Credit card, production drive Philippine bank lending growth in April

Loans to non-residents declined at a faster rate.

Philippine bank lending grew 11.2% year-on-year (YoY) in April 2025, extending the 11.8% growth recorded in March, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Outstanding loans to residents grew 11.9% in April, slower than the 12.4% in March, the central bank said.

Consumer loans to residents grew 24% in April, from 23.9% in March, on higher credit card loans.

Outstanding loans to non-residents decreased by 10% during the month, expanding from the 5.6% decline in March.

Loans for production activities grew by 10.3% in April, from 10.8% in March.

BSP reported slower expansion in lending to ‘key’ industries, including real estate activities, wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, manufacturing, financial and insurance activities, information and communication, and transportation and storage.