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BPI is a big Philippine bank that takes deposits, lends money, and sells insurance and investment products to people and businesses.
BPI is one of the oldest and largest banks in the Philippines, and it does the everyday things banks do: it holds people's savings, lends money for homes and businesses, and moves payments around. Its customers range from ordinary Filipinos opening a first savings account to big corporations that need loans, cash management, and help raising money.
The bank makes most of its money the classic way: it pays depositors a little interest, lends that money out at a higher rate, and keeps the difference. That spread is the core engine. On top of it, BPI earns fees from credit cards, wealth management, insurance, and investment banking — helping companies issue shares or bonds, arrange deals, and manage their money. BPI has a few distinct pieces under one roof. There's the consumer side — deposits, mortgages, credit cards, and small-business loans — and the corporate and investment banking side, which serves large companies and institutions. It also has a big asset management and insurance arm through its subsidiary BPI Wealth and its partnership with AIA Group for life insurance products. Owning several businesses lets the bank sell more things to the same customer.
The bank's strength is its scale and its long history — it was founded in 1851 and is tied to the Ayala conglomerate, one of the country's most powerful business families. That gives it deep relationships and a steady deposit base. Its main rivals are BDO Unibank and Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company, the other giant Philippine banks, so competition on rates and service is fierce. The big risks are the ones all banks face: a weak economy means more borrowers who can't repay, and tight margins can squeeze profits.
Saved answer · last researched 15 Nov 2026