Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., the country’s sixth largest lender by assets and a flagship of the Yuchengco Group, grew full-year 2025 net income by 11 percent to P10.6 billion, riding a strong wave of consumer lending and fee expansion.
The earnings lift was powered by a 32 percent surge in net interest income and a 25 percent jump in service fees, reflecting a sharper focus on higher-yielding retail segments. A more diverse funding base helped trim funding costs, while consumer loans expanded by 29 percent, boosting asset yields and driving an 89 basis point improvement in net interest margin to 4.77 percent.
Gross customer loans rose 7 percent, with consumer loans now accounting for 49 percent of the total portfolio. Credit card receivables led the charge, climbing 32 percent on the back of an 18 percent increase in issued cards, fueled by the acquisition of more affluent customers. RCBC credited its sustained double-digit receivables growth to data analytics that deepened engagement and strengthened cardholder loyalty.
The bank also leaned into digital innovation. It was among the first locally to roll out Google Pay for its credit cardholders and introduced Tap-to-Phone, enabling merchants to accept card payments using mobile phones as point of sale terminals. These moves not only enhanced customer experience but also reinforced fee generation.
Profitability metrics ticked up alongside earnings. Return on equity improved by 62 basis points to 6.65 percent, while return on assets edged up to 0.81 percent.
RCBC’s results suggest that a calibrated pivot toward consumer finance, supported by digital tools and disciplined funding management, is beginning to pay off, even in a competitive banking landscape where margins are closely watched.
