9 hours ago
1
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
Peso funds slated for end-2025
Signaling bolder growth, the wealth management arm of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has abandoned its old ₱3-trillion assets under management (AUM) goal to instead pursue a loftier ₱4-trillion target by 2030.
On the sidelines of the 2025 BPI Signature Yacht Race Series Season 3 Launch, BPI Wealth President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Theresa Marcial told reporters that the country’s largest trust corporation is reviewing its plan and has set aside the ₱3-trillion AUM target.
“We’re already in the middle of revisiting our next medium-term plan. We are closing our 2021–2026 plan, so we’re doing another five-year plan. So far, we’re looking at a ₱4-trillion target by 2030,” Marcial said.
As of September, the entire BPI Wealth’s AUM stood at ₱1.9 trillion, which Marcial expects to grow steadily by about 15 percent to 20 percent by 2026. If realized, it would expand to at least ₱2.19 trillion.
“We’re projecting around 15-percent growth. That’s always our steady target because we want to maintain consistent growth,” Marcial noted.
Peso bond fund
To make investing easier for Filipinos, BPI Wealth will also offer peso-denominated versions of its popular United States (US) dollar-denominated Sustainable Funds
Marcial said the Sustainable Funds suite consists of three global funds — the BPI Sustainable Equity Fund, Sustainable Bond Fund, and Sustainable Balance Fund — which were launched about two years ago and are denominated in US dollars.
“What we’ve learned is that it’s not easy for the typical Filipino investor since they have to buy US dollars. That’s why we’re launching the peso class of the BPI Sustainable Funds suite this time,” she said.
All three global funds will have peso counterparts for easier subscription among domestic investors.
While the short-term US dollar funds require a minimum investment of $100, the medium-term peso bond fund may be purchased for as little as ₱1,000.
Marcial said they expect the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to maintain a “more accommodative policy.” The BSP recently shifted to a more dovish stance due to lingering governance concerns over public infrastructure spending.
“We are seeing central banks cutting policy rates. With the rate cuts, that means it’s positive for investment in bonds,” Marcial explained.
BPI Wealth currently holds a 20 percent to 21 percent share of the trust industry, a level the CEO considers a “dominant position,” and aims to sustain and further expand this share over time.
According to the CEO, BPI’s wealth unit aims to add up to 1,000 clients each year, increasing its current base of over 6,000 to about 7,000 by end-2025.
BPI Private Wealth serves high-net-worth clients with $1 million to less than $5 million in assets, very high-net-worth clients with $5 million to $30 million, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals with at least $30 million.
