EastWest Bank profit climbs 21% to P9.2 billion

February 20, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  East West Banking Corp. posted a 21-percent increase in net income in 2025, driven by stronger core revenues, higher fee income and improved operating efficiency, even as the bank maintained a cautious stance on credit provisioning.

In a disclosure, EastWest said net income reached P9.2 billion last year, supported by broad-based revenue growth and disciplined cost management. Return on equity stood at 11.9 percent.

Total revenues rose by 20 percent year-on-year to P51 billion, fueled mainly by higher net interest income, which climbed to P40.6 billion as interest-earning assets expanded by 13 percent. Fee-based income also grew by 21 percent to P7.1 billion, reflecting stronger non-interest revenue streams.

“Our 2025 performance demonstrates the bank’s ability to grow efficiently amidst a competitive environment and evolving market conditions,” EastWest Bank president Jackie Fernandez said.

“We strengthened revenue generation across businesses, supported by resilient asset growth and improved fee momentum,” Fernandez added.

Despite higher business volumes and continued investments in technology and manpower, operating expenses increased at a slower pace, rising by eight percent to P25.4 billion. This allowed pre-provision operating profit to jump by 33 percent to P25.5 billion, while the bank’s cost-to-income ratio improved to 49.7 percent from 55.2 percent a year earlier.

EastWest said provisions for credit losses reached P14.2 billion as it maintained a conservative risk posture. Non-performing loan coverage stood at 86 percent, which the bank said remained aligned with industry standards.

“Our prudent provisioning strategy ensures the Bank remains well-positioned against macroeconomic uncertainties,” EastWest CEO Jerry Ngo said. “Even with these added buffers, we delivered solid profitability and improved returns.”

Balance sheet growth also remained steady, with total assets rising by 10 percent to P577.1 billion. Deposits grew by 13 percent to P437.8 billion, largely driven by low-cost current and savings account deposits.

The bank said its wealth management segment continued to expand, with assets under management increasing by 40 percent to exceed P100 billion.

Capital levels remained above regulatory requirements, with a capital adequacy ratio of 13.5 percent and common equity tier 1 ratio of 12.6 percent.

EastWest also cited progress in its digital transformation initiatives, noting that digital penetration reached 51 percent as customers increasingly shifted to online channels.

The bank said it enters 2026 with strong momentum as it continues investing in digital capabilities, customer experience and risk management.

“We enter 2026 with strong momentum,” Ngo said. “Our continued investments in digital transformation, customer experience and risk management will reinforce EastWest’s competitiveness and position us for sustained growth this year.”