Philippines Sees Surge in Credit Card and Salary Loan Borrowing
PH credit card, salary loans hit record highs

Image: Inquirer
In the Philippines, borrowings are outpacing earnings, with unsecured loans, particularly credit cards and salary loans, growing at 27.7% from 2021 to 2025. This trend raises concerns about household resilience to economic shocks and potential banking system strains, despite ongoing monitoring by regulators.
- 01Retail loans expanded at an average annual rate of 15.7% from 2021 to 2025.
- 02Unsecured credit, driven by credit cards and salary loans, surged by 27.7% during the same period.
- 03Household earnings grew by only 5.8%, indicating a widening gap between income and debt.
- 04Outstanding consumer loans at large banks reached nearly ₱2 trillion, a 19.6% increase from the previous year.
- 05Consumer credit now accounts for 13.5% of total bank lending, up from 9.1% in December 2019.
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In the Philippines, the Financial Stability Coordination Council (FSCC) has reported a significant rise in consumer borrowing, particularly in unsecured loans such as credit cards and salary loans, which grew by 27.7% from 2021 to 2025. This contrasts sharply with household earnings, which only increased by 5.8% during the same period. The FSCC warns that this growing imbalance could weaken household resilience to economic shocks and potentially strain the banking system. Despite this, outstanding consumer loans at major banks have climbed to nearly ₱2 trillion, marking a 19.6% increase from the previous year. The council emphasizes that while most borrowers are currently meeting their obligations, the rapid growth of unsecured credit necessitates careful monitoring to mitigate risks of debt-servicing vulnerabilities. Policymakers are also concerned about external factors, such as inflation driven by geopolitical tensions, which could further complicate the financial landscape.
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The rapid growth in unsecured loans may lead to increased financial strain on households, affecting their ability to manage debt amid economic uncertainties.
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