Security Bank Corporation, one of the big banks in the Philippines that you can invest in through the stock market (trading under the symbol “SECB”), shared some good news about how their business performed in the first three months of 2026.

According to a disclosure filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange on May 14, 2026, the bank announced that their pre-provision operating profit grew by 24% compared to the same period last year, reaching PHP 7.5 billion. Think of pre-provision operating profit as the money a bank makes from its regular business before setting aside money for bad loans – it’s like your allowance before you save some for emergencies.

Breaking Down the Numbers

Let’s make sense of what Security Bank reported:

• Total revenues reached PHP 17 billion, which is 10% more than what they made in the first quarter of 2025. Revenue is all the money the bank earns from its business activities.
• Net income (profit) was PHP 2.7 billion, up 6% from the previous quarter (October to December 2025). This is the actual profit the bank gets to keep after paying all expenses.
• Net interest income grew to PHP 15.2 billion – this is money the bank makes from the difference between what they charge people who borrow money and what they pay people who save money with them.

Smart Money Management

One reason Security Bank did well was because they were careful with their spending. Their operating expenses (the costs of running the bank) only increased by 2% compared to last year, and actually went down 13% from the previous quarter. This careful spending improved their cost-to-income ratio to 56% from 61% a year ago – meaning they’re spending less to earn each peso.

Being Careful About Bad Loans

The bank set aside PHP 3.9 billion as provisions for potential bad loans. This is like saving money for things that might go wrong – it’s a smart and careful way to run a bank. The bank’s gross non-performing loan ratio (loans where people aren’t paying back) stood at 3.08%, which the bank described as “manageable.”

The Bank’s Piggy Bank is Growing

Security Bank’s customers are trusting them with more money:

• Total deposits increased 12% year-on-year to PHP 938 billion. Deposits are the money people and businesses keep in the bank.
• CASA deposits grew 13% year-on-year, making up 51% of total deposits. CASA stands for Current Account and Savings Account – these are cheaper for banks because they pay little or no interest.
• Net loans stood at PHP 679.4 billion, up 5% from last year, as the bank focused on lending to better-quality borrowers.

Financial Health Checkup

Security Bank reported that it’s financially healthy with:

• Total assets of PHP 1.2 trillion, up 10% from last year. Assets are everything the bank owns.
• Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) at 13.1% – this measures if a bank has enough money to cover risks, and regulators require banks to maintain certain levels.
• Liquidity Coverage Ratio at 198% and Net Stable Funding Ratio at 145% – these show the bank has plenty of cash available when needed.

Growing the Network

The bank is also expanding, now operating 390 branches after opening 9 new branches in the first quarter of 2026 and four more in April and May. They also have 666 ATMs and other cash machines across the country.

Rewarding Shareholders

On April 8, 2026, Security Bank announced it would pay shareholders PHP 1.50 per common share as a regular cash dividend, which was paid out on May 8, 2026. Dividends are like the bank sharing its profits with people who own its stock.

About Security Bank

Security Bank has been around since 1951 and is one of the Philippines’ leading universal banks. The bank has a partnership with MUFG Bank from Japan, which is Japan’s largest bank and owns 20% of Security Bank. The bank recently received recognition including Best Private Bank in the Philippines by Global Finance and has maintained an investment-grade credit rating of Baa2 from Moody’s Ratings with a stable outlook.

According to Victor Lee Meng Teck, President and CEO of Security Bank: “We had a solid start to the year, driven by stronger core earnings and disciplined cost management. We remain focused on sustaining operational discipline, growing responsibly, and making banking simpler, faster, and more responsive for our customers.”

Source: Security Bank Corporation disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange dated May 14, 2026

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.