CIBI Information Inc., the Philippines’ first and only local credit bureau, was honored at the 2025 Asian Banking and Finance Awards for expanding access to financial services among underserved Filipinos. The award recognized CIBI’s Advanced Tier platform, which addresses longstanding credit system barriers. CIBI has supported financial inclusion in the Philippines for over 40 years, with recent recognition indicating measurable progress, including a 24% increase in scorable Filipinos and a 25% expansion in tradeline coverage. Limited access to credit is a primary barrier to financial inclusion, with up to 76% of Filipinos classified as unbanked or underserved.
Launched in 2023 and enhanced through 2024, the AT platform was designed to enable credit assessment for individuals with limited to no formal credit history. This initiative breaks the traditional barriers private bureaus pose, enabling underserved populations, particularly in rural areas, to participate in the formal financial system.
Advanced Tier leverages high-quality credit information from government-mandated Credit Information Corporation (CIC) data. This provides equal access to rural and thrift banks and serves the grassroots segment, democratizing credit visibility and supporting more inclusive and informed lending practices nationwide.
By delivering comprehensive, reliable, and real-time data, the platform allows lenders, including minor players, to make informed credit decisions and responsibly serve a broader population.
“This award validates the work we have done at CIBI for 43 years now – it is truly an honor and privilege to be catalysts for financial inclusion, proactively shaping a Philippines where opportunities aall share opportunitiesinitely inspire us to continue our legacy of breaking barriers and building bridges for the underserved so not a single Filipino is left behind., said Pia Arellano, President and CEO of CIBI, during her acceptance speech. Her remarks underscored the company’s steadfast commitment to driving financial inclusion in the Philippines.
Looking ahead, CIBI plans to enhance the Advanced Tier (AT) platform by integrating features such as Triggers and Attribute Monitoring, which will offer lenders more predictive and proactive credit tools to manage risk. The company is also investing in advanced scoring models and expanding partnerships to increase its presence in rural areas, continuing its push to make financial services more accessible to all Filipinos.
