Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) is tarGetting double-digit credit growth for your credit cards business as it continues to grow its consumer business.
“I think we're constantly innovating and we're constantly growing our business, attracting new customers, and also getting more loyalty from our customers. There will be growth. We want them to appreciate the product and service that we're going to offer our customers. I'm not going to put any specific numbers on it, but I'm confident that customers will be very happy,” RCBC Chairman and CEOFIser Reginaldo Anthony B. Cariaso told reporters at the launch of the RCBC AirMiles Visa Signature card late Tuesday.
It said the bank's credit card receipts grew 32% year-on-year in 2025, driven by the acquisition of affluent customers, resulting in an 18% increase in cards issued.
President and Chief Executive of RCBC Credit CardFAiser Arnielle Vincent b. Ong said at the same event that total credit cards stand at 1.5 million, which he expects to grow at a double-digit pace, which will contribute to the bank's aggressive consumer expansion.
“The card business has been one of the fastest growing portfolios of the bank. As we are pushing more into the consumer segment, if you look at RCBC, that is not going to change. We will continue to drive growth through our consumer business. And credit cards is one of those pillars.”
Mr Ong said credit card loans account for about half of the bank's total consumer portfolio. More than the bank's total credit card transaction value half are coming from the air forceFLuent section.
“We have been building a strong position on the affluent segment for the last three to four years since coming out of the pandemic. It's a very conscious decision that we have taken. A lot of our products, features and promotions are really trying to capture this Mass AFFluent and afFLuent section is needed.
The RCBC AirMiles Visa Signature card, launched on Tuesday, replaces its existing Travel Miles card offering, and also meets the following requirements.FLuent section.
The new card includes a 1.5% foreign currency conversion fee, unlimited airport lounge access worldwide, up to P20 million in travel insurance coverage, and 36 month installments through the RCBC Pulz app.
Mr Ong said the bank's previous Miles card holders will be transferred to the RCBC AirMiles Visa Signature card by June.
Meanwhile, RCBC does not expect the war in the Middle East to have any impact on their operations, but they will continue to monitor developments for potential risks, he said.
“Depending on how long this war lasts, it could create inflationary pressure on commodity prices locally, which means it would eat into the disposable income of customers. At RCBC, even during the pandemic, what we have always done is to help our customers who are struggling so that if they have any problems, we can help them…those things will continue. So, as a bank, we are just preparing for those things,” Mr. Ong said.
“Let's say we're on top of that. We're measuring that risk at the moment. It's a very live discussion. So, it's hard to say at this point. But the bank is taking a proactive approach to managing those risks.”
RCBC's net income is expected to grow 11% year-on-year to P10.6 billion in 2025.
Its shares closed at P23.90 on Wednesday, down 10 centavos or 0.42% from Tuesday's close. — Aaron Michael C. Cy