Asialink MSME lending continued to expand in the first half of 2026, pushing the financing group’s assets under management to a record ₱50.2 billion as demand for business credit grows among Filipino entrepreneurs.
Asialink Group of Companies’ assets under management increased 20% from ₱41.87 billion a year earlier as of end-June, according to figures released by the company. Micro, small, and medium enterprises accounted for about 60% of the portfolio, covering more than 165,000 active borrowers.
The growth points to a wider shift in Philippine business financing, with non-bank lenders becoming another key source of capital for entrepreneurs who might otherwise struggle to qualify for conventional bank loans.
MSMEs are driving Asialink’s expansion
Asialink operates through several financing businesses, including Asialink Finance Corp., Global Dominion Financing Inc., and South Asialink Finance Corp.
Its products include business financing, collateral-backed loans, and vehicle financing, allowing borrowers to access capital through channels that differ from traditional unsecured bank lending.
Despite the expansion of its portfolio, Asialink reported an unusually low non-performing loan ratio of 2% as of end-June.
The company has positioned MSMEs and underserved borrowers at the center of its growth strategy—a market that has also attracted increased attention from international development institutions.
IMAGE CREDIT: Asialink
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), for example, committed up to $130 million to Asialink Finance Corp. in 2025 to support lending to MSMEs. At least 60% of the proceeds were earmarked specifically for women-owned or women-led businesses.
The IFC noted that many of the businesses targeted by the financing remain underserved or lack the collateral traditionally required to obtain bank financing.
Institutional money is flowing into alternative lending
Asialink has also attracted financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which has backed programs aimed at expanding credit access for SMEs and women-owned businesses in the Philippines.
More recently, the group secured a ₱5-billion corporate notes facility involving UnionBank, LandBank, and EastWest to expand its lending capacity, followed by a ₱500-million sustainability-linked social facility from Cathay United Bank in May.
The growing involvement of banks and international financial institutions suggests that non-bank lenders are increasingly becoming a vital conduit through which large pools of capital reach smaller Philippine businesses.
More financing choices, but borrowing costs still matter
IMAGE CREDIT: Asialink
Greater access does not automatically mean every financing option is suitable for every business.
Collateral requirements, interest rates, fees, and repayment terms can vary significantly between lenders and products. MSME owners still need to compare the total borrowing cost against the expected return from using the additional capital.
What is changing is the number of places entrepreneurs can look for funding.
As Asialink’s portfolio passes ₱50 billion and institutional investors continue backing alternative lenders, Philippine MSME financing is becoming less concentrated within traditional banking channels.
For small businesses that have historically struggled to secure formal credit, that expanding pool of lenders offers more ways to finance vehicles, equipment, inventory, and business expansion.
