Foreign Currency Deposit Unit (FCDU) loans edged down 0.8 percent to US$15.44 billion in the first quarter of 2026, a drop of US$122.25 million from the end-2025 level of US$15.56 billion, according to latest data.
About 67.6npercent or US$10.44 billion of the total went to Philippine residents, led by merchandise and service exporters, transport and logistics firms, and power generation companies. The remaining share was lent to non-residents. Most loans—77.1 percent- were medium- to long-term, though this proportion fell slightly from 79.2 percent in the prior quarter. During the period, new loans reached US$8.25 billion while repayments totaled US$8.36 billion.
Regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), FCDU loans are extended in foreign currency by authorized local and foreign bank units. They play an important role in monetary policy and liquidity management: they meet demand for foreign exchange among businesses and individuals, help stabilize the country’s foreign currency flow, and give policymakers visibility into cross-border financing activity—key factors in maintaining overall financial system liquidity and balance of payments stability.
