Philippines flags financial gaps as 48% lack emergency buffer

The majority claim financial awareness, yet many show a disconnect in capability.

Only less than half of Filipino adults would be able to meet their living expenses for at least one month without resorting to borrowing, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ 2025 Consumer Finance and Inclusion Survey.

Meanwhile, most households continue to rely on cash. The report finds that 50% of adults own an account, and 85% of households use cash for transactions.

E-money is identified as the main driver of account ownership, particularly amongst people in urban areas, women, and adults aged 20 to 49. 

Those with higher incomes and better education levels are also more likely to have accounts. 

The data shows that formal borrowing is more common than informal borrowing, whilst insurance, pension, and investment coverage are still largely supported by government programmes.

On financial literacy, 60% of Filipino adults consider themselves financially literate. 

However, 74% were able to correctly answer at least half of six basic financial literacy questions, suggesting gaps between confidence and actual knowledge. Awareness of digital security is relatively strong, with 78% avoiding sharing personal information online and 

64% checking whether financial institutions are regulated before using online services.

In terms of consumer protection, 73% of Filipino adults are aware of their rights under the Financial Consumer Protection Act.

Financial health indicators show mixed results. Around 48% of adults said they could cover their living expenses for at least one month without borrowing. 

At the same time, 56% of borrowers reported that they could easily repay their loans.