Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CIBI Information, Inc., the Philippines’ pioneering credit bureau, to explore data-driven credit solutions aimed at expanding responsible access to credit—particularly for “thin-file” Filipinos with limited credit histories.
The partnership brings together Visa’s global payments technology and Credit Lab expertise with CIBI’s trusted credit data. Visa Credit Lab combines fraud detection and alternative data—such as telco, utilities, device, and behavioral insights—to help financial institutions make more informed credit decisions. Together, the two organizations aim to address long-standing credit gaps affecting gig workers, BPO employees, overseas Filipino workers, and small businesses, while helping lenders grow responsibly and manage risk more effectively.
Through the collaboration, Visa and CIBI will jointly develop solutions designed to help issuers expand credit acquisition for thin-file consumers, improve risk assessment for small and medium enterprises, and deliver data-driven industry insights that support portfolio growth and smarter lending strategies. These efforts reflect a shared vision of strengthening the financial ecosystem through trusted data and analytics-led innovation.
“Credit scoring remains a major gap in our industry, leaving many economically active Filipinos underserved,” said Jeffrey Navarro, Country Manager of Visa Philippines. “By combining Visa’s Credit Lab with CIBI’s leadership as a credit bureau, we aim to expand access to credit while setting new standards for responsible lending and inclusion.”
For CIBI, the partnership reinforces its role as a nation-building partner focused on empowerment through data. “Trusted data has the power to unlock opportunity,” said Pia Arellano, President and CEO of CIBI Information, Inc. “Responsible access to credit enables individuals and small businesses to grow, recover, and contribute more meaningfully to the economy.”
Over the next 12 months, Visa and CIBI will pilot new credit use cases, generate insights on emerging credit behaviors, and support financial literacy initiatives nationwide—measuring success by the number of Filipinos included securely, responsibly, and sustainably.
