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Loan growth and disciplined costs drive steady gains amid global headwinds.

Philippine National Bank (PNB) saw a 5% increase in earnings for the first quarter of the year, bringing in ₱6.37 billion from January to March 2026, which signals steady growth.

These gains were attributed to higher loan volumes, interest, and fees as customers sought short-term financial solutions and services amid rising fuel prices and volatile economic conditions due to tensions in the Middle East.

PNB also credited its earnings to disciplined balance sheet management and prudent expense control. Its total loan portfolio grew by 15% from the previous year, while total deposits reached ₱1.01 trillion.

The loan growth suggests more lending activity, while the strong deposit base indicates continued customer trust and liquidity support. The bank maintained a high current and savings accounts ratio to total deposits at 80%, meaning most of its funding came from low-cost, stable deposit accounts rather than more expensive sources.

Efficiency and asset quality

Return on assets was recorded at 1.91% in the first quarter, while return on equity stood at 10.8%, which shows how efficiently the bank is using its total resources to generate profit, while return on equity shows how much return shareholders are getting from their investment. The non-performing loan ratio amounted to 4.78%, referring to the share of loans that are at risk of default or not being repaid on time.

PNB was among eight Philippine banks ranked by Forbes in its World’s Best Banks list for 2026. Over 54,000 people across 34 countries were surveyed on trustworthiness, customer service, digital services, terms and conditions, and quality of financial advice.

What a bank’s CASA ratio means for you

Seeing PNB boast an 80% CASA ratio? Here is why that matters to your wallet:

  1. Lower interest on your savings: “CASA” stands for Current Account and Savings Account. Because these pay very little interest to depositors, they are “cheap money” for the bank.
  2. Higher profits for the bank: When a bank gets its money cheaply (from your savings account) and lends it out at higher rates (for your car or business loan), their profit margin (spread) grows.
  3. Stability in crisis: Banks with high CASA ratios are generally more stable during economic shocks because they don’t rely on expensive “wholesale” funding from other banks. 

radar advice: If you are a PNB shareholder, a high CASA ratio is a green flag for dividends. If you are a borrower, it often means the bank has more room to offer competitive rates compared to smaller lenders with higher funding costs.  

 
 

Steady hands in a volatile market. Philippine National Bank reports a ₱6.37B profit for Q1 2026, fueled by rising loan volumes and a massive ₱1.01 trillion deposit base.

 
 

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