November 12, 2025 | 7:42pm
MANILA, Philippines — Earnings of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) fell by nearly 18 percent to P86.9 billion from January to August versus last year’s P105.6 billion amid lower revenues.
Preliminary data showed the total revenue of the central bank, mostly comprised of interest income on foreign investments, government securities and treasury bonds, went down by 15.1 percent to P187 billion from P220.2 billion a year ago.
During the eight-month period, the BSP’s interest earnings increased by 2.4 percent to P163.1 billion from P159.3 billion.
On the other hand, income from miscellaneous activities such as trading gains or losses, fees, penalties and other operating income, among others dropped by 60.6 percent to P24 billion from last year’s P60.9 billion.
The total expenses of the central bank also went down by four percent to P137.5 billion from P143.2 billion as interest expenses reached P92.6 billion, 17.4 percent lower than P112.1 billion a year earlier.
Meanwhile, the BSP reported a 31-percent rise in gains from foreign exchange fluctuations during the eight-month period to P37.4 billion versus a year-ago level of P28.6 billion.
The central bank recognizes gains or losses when foreign exchange assets and liabilities are matured, sold or settled. It participates in the foreign exchange market to smooth sharp peso-dollar swings.
Separate data also showed that the BSP’s total assets dipped by one percent to P7.69 trillion as of August from P7.77 trillion a year earlier. Liabilities also fell by 1.9 percent to P7.38 trillion from P7.52 trillion.
The central bank’s net worth, however, rose by 26.4 percent to P311.3 billion from P246.2 billion previously.
Based on the BSP’s 2024 Annual Report, the central bank registered a net income of P117.6 billion last year, nearly five times higher than the P26.5 billion seen in 2023 due to increases in trading gains on price fluctuations and higher interest earnings from investments in forex securities.