CIBI Information Inc. (CIBI), the Philippines’ pioneering local credit bureau, has received top honors at the 2025 Asian Banking and Finance (ABF) Awards.
The prestigious recognition celebrates CIBI’s significant contributions to expanding access to financial services for the nation’s underserved populations, specifically acknowledging the transformative impact of its Advanced Tier (AT) platform.
For over four decades, CIBI has been a steadfast advocate for financial inclusion across the Philippines. This latest accolade underscores their tangible progress, marked by a 24% increase in “scorable” Filipinos due to enhanced data quality and a 25% expansion in tradeline coverage. These improvements are critical indicators of broadened access to essential credit services for more Filipinos.
CIBI: Shaping a more inclusive and equitable financial future
CIBI gets recognized for advancing financial inclusion at the ABF Fintech Awards 2025
One of the most persistent hurdles to financial inclusion has been the limited access to credit, a challenge particularly acute for individuals who are unbanked or underserved by traditional financial institutions.
A recent report by Euromonitor International highlighted the scale of this issue, revealing that a staggering 76% of Filipinos can be classified as unbanked or underserved 1 by financial institutions.
Addressing this critical gap, CIBI launched its AT platform in 2023, further enhancing it throughout 2024. The platform was meticulously designed to enable comprehensive credit assessment for individuals who possess limited to no formal credit history. This innovative initiative directly tackles the traditional barriers often imposed by private credit bureaus, thereby empowering underserved populations, especially those in rural areas, to integrate into the formal financial system.
The Advanced Tier leverages high-quality credit information meticulously sourced from data provided by the government-mandated Credit Information Corporation (CIC).
This strategic approach ensures equitable access for a diverse range of lenders, including rural and thrift banks, as well as fintech companies that specifically cater to grassroots communities. By democratizing credit visibility, the platform actively supports more inclusive and informed lending practices nationwide.
By delivering comprehensive, reliable, and real-time data, the AT platform empowers lenders, including smaller players, to make well-informed credit decisions and responsibly extend their services to a broader segment of the population. This capability is pivotal in fostering a more equitable financial landscape.
Looking ahead: Expanding reach and enhancing predictive power
Pia Arellano (left), President and CEO of CIBI, while delivering her speech
Pia Arellano, President and CEO of CIBI, expressed profound gratitude during her acceptance speech at the ABF Awards. “This award validates the work we have done at CIBI for 43 years now – it is truly an honor and privilege to be catalysts for financial inclusion, proactively shaping a Philippines where opportunities are shared by all. This will definitely inspire us to continue our legacy of breaking barriers and building bridges for the underserved so not a single Filipino is left behind.”
Her powerful remarks underscored the company’s unwavering commitment to driving comprehensive financial inclusion across the archipelago.
Looking ahead: Expanding reach and enhancing predictive power
CIBI is not resting on its laurels. The company has ambitious plans to further enhance the Advanced Tier (AT) platform.
Future integrations will include sophisticated features such as Triggers and Attribute Monitoring, which are set to offer lenders more predictive and proactive credit tools for robust risk management.
Furthermore, CIBI is making significant investments in developing advanced scoring models and actively expanding its network of partnerships.
This strategic expansion aims to bolster its presence in crucial rural areas, solidifying its ongoing mission to make vital financial services more accessible to every Filipino, ensuring no one is left behind in the nation’s economic progress.
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1 Lau, J. & Mawla, A. (2024). Three Key Strategies for BNPL in Emerging Markets in Southeast Asia.
https://www.euromonitor.com/article/three-key-strategies-for-bnpl-in-emerging-markets-in-southeast-asia?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
