BDO Unibank, Inc., the biggest bank in the Philippines, announced on April 24, 2026 that it made a record profit of ₱87.2 billion in 2025. This is 6% more than what they earned in 2024, which was ₱82 billion, according to a disclosure filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange.
What Does This Mean in Simple Terms?
Think of a bank like a really big piggy bank. People put their money in it for safekeeping, and the bank also lends money to other people who need it (like when someone wants to buy a house). The bank makes money by charging a small fee for these services. BDO’s profit of ₱87.2 billion means that after paying all their expenses and employees, this is how much money they had left over – and it’s the most they’ve ever made in one year!
What is BDO Unibank?
BDO is the Philippines’ largest bank. You’ve probably seen their branches around – they have more than 1,900 branches and over 7,700 ATM machines all over the country. That’s more than any other bank in the Philippines! They also have 15 offices in other countries including Hong Kong, Singapore, and places in Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
The bank offers many services like savings accounts, loans, credit cards, insurance, and even helps people send money to their families (remittances).
Strong Start to 2026
BDO didn’t just do well in 2025 – they continued their good performance in early 2026. In the first three months of 2026 (January to March), they earned ₱20.1 billion. This is higher than the ₱19.7 billion they made during the same period in 2025.
Nestor V. Tan, who is BDO’s President and CEO (the person who leads the bank), shared these results during the bank’s Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on April 24, 2026.
Understanding Return on Common Equity (ROCE)
Mr. Tan mentioned something called “Return on Common Equity” or ROCE. This might sound complicated, but here’s what it means: Imagine you invested ₱100 in a lemonade stand. If the stand made ₱14.40 profit from your ₱100, that would be a 14.4% return. BDO’s ROCE of 14.4% for 2025 means the bank earned good returns for its shareholders (people who own parts of the bank). For the first quarter of 2026, the ROCE was 12.8%.
Why BDO is the Country’s Largest Bank
According to the bank’s statement, BDO holds the top position as the largest bank in the Philippines based on several measurements as of December 31, 2025:
- Total assets – everything the bank owns
- Loans – money they’ve lent to customers
- Deposits – money people have saved with them
- Trust funds under management – money they manage for customers
Looking Ahead with Caution
Even though BDO is doing well, they mentioned they are being “cautiously optimistic.” This means they’re happy about their performance but also careful because there are some challenges in the economy (called “macroeconomic headwinds” – think of it like trying to ride a bike against strong wind). Despite these challenges, the bank says it will continue focusing on growing steadily and making profits in a sustainable way.
The bank emphasized that it has a strong capital position (meaning they have enough money to handle problems) and a “diversified business franchise” (they make money from many different types of services, not just one).
Source Note: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.
