East West Banking Corp. (EastWest) posted net income of P1.8 billion for the first quarter of 2025, sustaining its growth momentum on the back of robust consumer lending and disciplined cost management.
Revenue rose 16 percent year-on-year to P11.6 billion, driven by a 13 percent increase in net interest income, which reached P9.3 billion. Non-interest income also climbed 25 percent to P2.3 billion, bolstered by a 31 percent surge in lending-related fees.
The bank’s consumer loan portfolio expanded by 15 percent and now comprises 84 percent of total loans—one of the highest among peers. Deposits grew 12 percent to P399.2 billion, with a high CASA ratio of 74 percent. These developments supported a sector-leading net interest margin (NIM) of 8.1 percent.
Operating expenses rose at a slower pace of 8 percent to P6.3 billion, mainly due to investments in manpower and business expansion. This led to a 365-basis point improvement in the cost-to-income ratio to 54.3 percent.
Total assets increased by 11 percent to P531.2 billion, with loans and receivables up by the same rate to P339.0 billion, fueled by strong gains in credit cards (+36 percent) and personal loans (+18 percent). Return on Equity (ROE) stood at 10 percent, while capital adequacy ratios remained solid with a CAR of 13.7 percent and CET1 ratio at 12.8 percent.
“We remain focused on driving profitability through disciplined growth and operational efficiency,” said EastWest president Jackie S. Fernandez.
In line with its shareholder return strategy, EastWest declared P0.68 per share in cash dividends—equivalent to P1.5 billion or 20 percent of 2024 earnings—marking its fourth straight year of dividend payouts.
To bolster its consumer franchise, the bank launched the EastWest Puregold Visa Credit Card, aimed at daily spenders and sari-sari store owners.
“The future is bright, and we are ready to go further,” said EastWest CEO Jerry G. Ngo, emphasizing the bank’s commitment to digital transformation and customer-centric growth.
