GOTIANUN-LED East West Banking Corp. (EastWest) on Thursday reported a 21-percent increase in its 2025 net income to P9.2 billion from P7.6 billion in 2024 amid stronger core revenues, rising fee-based income and tighter cost control.
“Our 2025 performance demonstrates the bank’s ability to grow efficiently amid 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.
Total revenues grew 20 percent year on year to P51.0 billion, supported mainly by a steady expansion in net interest income, which reached P40.6 billion. This was backed by a 13-percent increase in interest-earning assets as loan and investment activities expanded during the year.
Noninterest income also contributed to growth, with fee income rising 21 percent from a year earlier to P7.1 billion.
Amid continued investments in people and technology, operating expenses increased by a relatively modest 8 percent to P25.4 billion. This allowed pre-provision operating profit to jump 33 percent to P25.5 billion.
As a result, the cost-to-income ratio improved to 49.7 percent in 2025 from 55.2 percent a year earlier, indicating better efficiency in managing costs relative to revenues.
Provisions for credit losses reached P14.2 billion, in line with the bank’s conservative risk management approach.
EastWest said this helped keep its nonperforming loan coverage ratio at 86 percent, “consistent with industry benchmarks.”
The bank’s balance sheet continued to expand alongside stronger funding. Total assets rose 10 percent to P577.1 billion, while total deposits grew 13 percent to P437.8 billion. Deposit growth was mainly driven by low-cost current account and savings account (CASA) deposits, which increased 14 percent and kept the CASA to total deposit ratio high at 82 percent.
EastWest said this strong funding base supports sustainable asset growth while keeping funding costs manageable. Its Priority Banking business also gained traction, with assets under management rising 40 percent to more than P100 billion.
Capital levels remained sound, with a capital adequacy ratio of 13.5 percent and a common equity tier 1 ratio of 12.6 percent, both above regulatory requirements set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
“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,” he added.
EastWest Bank shares on Thursday added P0.18, or 1.44 percent, to close at P12.72 each.
