Report reveals growing knowledge and trust beyond the capital
Credit attitudes among Filipinos are becoming more evenly distributed nationwide, as consumers outside the capital region show rising financial knowledge and trust — matching sentiment levels long dominated by Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
This shift was highlighted in the latest findings of the 2025 Credit Perception Index (CPI) released by TransUnion, which tracks how Filipinos perceive and engage with credit and financial products.
For the first time, the CPI score of Filipinos living outside the Greater Capital Region (GCR) reached 73 in 2025 — the same level recorded among those based in the capital. GCR refers to Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.
The increase from 71 in 2024 was driven by significant gains in product trust and product knowledge, pointing to growing awareness and confidence in credit beyond urban centers.
“Filipinos outside the capital region are making notable strides, driven by sizable gains in both knowledge and trust of credit products,” said Peter Faulhaber, president and CEO of TransUnion Philippines. “This progress shows that more consumers are ready and willing to participate in the credit economy.”
Regional differences in borrowing preferences
While the intent to use credit is now nearly identical across regions — 38% in the capital and 39% elsewhere — preferences for credit products differ.
Consumers in the capital remain more inclined toward conventional tools such as credit cards and traditional banks. About 44% of capital-based respondents expressed interest in using credit cards, compared with 36% outside the capital. Similarly, 40% favored borrowing from traditional banks versus 37% in other regions.
Outside the capital, however, Filipinos showed stronger interest in alternative and digital solutions. Mobile loan apps attracted 33% of respondents outside the GCR, compared with 27% within it. Interest in money lenders stood at 29% versus 21%, while microloan providers registered 22% versus 17%.
These preferences align with higher perceived understanding of small-ticket and short-term credit products among respondents outside the capital, including mobile loans, microloans, and payday loans — suggesting that familiarity is shaping borrowing behavior in underserved areas.
Appetite for financial education
The study also revealed strong demand for financial learning outside the capital. Seventy percent of respondents said they want access to educational materials to improve their financial management, while 65% expressed interest in exploring new digital financial products and services.
Social media remains the dominant channel for financial learning across the country. About 60% of respondents — both within and outside the capital — said they prefer to learn about financial products through social platforms, reflecting the growing role of digital channels in shaping consumer decisions.
BSP partnership to expand credit literacy
To address this demand, TransUnion has partnered with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to deliver credit education through the upcoming BSP E-Learning Academy (BELA). The credit education module will be accessible through the BSP Mobile App and aims to provide practical, easy-to-understand guidance on managing and using credit responsibly.
The collaboration makes TransUnion the first credit reference agency in the Philippines to participate in the BSP’s digital BELA program, supporting national efforts to improve financial literacy and inclusion.
“What we see in the latest TransUnion CPI is clear: interest and readiness for credit are rising well beyond the capital region, creating both an opportunity and a responsibility for the industry to expand access and education,” Faulhaber said.
“TransUnion remains committed to working with financial institutions to broaden credit access, while delivering initiatives that empower consumers to manage credit responsibly,” he added.
As credit awareness spreads across regions and borrowing preferences diversify, the findings suggest a more balanced credit landscape is emerging — one where growth is no longer confined to the capital but increasingly shaped by consumers in the rest of the country.
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1 The 2025 CPI score computation was refined to provide a more holistic and robust view of Filipino consumers
