The total assets of the Philippine banking system grew by over 11% in May in 2026, amounting to PHP30.4 trillion.
This is according to data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), showing the bank assets during the month were also higher than the PHP30.1 trillion recorded in April this year.
This continued expansion in bank assets reflects healthy growth in lending, sustained deposit inflows, and higher investment holdings amid resilient domestic demand and supportive liquidity conditions, according to Ruben Carlo Asuncion, chief economist at Union Bank of the Philippines, as cited in a report by the Philippine News Agency.
He added that the fact that banking system assets have surpassed the PHP30-trillion mark highlights the sector’s capacity to support economic activity through credit creation and financial intermediation, which remains essential for consumption, investment, and business expansion.
This development, according to Asuncion, has weight as a prolonged escalation could keep oil prices elevated, revive inflation pressures, and introduce greater uncertainty into global financial markets, and these factors could affect consumer and business sentiment and potentially slow the pace of borrowing and investment decisions.
