The majority of Philippine banks plan to keep their credit standards unchanged this year, signaling steady access to loans for both businesses and households. This is according to the latest Senior Bank Loan Officers’ Survey (SLOS) released Friday by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
In the first quarter of 2026, 87.7 percent of banks said they expect to maintain their current credit standards—slightly higher than the 86.0 percent recorded in the final quarter of 2025.
In simple terms:
banks aren’t tightening the taps—but they aren’t loosening them either.
Credit standards cover the basics that matter to borrowers—interest rates, loan sizes, collateral requirements, repayment terms, and conditions. For now, most banks see no reason to make major changes.
A smaller group of lenders sees things differently.
About 10.5 percent expect to tighten their standards, while just 1.8 percent anticipate easing them.
The BSP noted that if changes do happen, they are more likely to lean toward tighter rules rather than looser ones.
Still, demand appears steady.
For business loans, 70.2 percent of banks expect demand to remain stable—though that’s down from 80.7 percent in the previous quarter. Another 28.1 percent see demand rising, while only 1.8 percent expect a decline.
On the household side, the picture is similar—but slightly more cautious.
About 79.5 percent of banks plan to keep credit standards unchanged for household loans, compared to 82.5 percent last quarter. Meanwhile, 12.8 percent expect tighter rules, and 7.7 percent see room for easing.
When it comes to demand, 61.5 percent of banks expect household borrowing to stay steady. Nearly a third—30.8 percent—anticipate an increase. Only 7.7 percent project a drop.
The survey results reflect insights from 58 out of 60 banks, collected between November 27, 2025 and January 16, 2026—a strong 96.7 percent response rate.
For borrowers, the message is clear.
No sudden shifts.
No major surprises.
Just a steady financial landscape—one where banks are watching carefully, moving cautiously, and choosing consistency in uncertain times.
