Banking & Insurance

The Bureau of the Treasury fully awarded P50 billion worth of Treasury bills on Monday after robust investor demand drove borrowing costs lower across all tenors, signaling growing confidence that inflationary pressures may be easing despite lingering risks from energy prices.

Growth measured as the gross domestic product (GDP) is seen to have slowed sharply to 1.9 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, down from 2.8 percent in the previous quarter, according to the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).

FinTech Alliance PH has welcomed clarification from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) regarding Circular No. 1238, saying the update brings much-needed regulatory certainty to the digital financial services sector and aligns with shared goals of making digital payments affordable, secure, and sustainable. Following productive talks between BSP Monetary Board members and alliance representatives, the central bank confirmed the circular sets out cost-based fair pricing guidelines and does not impose a requirement to scrap all fees. The BSP made clear that financial institutions and payment service providers are not required to remove electronic fund transfer fees entirely, nor are off-network person-to-person transfer charges limited strictly to technical switch costs. It also noted that Frequently Asked Question No. 7 should not be treated as a rigid rule allowing only switch-cost pricing.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) earned P94.75 billion in the first half of 2026—up nearly 28 percent year-on-year—with total assets rising to P2.05 trillion. Operating costs stayed very low, so 94 centavos of every peso spent went directly to benefits and claims.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas projects inflation will fall between 5.6 percent and 6.6 percent. The range reflects competing forces shaping the economy.