Billease Injects Capital to Support Digital Bank Expansion
Digital lender Billease has injected ₱500 million in fresh capital into its banking subsidiary, the Rural Bank of Sta. Maria–Ilocos Sur (RBSM), as it accelerates plans to launch banking services and expand beyond consumer lending.
The company said it has committed an additional ₱500 million by the end of the year, bringing the total capital infusion to ₱1 billion and raising the bank's capitalization to more than ₱1 billion.
The investment marks the next phase of Billease's growth strategy, leveraging its profitable digital lending business to build a broader suite of regulated financial services. The move also aligns with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) efforts to modernize rural banking through its push for digi-centric banking institutions.
Since acquiring RBSM, Billease said it has undertaken a wide-ranging transformation program aimed at preparing the bank for digital operations. The company has established governance committees, strengthened risk management and compliance processes, and begun modernizing the bank's technology infrastructure.
The newly injected capital will be directed toward three key areas: upgrading core banking systems, strengthening capital and governance frameworks, and developing new digital banking products.
According to Billease, the investment will support the rollout of services beyond consumer credit, including savings accounts, deposits, and other financial products designed to improve access to formal banking services.
«We are deeply encouraged by this strong vote of confidence at a pivotal moment in our transformation,» said Dennis Valdes, president and chief executive officer of the bank. «We are in the midst of a comprehensive upgrade of our core systems as we prepare to launch our banking services. This capital provides the foundation to accelerate the rollout of new products that build on the Billease group's promise of fast, safe and reliable financial access for millions more Filipinos.»
Billease said the bank expansion is being funded from a position of financial strength. On an audited consolidated basis, the company reported revenue of ₱9.3 billion in fiscal year 2025, up more than 80 percent from the previous year. Net profit reached ₱840 million, marking its third consecutive year of profitability.
The company also reported that its consumer loan portfolio grew by more than 75 percent year-on-year to approximately ₱11.9 billion. Billease said it now adds more than 100,000 new customers each month and has disbursed a cumulative ₱130 billion in loans since its launch.
Customers Need More Than Credit
«We have built a strong, profitable digital lending business but our customers need more than credit,» said Georg Steiger, co-founder and chief executive officer of Billease. «The bank gives us the foundation to serve them better, with savings, deposits and a fuller set of everyday financial services. We are investing deliberately in governance, systems and processes because a strong foundation is what allows us to scale responsibly.»
Steiger said the company remains on track with its roadmap following the initial capital injection and the commitment to complete the remaining ₱500 million investment before year-end.
The move reflects a broader trend in the Philippine financial sector as fintech firms seek to combine digital distribution capabilities with regulated banking platforms, expanding access to financial services for underserved consumers while meeting increasingly stringent regulatory standards.
