Global payments leader Visa and CIBI Information, Inc., the Philippines’ pioneering credit bureau, have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at widening responsible access to credit for underserved Filipinos, particularly consumers with limited or “thin-file” credit histories.
Formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, the alliance will explore and pilot data-driven credit solutions that combine Visa’s global payments technology and Credit Lab capabilities with CIBI’s deep local credit data expertise.
Visa Credit Lab is an end-to-end solution that integrates fraud detection and alternative data enrichment, drawing insights from sources such as telco usage, utilities, devices, and consumer behavior to support more informed credit decision-making.
Despite being active contributors to the economy, many Filipinos — including gig workers, BPO employees, and overseas Filipino workers — remain excluded from formal credit due to limited credit records. At the same time, banks, digital lenders, and card issuers face increasing pressure to grow responsibly while managing risk. The Visa–CIBI partnership seeks to address both challenges by equipping financial institutions with deeper intelligence and more inclusive credit assessment tools.
Under the collaboration, Visa and CIBI will co-develop solutions designed to help issuers confidently expand credit acquisition among thin-file consumers, enable lenders to conduct clearer and more accurate SME risk assessments, and provide data-driven industry insights that support portfolio growth and more refined credit strategies. Together, these efforts aim to strengthen the country’s financial ecosystem through analytics-led innovation and trusted data.
“Credit scoring has long been a key gap in our industry, with many Filipinos remaining thin-file despite their active participation in the economy,” said Jeffrey Navarro, Country Manager of Visa Philippines. “By complementing Visa’s Credit Lab with CIBI’s leadership as a credit bureau, we aim to innovate solutions that expand access to credit while setting new industry benchmarks. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to inclusive growth and a stronger digital economy.”
For CIBI, the partnership reinforces its role as a nation-building institution that leverages trusted data to empower individuals and small businesses through responsible credit and financial literacy. “At CIBI, we believe trusted data has the power to unlock opportunity,” said Pia Arellano, President and CEO of CIBI Information, Inc. “This partnership with Visa aligns strongly with our purpose of building a more inclusive, transparent, and trusted financial ecosystem. When people and small enterprises gain responsible access to credit, they gain the ability to grow, recover, and contribute more meaningfully to the economy.”
Arellano emphasized that access must go hand in hand with empowerment, noting that the partnership represents not just a commercial agreement but a shared responsibility to use data wisely and advance financial inclusion. Over the next 12 months, Visa and CIBI plan to explore new credit use cases, generate insights on emerging credit behaviors, and support financial literacy initiatives across the country.
“Our success will ultimately be measured by how many Filipinos we are able to include — securely, responsibly, and sustainably,” Arellano said, while Navarro expressed optimism about the collaboration’s long-term impact.
Positioned at the intersection of innovation, trust, and inclusion, the Visa–CIBI partnership marks a significant step toward expanding responsible credit access and strengthening the foundations of the Philippine financial system.