PNB eyes double-digit growth in 2025, 2026

PANGLAO—The Philippine National Bank (PNB) is looking to hit double-digit growth in its loan disbursements in 2025, following the 9% growth in its loan book for the first nine months.

According to PNB president Edwin Bautista, the bank is pushing for more loans given its high capital adequacy ratio (CAR)–a measure of the bank’s financial strength calculated by dividing capital by risk-weighted assets.

“For the full year, it’s gonna be stronger. One is our capital adequacy ratio is very high, so we have allotted room to grow. We’re pushing hard on the consumer and commercial banking side,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the Central Banking Symposium.

Asked if the double-digit growth will continue through 2026, Bautista said "dapat (should be)," as he said the lender needs to deploy its capital, with the CAR being among the highest of the Philippines' top 10 banks.

PNB reported a 9% growth in its loan book for the January to September period. Consolidated net income grew 23% to P18.5 billion, while total revenue expanded 8% as fee-based income contributed another 18%, and other income rose 4%.

“We’re one of the fastest growing in terms of income and our shares, I think, best performing shares among all the top 10 banks. The momentum, everything, is sustainable,” Bautista said.

PNB last week announced plans to offer at least P3-billion worth of dual-tranche fixed-rate sustainability bonds, the first under its P50-billion bond and commercial paper program. These will have three- and five-year tenors.

The public offering will start on Wednesday, November 26, and end next Tuesday, December 2, and is expected to be listed on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp.

“Any raising of funds is really more towards improving the maturity profile, kasi  ‘yung (because the) loans are long term and the deposits are long term, so you don’t want the gap to be too long or too high,” Bautista said Monday.

PNB ended September 2025 with P1.25 trillion in total assets and P1.02 trillion in total liabilities. –NB, GMA Integrated News