Financial literacy and openness to credit card use are rising among Filipinos living outside the Greater Capital Region, according to the 2025 Credit Perception Index (CPI) released by global information and insights firm TransUnion.

In its report issued Wednesday, TransUnion noted a nationwide rebalancing of credit sentiment among consumers outside the Greater Capital Region (GCR) — composed of Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon — reshaping how Filipinos engage with credit products.

The CPI score — a combined measure capturing knowledge, trust and favorability toward credit and other financial products — among those residing outside the capital rose from 71 in 2024 to 73 in 2025, matching the score of residents within the capital region.

The increase was driven by gains in product trust, which rose by 11 points, and product knowledge, which climbed by six points. TransUnion attributed this to sustained public- and private-sector efforts to expand credit awareness, education and access nationwide.

“Filipinos outside the capital region are making notable strides, driven by sizable gains in both knowledge and trust of credit products,” said Peter Faulhaber, President and CEO of TransUnion Philippines. “This progress shows that more consumers are ready and willing to participate in the credit economy, reflecting a meaningful shift in how Filipinos understand and engage with financial products.”

Borrowing preferences differ

Alongside improved credit perception, intent to use credit is now comparable between consumers within and outside the capital.

Close to two in five Filipinos — 38 percent in the capital and 39 percent in other regions — said they are willing to use credit for purchases in the next three months from the time of the study.

However, product preferences vary.

Among respondents in the capital region, 44 percent expressed interest in using credit cards, compared with 36 percent among those outside the capital. Similarly, 40 percent of capital-based respondents preferred borrowing from traditional banks, compared with 37 percent outside the capital.

In contrast, Filipinos outside the capital showed greater openness to non-conventional financial services, including mobile loan apps (33 percent versus 27 percent), money lending services (29 percent versus 21 percent), and microloan providers (22 percent versus 17 percent).

These preferences align with stronger reported product knowledge among consumers outside the capital, particularly for small-ticket credit products. Understanding of mobile loans was reported at 65 percent outside the capital versus 60 percent within it; microloans at 54 percent versus 44 percent; and payday loans at 54 percent versus 49 percent.

Demand for financial learning grows

The 2025 CPI also showed strong demand for financial education outside the capital. Seventy percent of respondents in these areas expressed willingness to access educational materials to improve their finances, while 65 percent said they are open to exploring new digital financial products and services.

Social media remains the leading source of information for financial and credit products in both regions. Sixty percent of respondents in each group prefer learning about financial products through social platforms, while 59 percent in the capital and 58 percent outside it expressed the same preference for credit-related information.

“What we see in the latest TransUnion CPI is clear: interest and readiness for credit are rising well beyond the capital region, creating both an opportunity and a responsibility for the industry to expand access and education,” Faulhaber said.

“TransUnion remains committed to driving this progress by partnering with financial institutions to broaden credit access, while delivering credit education initiatives that empower consumers across the country to manage credit responsibly,” he added.