Banking & Insurance

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and GCash are urging financial institutions to shift their focus from simply opening accounts to helping Filipinos build savings, manage emergencies and gain access to insurance and investments.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has allocated ₱2.75 billion in emergency lending to assist over 109,000 active members and old-age and disability pensioners living in areas hit by crop pest infestations, rising dengue infections, and the El Niño dry spell.

The Philippine National Bank (PNB), through its Trust Banking Group, has expanded its Personal Equity and Retirement Account, or PERA, product range with two new offerings: the PNB PERA Money Market Fund and the PNB PERA High Dividend Fund.

Select Security Bank branches in Metro Manila will stay open November 16–18 to serve clients during the 49th ASEAN Summit. Malacañang declared these three days special non-working days in NCR under Proclamation No. 1447. All branches outside Metro Manila operate on regular schedule. Digital banking services remain available anytime via the Security Bank App. Clients are advised to check branch schedules before visiting.

Philippine stocks and bonds are becoming increasingly attractive to investors as monetary tightening approaches its peak, although persistent inflation, peso weakness, and elevated global yields could delay a sustained market recovery, according to Manulife Investments Philippines.