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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Banking & Finance devider AUB backs Atome with ₱5-billion fund targeting underbanked Filipino women

AUB backs Atome with ₱5-billion fund targeting underbanked Filipino women

Published Jul 9, 2026 05:46 pm

At A Glance

  • Singapore-based fintech firm Atome Philippines has secured a ₱5-billion wholesale credit facility from homegrown Asia United Bank (AUB), providing fresh local currency funding to accelerate the expansion of its buy now, pay later (BNPL) business.
Singapore-based fintech firm Atome Philippines has secured a ₱5-billion wholesale credit facility from homegrown Asia United Bank (AUB), providing fresh local-currency funding to accelerate the expansion of its buy now, pay later (BNPL) business.
In a July 9 statement, Atome said the fresh capital is earmarked to support the next growth phase of the Atome PayLater Anywhere Card—a product that has already seen rapid adoption, with more than three million Filipinos currently holding the card.
This expansion is making significant inroads into the country's unbanked sector; approximately 80 percent of these users are first-time cardholders, and 65 percent are women. Unlike luxury-focused credit products, the majority of Atome’s customers utilize the facility for everyday essentials, including groceries, food, and utility bills.
Atome Philippines President and Country Manager Christian Quiros said the deal provides the company with the scale necessary to reach more customers, noting that the closing of AUB's ₱5-billion facility “validates Atome’s market position and delivers competitive, peso-denominated funding at meaningful scale.”
Quiros further stressed that the partnership “strengthens our ability to grow while diversifying our funding mix with competitive local capital,” supporting the company's broader mission of serving underbanked Filipinos.
The deal also signals a deepening relationship between traditional banking and the fintech sector. AUB executives framed the credit line as a strategic move to bolster local financial infrastructure while adhering to strict risk management.
“The credit facility reflects AUB’s commitment to supporting responsible fintech platforms that strengthen the Philippine financial ecosystem,” said Wilfredo Rodriguez Jr., AUB executive vice president and head of IT and operations.
Ernesto Uy, AUB executive vice president and head of account management, added that the tie-up “advances financial inclusion while maintaining rigorous credit standards.”
Beyond Metro Manila, demand for these digital financial tools now extends across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. (Derco Rosal)

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