East West Banking Corp., the lender controlled by the Gotianun family, is projecting continued growth this year after reporting that net income jumped 21 percent in 2025 on the back of double-digit gains in interest income and improved operational efficiency.

According to a filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange, the lender posted a net income of ₱9.2 billion for 2025, up from ₱7.6 billion a year earlier. The bank’s return on equity, a key measure of profitability, reached 11.9 percent as it successfully leveraged a shift toward digital transformation and higher-margin consumer lending.

“We enter 2026 with strong momentum,” Chief Executive Officer Jerry G. Ngo said in the statement. He noted that ongoing investments in technology and risk management would reinforce the bank’s competitiveness.

The bank’s cost-to-income ratio improved to 49.7 percent from 55.2 percent in 2024, reflecting disciplined approach to spending even as it expanded its footprint.

Total revenues climbed 20 percent to ₱51.0 billion, fueled primarily by a 21 percent surge in net interest income, which reached ₱40.6 billion. The bank attributed this performance to a 13 percent increase in interest-earning assets. Non-interest revenue also showed resilience, with fee-based income rising 21 percent to ₱7.1 billion as the lender diversified its earnings streams.

Jackie S. Fernandez, East West Banking president, said the 2025 results demonstrate the bank’s ability to scale efficiently despite volatile market conditions.

She emphasized that revenue generation was robust across its business segments, supported by steady asset growth.

Operating expenses rose eight percent to ₱25.4 billion, a move the bank described as a deliberate investment in personnel and infrastructure. This resulted in a 33 percent increase in pre-provision operating profit, which hit ₱25.5 billion.

While the bank increased its provisions for credit losses to ₱14.2 billion to maintain a prudent risk posture, executives said the buffers were necessary to navigate macroeconomic uncertainties. The non-performing loan coverage ratio stood at 86 percent.

The bank’s balance sheet grew 10 percent to ₱577.1 billion by year-end. Deposits rose 13 percent to ₱437.8 billion, maintained by a high concentration of low-cost current and savings accounts, which represent 82 percent of its total deposit base. Its priority banking segment also saw significant traction, with assets under management surging 40 percent to exceed ₱100 billion.

EastWest remains well-capitalized, reporting a capital adequacy ratio of 13.5 percent and a common equity tier 1 ratio of 12.6 percent, both comfortably above the minimum requirements set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.