EastWest posts 21 percent profit growth in 2025

East West Banking Corporation (EastWest) delivered a strong 2025 performance, reporting a 21 percent increase in net income to P9.2 billion, according to a Thursday morning disclosure.

The bank attributed last year’s performance to broad-based revenue growth, expanding fee income, and disciplined cost management.

Return on equity improved to 11.9 percent, while total revenues climbed 20 percent year-on-year to P51.0 billion, supported by a 13 percent expansion in interest-earning assets, which drove net interest income up to P40.6 billion. Fee-based income also strengthened, rising 21 percent to P7.1 billion, reflecting the bank’s growing ability to generate diversified revenue streams.

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

Operating expenses increased at a measured pace of 8 percent to P25.4 billion, largely due to business volume growth and continued investments in people and technology. These investments translated into improved operating leverage, with pre-provision operating profit surging 33 percent to P25.5 billion. The bank’s cost-to-income ratio improved to 49.7 percent, from 55.2 percent in 2024.

Provisions for credit losses reached P14.2 billion as part of EastWest’s risk management approach, bringing non-performing loan coverage to 86 percent.

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

Total assets grew 10 percent to P577.1 billion, supported by a 13 percent increase in deposits to P437.8 billion. Current and savings account (CASA) deposits rose 14 percent, keeping the CASA ratio at 82 percent and reinforcing the bank’s stable, low-cost funding base. Priority Banking assets under management expanded 40 percent to exceed P100 billion.

Capital levels remained robust, with a capital adequacy ratio of 13.5 percent and CET1 ratio of 12.6 percent, both comfortably above regulatory requirements.

EastWest advanced its digital initiatives, with its EasyWay app maintaining a digital penetration rate of 51 percent, reflecting continued migration of customer activity to scalable digital channels.

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