Under the exclusive partnership, Visa will bring its global payments technology and Credit Lab expertise together with CIBI’s role as the Philippines’ pioneering credit bureau.
Targeting gaps in credit access
Visa Credit Lab is an end-to-end solution that combines fraud detection management with alternative data enrichment, leveraging telco, utilities, device, and other behavioral consumer data to support more informed credit decisioning.
The collaboration seeks to address long-standing gaps in the Philippine credit landscape, where many Filipinos— including gig workers, BPO employees, and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)—remain underserved despite their active participation in the economy.
At the same time, the initiative responds to the growing need among banks, digital lenders, and card issuers to expand customer acquisition responsibly while managing risk more effectively.
Unlocking new advantages for financial institutions
Through the partnership, Visa and CIBI aim to jointly develop solutions that will enable business-to-business partners to expand credit access and strengthen portfolio performance.
These include tools that help issuers confidently approve credit for thin-file consumers, improve SME risk assessment through deeper borrower insights, and provide data-driven industry intelligence to identify new market segments and growth opportunities.
By combining advanced analytics with trusted credit data, the two organizations aim to strengthen the broader financial ecosystem while promoting responsible and scalable growth.
A partnership rooted in inclusion and trust
“Credit scoring has long been a key gap in our industry, with many Filipinos remaining ‘thin-file’ despite their active participation in the economy,” Jeffrey Navarro, country manager of Visa Philippines, in a press statement.
“Through this partnership, we look forward to complementing Visa’s Credit Lab with CIBI’s leadership as a credit bureau to innovate solutions that expand access to credit and set new industry benchmarks.”
Navarro added that the collaboration reflects Visa’s commitment to inclusive growth and the continued strengthening of the country’s digital economy.
For CIBI, the partnership reinforces its mission as a nation-building partner through trusted data.
Pia Arellano, president and CEO of CIBI Information Inc., said the collaboration aligns closely with the company’s purpose of building a more inclusive and transparent financial ecosystem.
“When individuals and small businesses gain responsible access to credit, they gain the power to grow, recover, and contribute more meaningfully to the economy,” Arellano said.
What to expect over the next year
Over the next 12 months, Visa and CIBI plan to explore new credit use cases, develop insights on emerging credit behaviors, and support financial literacy initiatives nationwide.
Both organizations said success will be measured by how many Filipinos are included securely, responsibly, and sustainably.
The Visa–CIBI partnership positions both firms at the forefront of advancing responsible credit access in the Philippines through innovation, analytics, and trusted data. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
