Tala Philippines eyes 4.5M customers in 2026

Financial technology firm Tala Financing Philippines Inc. is targeting to add around 1 million customers this year and grow its loan book by up to 40%, driven by strong demand in the country, while exploring further expansion in Asia.

Tala Philippines General Manager Moritz Gastl said the company remains on track to meet its long-term goal of reaching a 10-million customer base, first announced in November 2024.

“We have about 3.5 to 3.6 million customers. If we want to stay on track to hit 10 million, we certainly aim to reach around 4.5 to 5 million by the end of this year, and we are on track to do that,” he said in a chance interview.

“While that is certainly a goal of ours, the raw number is less important. What matters is that we serve customers sustainably and that our non-performing loans (NPLs) remain stable,” he added.

Gastl said the company is also aiming to grow its loan book by about 30% to 40% this year.

“At the end of the day, there is still a lot of demand. Banks are only scratching the surface, and many customers still do not have access to quick capital,” he said.

“Many do not have collateral to pledge, so we continue to see massive demand. Ultimately, demand will outstrip supply—it’s about how we match the two,” he added.

Based on the company’s website, Tala Philippines offers initial loan amounts ranging from P1,000 to P4,000, which can increase up to P25,000, subject to credit evaluation and underwriting.

Regular loans can be repaid within 15 to 61 days, while installment loans can be paid over up to four months.

Looking ahead, Gastl said the company is evaluating opportunities to expand further in Asia following its entry into Vietnam, its second Southeast Asian market after the Philippines.

“We are continuously monitoring other markets to see where opportunities lie. There is a lot of geopolitical movement at the moment, so we are keeping an eye on potential markets, but growth has to be sustainable,” he said.

“We want to ensure that our second market, Vietnam, grows sustainably first. After that, we will look at the next one,” he added.—MCG, GMA Integrated News