Visayas Leads Fintech Adoption at 96%, TransUnion Index Reports

Visayas Leads Fintech Adoption at 96%, TransUnion Index Reports

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The Visayas region leads the country in financial technology adoption with 96 percent of consumers using digital financial services, yet residents there trail Mindanao in their willingness to borrow money, according to TransUnion’s 2026 Credit Perception Index.

TransUnion reported that e-wallet usage in the Visayas reached 85 percent, sitting four percentage points higher than the national average of 81 percent. Despite this heavy reliance on digital payment channels, only 42 percent of respondents in the region stated an intention to borrow or use credit for purchases in the coming months, dipping just below the national average of 43 percent.

Regional Divides in Digital Finance and Credit Appetite

The numbers reveal a distinct gap between transactional convenience and credit appetite across the country’s major island groups. While fintech adoption in the Visayas outpaced Mindanao at 95 percent and Luzon at 92 percent, actual demand for loans tells a different story. In Mindanao, 54 percent of respondents planned to use credit for upcoming purchases, contrasting sharply with the 40 percent recorded in Luzon.

Digital banks and online payment applications saw widespread use across all regions. In the Visayas, digital bank usage hit 54 percent, beating the 52 percent national average, while online payment app usage stood at 51 percent.

Behind these regional variances, consumer priorities remain largely uniform. Across the three island groups, financial goals centered on three main areas: saving more, improving financial literacy, and exploring new digital financial products. In the Visayas, 87 percent of respondents planned to increase their savings over a three-month window. Furthermore, 74 percent intended to seek out educational materials to better manage their finances, and 71 percent planned to test new digital products and fintech services.

Shifting Perceptions and Information Sources

The regional figures arrived alongside an overall rise in the country’s Credit Perception Index, which climbed to 75 out of 100 in 2026—its highest mark since the study launched in 2023. Mindanao posted the largest regional improvement, gaining three points to reach 77, while Luzon rose one point to 74. The Visayas score held steady at 75.

TransUnion noted that the findings show financial services and educational initiatives must be tailored to specific regional behaviors and consumer needs.

When seeking financial guidance, consumers across all three island groups relied heavily on social media. The platform served as the leading source of financial information for 69 percent of respondents in the Visayas, 64 percent in Mindanao, and 57 percent in Luzon, according to data gathered from the study of 1,000 consumers surveyed between May 6 and 26, 2026.

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