Mindanao is emerging as the Philippines’ most credit-receptive region, with 54 percent of consumers planning to borrow or use credit for purchases in the coming months, even as more respondents identify as lower-income, according to TransUnion’s 2026 Credit Perception Index.
The share compares with 42 percent in the Visayas and 40 percent in Luzon, against a national average of 43 percent, highlighting potential opportunities for lenders seeking to expand beyond the country’s traditional economic centers.
Mindanao also posted the highest credit perception score at 77 out of 100, up three points from 2025. The Visayas scored 75, while Luzon registered 74.
The findings point to a potential growth market for financial institutions, but also underscore the need to balance lending expansion with affordability and responsible credit assessment. Some 33 percent of Mindanao respondents identified as lower-income, compared with 28 percent nationwide, raising questions about how lenders can meet demand without exposing financially constrained households to unsustainable debt.
Digital banking adoption could help widen access. Mindanao recorded a 57 percent adoption rate, above the national average of 52 percent, suggesting an established digital channel through which banks and other financial service providers could reach consumers.
TransUnion Philippines President and CEO Peter Faulhaber said improving credit perceptions outside Metro Manila indicate broader progress toward financial inclusion, while stressing that regional financial behaviors require tailored approaches.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to advancing financial inclusion,” Faulhaber said.
Nationally, 86% of respondents planned to increase their savings, suggesting that greater willingness to use credit is coexisting with continued caution over household finances. The nationwide credit perception index reached 75, its highest level since the survey began in 2023.
The results offer lenders a snapshot of consumer intentions rather than confirmed borrowing activity. Whether Mindanao’s stronger appetite translates into sustained credit growth will depend on household repayment capacity, product affordability and lenders’ ability to serve underserved consumers responsibly.
TransUnion surveyed 1,000 consumers nationwide from May 6 to 26, 2026.
