EastWest Bank Reports 21% Net Income Growth in 2025, Delivering ₱9.2 Billion on Strong Core Revenues and Efficiency Gains

20/02/2026 PHStocks

East West Banking Corporation (EastWest) sustained its growth trajectory in 2025, posting a ₱9.2 billion net income, up 21% from the previous year. The bank’s strong results were powered by steady expansion in core revenues, double-digit growth in fee-based income, and disciplined cost management. Return on Equity (ROE) improved to 11.9%, reflecting the institution’s strengthened profitability.

Broad-Based Revenue Expansion

EastWest’s total revenues climbed 20% year-on-year to ₱51.0 billion, driven by growth across interest and non-interest income streams. Net interest income expanded to ₱40.6 billion, supported by a 13% increase in interest-earning assets. Meanwhile, fee-based income rose 21% to ₱7.1 billion, underscoring EastWest’s continued success in diversifying revenue sources and enhancing its non-interest earning capabilities.

“Our 2025 performance demonstrates the Bank’s ability to grow efficiently amidst a competitive environment and evolving market conditions,” said EastWest Bank President Jackie S. Fernandez. “We strengthened revenue generation across all businesses—supported by resilient asset expansion and improved fee momentum.”

Disciplined Cost Management and Operational Efficiency

Operating expenses increased by a modest 8% to ₱25.4 billion, reflecting continued investments in people and technology that have begun to yield productivity gains. As a result, Pre-Provision Operating Profit (PPOP) jumped 33% to ₱25.5 billion, while the cost-to-income ratio improved significantly to 49.7% from 55.2% in 2024.

Provisions for credit losses reached ₱14.2 billion, aligned with EastWest’s prudent risk management stance. Non-Performing Loan (NPL) coverage stood at 86%, consistent with industry standards and ensuring robust protection against potential credit headwinds.

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

Strengthened Funding Base and Solid Balance Sheet

EastWest’s total assets expanded 10% to ₱577.1 billion, anchored on sustained funding strength. Deposits rose 13% to ₱437.8 billion, with CASA deposits up 14%, maintaining a healthy 82% CASA ratio. The steady growth in low-cost funding reinforced the Bank’s loan expansion and balance sheet resilience.

The Bank’s Priority Banking segment also registered strong momentum, with Assets Under Management (AUM) surging 40% to over ₱100 billion.

Capitalization remained solid, with a Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 13.5% and a CET1 ratio of 12.6%, comfortably above regulatory thresholds.

Accelerating Digital and Service Transformation

EastWest continued to advance its digital transformation and service excellence agenda through its EasyWay ecosystem and modernization initiatives. The Bank’s mobile app maintained top-tier customer satisfaction with ratings of 4.9 on iOS and 4.8 on Google Play, while digital penetration reached 51%, marking a growing shift toward digital-first banking.

These achievements earned EastWest multiple recognitions in 2025, including:

Multiple honors at the Asian Banking & Finance (ABF) Awards
Recognition from Euromoney for discretionary portfolio management in the Philippines
Great Place to Work certification
The Outstanding BSP Stakeholders Award from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for contributions to the Cash Service Alliance
The Golden Arrow Award for Good Corporate Governance

Positioned for Sustainable Growth

Looking ahead, EastWest enters 2026 with optimism and strategic focus on sustained growth.

“We enter 2026 with strong momentum,” said Ngo. “Our continued investments in digital innovation, customer experience, and risk management will reinforce EastWest’s competitiveness and position us for long-term success.”

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