Banking & Insurance

Discovery Capital Finance Corp. has secured a credit facility with Union Bank of the Philippines, part of the Aboitiz group, to speed up its expansion across the country.

East West Banking Corp. is set to grow its priority banking network and services, following a 40 percent rise in assets under management to P120 billion last year. CEO Jerry G. Ngo announced the bank will increase priority banking branches nationwide from 13 to 20 in the coming years.

The Social Security System (SSS) has accelerated the rollout of a scheduled pension increase, releasing an estimated P6 billion in additional benefits to 4.1 million pensioners three months ahead of schedule as the government moves to ease the burden of rising living costs.

Philippines First Insurance Group (PFI Group), a leading insurance and healthcare conglomerate, has paid out over ₱100 billion in claims, serving as a critical financial safety net for more than 4.5 million policyholders. Reaching this milestone coincides with the 120th anniversary of its core brand, PhilFirst, and highlights the group’s long-standing role in the national economy alongside its subsidiaries PhilLife, PhilCare, and PhilPlans.

State-run Land Bank of the Philippines is eliminating convenience fees on select online government payments until the end of 2026, a move aimed at lowering transaction costs for Filipinos while accelerating the shift toward digital public services.