CIBI Information Inc. is widening access to credit information in the Philippines through its use of the Credit Information Corp’s Advanced Tier, giving lenders a clearer view of borrower behavior and supporting efforts to improve financial inclusion.
The credit bureau, identified as CIBI, now has visibility across 68.4 million individuals and 468.3 million accounts.
“It’s really about data, and having a more comprehensive, a more complete picture for every single Filipino,” said Pia Arellano, president and CEO of CIBI. “With Advanced Tier access, we are able to stitch more information pieces of the puzzle together for every single Filipino consumer.”
The Advanced Tier provides a deeper level of information collected under the Credit Information System Act of 2012, which requires financial institutions to submit client credit data to the CIC. These raw records are processed by Credit Transaction and Verification Inc., a CIBI-owned entity that converts them into products such as credit reports and credit scores.
“Through Advanced Tier access, we process millions of data points from banks, cooperatives, and fintechs into insights that help institutions understand their customers better,” said Jasmine Alansalon-Gonzales, chief product, partnership, and innovation officer of CIBI. “It’s a foundation that allows lenders to balance growth with responsible risk management.”
CIBI’s data shows a shift toward smaller, short-term borrowing as more Filipinos use digital channels for day-to-day financial needs. Personal loans and buy now, pay later arrangements continue to expand, showing how consumers often begin their credit history with accessible, low-ticket products.
“More Filipinos are borrowing in smaller amounts, typically between ₱5,000 and ₱10,000,” said Harley Chan, chief analytics officer of CIBI. “This gives us a clearer picture of how people borrow and repay, which helps lenders evaluate creditworthiness beyond traditional loan profiles.”
These small, recurring transactions, often recorded through digital lending apps, now form an important part of a consumer’s financial footprint. CIBI says this information supports more accurate and inclusive credit scoring that follows people as they move from initial loan products to larger financial commitments such as credit cards or mortgages.
CIBI is using Advanced Tier data to create information services that financial institutions can use in assessing borrowers. These services are intended to help lenders understand repayment patterns and manage risk. The bureau also maintains a no-hit, no-pay policy, which allows institutions to request credit checks at lower upfront cost, a setup that may encourage them to offer more products to a wider group of consumers.