EastWest Banking Corporation announced that it will give back Php 1.8 billion to its shareholders as dividends, according to a disclosure filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 2026.

Think of dividends like this: when you own a share of stock in a company, you own a tiny piece of that company. When the company makes money and does well, sometimes it shares those earnings with the people who own it. That’s what a dividend is – it’s the company’s way of saying “thank you” to its owners by giving them some of the profits.

How Much Will Shareholders Get?

Each share of EastWest Bank stock will receive Php 0.82. So if you own 100 shares, you’d get Php 82. If you own 1,000 shares, you’d get Php 820, and so on. To receive this dividend, you must be listed as a shareholder on May 11, 2026, and the actual payment will be made on May 29, 2026.

Why Is EastWest Giving Dividends?

The bank had a very successful year in 2025. EastWest earned a net income of Php 9.2 billion – that’s the profit left over after paying all expenses. This represents a 21% increase compared to what they earned the year before, which means the bank grew significantly.

According to EastWest’s Chief Executive Officer Jerry G. Ngo, the bank performed well while staying “steady, prepared, and responsive” during uncertain times. The announcement was made during the bank’s Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on April 23, 2026.

What Made EastWest Successful in 2025?

Several things helped the bank grow:

• More loans to consumers: The bank focused on lending money to regular people (not just businesses), which typically earns higher interest
• Growing deposits: CASA deposits (that’s money people keep in checking and savings accounts) grew by 14%, reaching an 82% CASA ratio. This is important because these deposits are cheaper for the bank to maintain than borrowing money elsewhere
• Better efficiency: The bank’s cost-to-income ratio improved to 49.7%, meaning they spent less money to earn more revenue
• Priority Banking growth: Their service for wealthier clients grew 40%, managing over Php 100 billion in assets across 13 Priority Centers nationwide

Understanding the Bank’s Financial Health

Here are some key numbers that show how well EastWest performed:

• Net interest income: Rose 21% to Php 40.6 billion. This is money the bank earns from the difference between what it charges on loans and what it pays on deposits
• Total assets: Grew by 10%, showing the bank is getting bigger
• Return on equity: Reached 11.9%, meaning for every Php 100 of shareholder money invested, the bank earned Php 11.90 in profit – that’s a return to double-digit levels

Digital Banking Innovations

In 2025, EastWest made banking easier through technology. They launched EW Pay with Google Pay integration, becoming the first bank in the Philippines to offer NFC tap-to-pay without needing a separate e-wallet. This means customers can pay by simply tapping their phones at stores.

The bank also partnered with popular brands like Unioil, foodpanda, Puregold, and Autodeal to make their payment and credit services available in places people use every day.

About EastWest Banking Corporation

EastWest Banking Corporation is one of the major consumer banks in the Philippines, offering various banking services for both individual customers and businesses. The bank is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “EW” and is part of the Filinvest Group, a large Filipino business conglomerate with interests in banking, real estate, and other industries.

As of the latest disclosure, EastWest has 2,249,975,411 common shares outstanding.

This article is based on the company’s official press release and disclosures filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange’s Electronic Disclosure Generation Technology (PSE EDGE) system. For the complete and official version of the announcement, readers may visit the PSE EDGE website and search for the company’s filing directly.