Filipinos outside the Philippines’ primary economic hub are rapidly catching up to urban residents in financial literacy and trust in credit, according to a TransUnion study.
The 2025 Credit Perception Index (CPI), which measures knowledge, trust, and favorability toward credit products, rose to 73 for non-capital residents, matching the Greater Capital Region (GCR) score and up from 71 in 2024.
Gains were strongest in product trust (+11 points) and product knowledge (+6 points), reflecting ongoing financial literacy and access initiatives.
Nearly four in 10 consumers nationwide plan to use credit in the next three months. Urban residents favor credit cards (44%) and bank loans (40%), while those outside the capital prefer mobile loan apps (33%), money lenders (29%) and microloans (22%).
Provincial consumers report higher familiarity with “small-ticket” credit options, including mobile loans (65% vs 60% in the capital), microloans (54% vs 44%) and payday loans (54% vs 49%), reflecting the convenience these products offer in areas with fewer bank branches.
The study also found strong demand for financial education, with 70% of non-capital respondents willing to access learning materials. Social media remains the preferred channel, with 60% of consumers nationwide using it to learn about finances.
To address this, TransUnion has partnered with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to launch the BSP E-Learning Academy credit module via mobile apps, expanding financial literacy and digital credit access nationwide.
Peter Faulhaber, TransUnion Philippines CEO, said the trend signals “a meaningful shift in how Filipinos understand and engage with financial products,” creating opportunities for lenders and fintechs to broaden reach.
