Visa and CIBI Forge Strategic Alliance to Boost Financial Inclusion in the Philippines

 

Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, and CIBI Information, Inc. (CIBI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly explore and pilot innovative, data-driven credit solutions aimed at expanding responsible access to credit for underserved Filipinos, particularly “thin-file” consumers.

Through this exclusive partnership, Visa brings its global payments technology and Credit Lab expertise together with CIBI’s position as the country’s pioneering credit bureau. Credit Lab is Visa’s end-to-end solution combining fraud detection management with alternative data enrichment (using telco, utilities, device, and other behavioral consumer data) to aid clients in credit decisioning.

While many Filipinos—including gig workers, BPO employees, and OFWs—remain underserved due to limited credit histories, the partnership also addresses a growing need among banks, digital lenders, and issuers to expand acquisition responsibly and manage risk with deeper intelligence.

Unlocking new advantages for Philippine financial institutions, Visa and CIBI will jointly develop solutions that enable B2B partners to:

1. Expand Credit Acquisition for Issuers: Enhanced data and models help issuers confidently approve responsible credit for thin-file consumers.

2. Improve SME Risk Assessment: Lenders gain clearer visibility into SME borrowers, enabling more accurate and scalable lending decisions.

3. Access Data-Driven Industry Insights for Portfolio Growth: Deeper market intelligence helps institutions identify new segments, spot growth opportunities, and refine credit strategies.

These outcomes reinforce the shared vision of Visa and CIBI: to strengthen the financial ecosystem through analytics-driven innovation and trusted data, while empowering institutions to grow responsibly.

A Partnership Rooted in Inclusion, Innovation, and Trust

Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro shared that credit scoring remains a key industry gap, with many Filipinos remaining ‘thin-file’ despite active economic participation.

Navarro added:

“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. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to inclusive growth and strengthening the digital economy.”

For CIBI, the partnership reinforces its role as a nation-building partner through trusted data, with a continued focus on empowering individuals and small businesses through responsible credit and financial literacy.

CIBI Information, Inc. President and CEO Pia Arellano said:

“At CIBI, we believe that trusted data has the power to unlock opportunity. This partnership with Visa is deeply aligned with our purpose of building a more inclusive, transparent, and trusted financial ecosystem through data. When individuals and small businesses gain responsible access to credit, they gain the power to grow, to recover, and to contribute more meaningfully to the economy.”

Arellano also pointed out:

“Access to credit must also come with empowerment. Today, we do not simply sign an agreement—we affirm our shared responsibility to use data wisely, to enable inclusion, and to build a stronger financial future for the Philippines.”

What to Look Forward To

Over the next 12 months, Visa and CIBI will explore new credit use cases, develop industry insights on emerging credit behaviors, and support financial literacy initiatives nationwide.

Arellano emphasized:

“Our success will ultimately be measured by how many Filipinos we are able to include securely, responsibly, and sustainably.” 

Both organizations expressed strong optimism on the partnership’s impact.

Navarro noted:

“We look forward to the impact this collaboration will bring over the next 12 months—and beyond.”

The Visa–CIBI partnership reflects a shared commitment to inclusive growth, innovation, and trust in data, positioning both organizations at the forefront of advancing responsible credit access in the Philippines.

About CIBI Information Inc. (CIBI)

CIBI Information Inc. is the Philippines' pioneering credit reporting agency, established in 1982 under the Central Bank of the Philippines (now Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas). Accredited by the Credit Information Corporation (CIC), CIBI serves as a trusted intelligence partner to over 500 organizations across diverse industries.

With a team of over 200 dedicated professionals, CIBI offers a wide range of solutions that make credit and employment more accessible and inclusive for Filipinos. Acquired by Creador, a private equity firm, in 2020, CIBI has since collaborated with global leaders such as FICO, GDS, and Smart Consulting. It also works closely with CTOS, Malaysia’s leading credit reporting agency, to integrate international best practices into the Philippine market.

CIBI is committed to remaining at the forefront of the information services industry, driving financial inclusion and creating economic opportunities nationwide.

For more information, visit www.cibi.com.ph.

Note: This press release was provided by CIBI.