Billease, a consumer finance and buy-now-pay-later platform, is investing up to ₱1 billion into its banking arm, Rural Bank of Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur (RBSM), as it prepares to offer more financial services beyond loans.
Billease has already added ₱500 million in fresh capital to the bank and plans to add another ₱500 million by year-end. The investment will increase the bank’s total capital to more than ₱1 billion. The funding will help improve the bank’s technology systems, strengthen operations, and prepare new digital banking services such as savings accounts, deposits, and other everyday financial products.
“We have built a strong, profitable digital lending business but our customers need more than credit,” said Georg Steiger, co-founder and CEO 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. With the initial ₱500 million complete and the balance committed by year-end, we are fully on track with our roadmap.”
Billease has been working on upgrading RBSM since acquiring the bank, including improving internal processes, strengthening compliance, and building the technology needed for digital banking.
Billease is using earnings from its digital lending business to support the expansion. The company reported more than 80% growth in FY2025 revenue, reaching ₱9.3 billion, and posted ₱840 million in net profit, its third straight year of profitability.
Its loan portfolio grew more than 75% year-on-year to about ₱11.9 billion, while more than 100,000 new customers join the platform every month. Billease has released ₱130 billion worth of loans to date.
“We are deeply encouraged by this strong vote of confidence at a pivotal moment in our transformation,” said Dennis Valdes, president and CEO 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.”