to $520.63m in February
Taiwan SME loans rise to $520.63m in February
The average NPL ratio is the same as in January.
Hong Kong’s gig workers face loan hurdles despite 95% holding prime credit status
About 82% of gig workers met payment obligations vs 80% of the city’s general population.
Commercial banking dominates M&A with 179 deals worth $190b
The segment captured 38% of the 2025 value.
Philippine loan relief helps banks avoid NPL spike despite profit hit
Credit losses remain elevated.
Philippines flags financial gaps as 48% lack emergency buffer
The majority claim financial awareness, yet many show a disconnect in capability.
How can HSBC and StanChart-backed stablecoins change HKD payments?
Different target users may determine whether bank-led tokens gain everyday traction.
APAC banks face additional $180b losses as oil shock hits credit
Currently, Middle East exposures are low and indirect exposures are manageable, said S&P.
Why Asian borrowing rises as lower rates lift demand
CareEdge says liquidity support is helping domestic activity and loan expansion across select markets
Chinese banks grow earnings 2.3% in 2025 as margin pressures ease
State-owned enterprises outperformed joint stock banks in revenue, net profit, and fee income growth.
Indonesia card payments to reach $61.3b in 2026
Inclusion and policy support fuel growth.
Where do Malaysians spend their e-money the most?
Spending at dining outlets posts the fastest climb, gaining 15 percentage points year on year.
High fuel costs and supply chain disruptions weigh on South Asia and SEA banks
The Philippines, India, and Thailand would see increased pressure from a prolonged conflict.
Why APAC cross-border payments lag revenue despite $400b flows
Region delivers 18% of global volume but only 14% of earnings in 2025.
Cambodia’s bank runs expose fragile depositor confidence
The exit of these weak small banks is unlikely to improve sector resilience, S&P said.
Stablecoin volumes may hit $719t by 2035 on wealth transfer and POS adoption
Up to $100t will be transferred to Gen Z and Millennials over the coming decades.
APAC fintech market locks 76.6% share in mobile apps
Merchants shift to smartphone terminals in hawker centres and wet markets to cut hardware costs.
Foreign owners scale digital credit via Philippine rural banks
Digital lending models are stretching the rural banking mandate.
Commentary
Asia is leading payments modernisation and banks can't afford to fall behind
Investing in an inefficient market
Platinum cards, paper-thin compliance?
Energy price volatility highlights structural gaps for managing FX risk in APAC
Asia’s electronic markets reach an inflection point of transformation
Tokenisation in the Philippines: The consumer is ready, but is the infrastructure?