Filipinos are becoming more confident and knowledgeable about credit, with Mindanao recording the strongest improvement among the country’s three major island groups, according to the 2026 Credit Perception Index (CPI) released by global information and insights company TransUnion.
The Philippines recorded an overall CPI score of 75 out of 100, up two points from 2025 and the highest since the annual study began in 2023.
Mindanao led the regional gains with a score of 77, up three points, followed by Luzon, including Metro Manila, at 74, up one point. Visayas maintained its score of 75.
The findings mark the first time TransUnion has examined credit perceptions separately across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, offering a closer look at regional differences in financial behavior and access to credit.
Mindanao recorded improvements in six of the seven factors measured, including product knowledge, favorability toward credit, trust in financial products and reduced stigma surrounding borrowing.
“It’s encouraging to see credit perception improved across the country this year. Every island group held or improved its score, which tells us that consumer confidence and knowledge in credit is building broadly — not only in and around the capital,” said TransUnion Philippines President and CEO Peter Faulhaber.
Despite regional differences, Filipinos shared similar financial priorities amid continued pressure from elevated consumer prices.
Saving more remained the leading priority, cited by 86 percent of respondents in Luzon and Mindanao and 87% in Visayas. Improving financial knowledge followed, with 71 percent in Luzon, 74 percent in Visayas and 77 percent in Mindanao planning to access more educational resources.
Interest in exploring digital financial services was also strong, ranging from 69 percent in Luzon to 73 percent in Mindanao.
Borrowing intentions, however, varied considerably. In Mindanao, 54 percent of respondents planned to borrow or use credit for purchases in the coming months, compared with 42 percent in Visayas and 40 percent in Luzon. The national figure stood at 43 percent.
Financial technology adoption was similarly widespread, reaching 96 percent in Visayas, 95 percent in Mindanao and 92 percent in Luzon.
Electronic wallets remained particularly popular in Visayas, where usage reached 85 percent, compared with the national average of 81 percent. Mindanao, meanwhile, recorded higher digital banking adoption at 57 percent, exceeding the national rate of 52 percent.
Social media emerged as the preferred source of financial information across all three island groups, particularly in Visayas, where 69 percent of respondents relied on the platform. E-learning platforms were also widely preferred, while respondents in Mindanao showed stronger interest in learning directly from banks and financial institutions.
The regional findings suggest that while financial awareness and digital adoption are improving nationwide, differences in borrowing behavior and information preferences require more localized approaches to financial inclusion.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to advancing financial inclusion. Understanding local needs and behaviors through more granular insights can help stakeholders develop solutions, education initiatives and engagement strategies that resonate best with communities,” Faulhaber said.
TransUnion said it continues to work with financial institutions, government agencies and industry partners to expand access to financial services, including helping lenders assess consumers with limited credit histories through alternative data.
The company also supports fraud prevention initiatives through its Fraud Industry Council, established in 2024 to strengthen information-sharing and cooperation against financial fraud.
The 2026 Credit Perception Index surveyed 1,000 Filipino consumers from May 6 to 26, examining their knowledge, attitudes and behavior toward credit and other financial products.