EastWest Banking Corp. saw volume in its U.S. dollar-denominated government securities business surge 390% year on year as a $10,000 minimum investment helped put the asset class within reach of more investors.
The bank offers U.S. dollar Treasury bills and bonds starting at $10,000, compared with market minimums that EastWest said typically range from $50,000 to $200,000.
The offering gives retail and affluent investors another avenue to diversify into dollar-denominated assets without the higher capital requirements commonly associated with such securities.
EastWest developed the initiative with Philippine Dealing Services Corp. and has enrolled 21 U.S. dollar Treasury bills in the central securities depository, making them available not only to its own clients but also to investors across the wider Philippine market.
The bank has also introduced Bond Pooling, allowing several investors to combine their funds to meet the minimum requirement for securities that may otherwise be beyond their individual investment capacity.
“We want more clients to participate in investment opportunities that may have seemed out of reach before, while giving them advice that is relevant to where they are in their financial journey,” EastWest SVP and head of Financial Markets and Wealth Management Rafael S. Algarra Jr. said.
The growth comes alongside an expansion in EastWest’s wealth management business. Assets under management at EastWest Priority rose 40% by the end of 2025.
EastWest Priority operates 13 dedicated banking centers nationwide and provides access to deposits, bonds, equities, unit investment trust funds, insurance, foreign exchange products, portfolio management services and selected alternative investments.
