GCash lending arm secures ₱1.75-B MSME loan facility from ADB

Fuse Finance Inc., the lending arm of fintech giant GCash, and multilateral lender Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday signed an agreement to boost financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines.

At an event in Taguig City, Mynt (GCash parent) president and CEO Martha Sazon, Fuse Financing president and CEO Tony Isidro, and ADB director general for sectors department in finance Christine Engstrom signed the “Driving Inclusive Finance for Filipino MSMEs” accord through the lender’s P1.75 billion or about $30 million lending facility.

“This fintech partnership is the first of its kind for ADB in the ASEAN region and marks a significant step in advancing financial inclusion in the Philippines,” said Isabel Chatterton, director general for private sector operations department of ADB. 

“By combining Fuse’s digital reach with ADB’s development financing, we are building an inclusive digital financial ecosystem that expands access to finance for women-led and rural enterprises across the country,” said Chatterton.

According to data from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), there are about 1.24 million registered business establishments as of 2024, over 99% of which are MSMEs.

“More than the scale of financing, what makes this partnership meaningful is its intent: to ensure that capital reaches entrepreneurs who are ready to grow but have long been underserved by traditional systems. By aligning public-sector priorities with private-sector innovation, this collaboration helps widen the path to formal, fair, and sustainable access to finance for MSMEs,” said DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque.

Under the partnership, ADB will also provide up to $125,000 in technical assistance to help Fuse Financing develop tailored financial products and deliver financial and digital literacy training for women, especially those with limited formal education. 

“We value our partnership with ADB as it strengthens our ability to expand access to credit for MSMEs and women entrepreneurs, who are underserved by the market. By combining our shared expertise and digital reach, we are advancing financial inclusion and helping more Filipinos grow their businesses,” said Sazon.

Isidro, for his part, said that through Fuse Lending’s partnership with ADB, “we are strengthening our mission to make credit accessible to every Filipino who needs it most.”

“This investment enables us to accelerate our support for women entrepreneurs and small businesses in underserved areas, sectors with immense potential to drive the country’s long-term growth,” he said. —LDF, GMA Integrated News