Manila: East West Banking Corporation (EastWest Bank) projects low- to mid-teen growth in assets and loans in 2026, citing strong performance last year.
According to Philippines News Agency, the bank has yet to release its full-year 2025 results, but as of end-October, net income rose 14 percent to PHP6.6 billion, revenues increased 16 percent to PHP37.3 billion, and consumer lending grew 17 percent. Assets climbed 11 percent to PHP552.9 billion, supported by a 12-percent rise in low-cost deposits to PHP415.8 billion.
EastWest chief executive officer Jerry Ngo stated that loan growth remains aligned with funding growth, driven by expanding low-cost deposits. He explained that the growth of the loan book mirrors the loan funding cycle, with low-cost deposits also increasing. Ngo emphasized the preference for this strategy over securing long-term fundings that require paying a tenor premium.
Ngo highlighted that an ideal loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) is around 70 to 80 percent, indicating that balanced growth on both sides reflects a robust trajectory. He noted that if growth on both sides approximates each other, it signifies strong and stable growth.
The bank has maintained the same growth strategy for the past three years and does not plan to change it in the near term. Ngo underscored the importance of sustaining growth over time.
