Billease, a consumer finance and buy-now-pay-later platform in the Philippines, said on June 10 it had put 500 million pesos (US$8.13 million) into its banking arm, the Rural Bank of Sta. Maria – Ilocos Sur.

The company also committed another 500 million pesos (US$8.13 million) by year-end. The funds will support system upgrades, governance, and new banking products.

Billease previously acquired the rural bank. The industry reports described as a small lender that was not among the Philippines’ top 100 rural banks by assets as of December 2025.

Billease said the capital will fund core system upgrades. It will also strengthen the bank’s capital base and governance, and support services beyond lending, including savings and deposits.

The expansion comes as the BSP has proposed rural banks must meet a minimum capitalization of 1 billion pesos if more than 30% of their customer base is outside the physical operations of their head offices.

Banks that cross the threshold could become subject them to digital-bank rules.

Billease said its audited consolidated 2025 revenue rose more than 80% to 9.3 billion pesos (US$151 million).

Net profit reached 840 million pesos (US$13.7 million).

Its consumer loan portfolio grew more than 75% to about 11.9 billion pesos (US$193 million).

🔗 Source: Billease

Recent Billease developments