GLoan Sakto.
Borrowing money serves as a lifeline for a lot of Filipino families, where a small loan can mean paying for urgent expenses or putting food on the table or, for some, it’s also to unlock the subsequent phase of monetary capital for his or her micro-businesses.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Financial Inclusion Survey (FIS) in 2021 shows that almost all Filipino borrowers, around 57%, still depend on informal sources for credit. Nearly half turn to family or friends or from their employers, while the remainder turn to informal lending channels which are often predatory in nature, just like the five-six and other similar schemes where rates of interest can go as high as over 20% per loan cycle.
On paper, these arrangements may appear straightforward, but they often trap people in a cycle of debt that is tough to flee. High rates of interest and short payment cycles can quickly turn small loans into overwhelming burdens. Failure to pay on time can result in abusive collection practices, including public shaming, threats, and harassment.
Such a system has long been the default borrowing method for a lot of Filipinos, not because they like it, but because formal financial services are sometimes inaccessible. Bank loans, as an example, typically require collateral, credit history or formal employment records — requirements many within the unbanked and underserved sectors don’t meet.
For the past nine years, Fuse Financing Inc., the lending arm of GCash, has worked to make fair and digital credit available and accessible to Filipinos, making financing more inclusive even for those outside the formal economic system.
“These products are for each Filipino to support their financial needs, allowing them to borrow easily and with dignity. This encourages borrowers to maneuver to formal credit and promote positive change within the Philippine lending landscape,” said Anthony Isidro, president and chief executive officer of Fuse Financing.
Breaking barriers in digital lending
Founded in 2016 as a part of Mynt, the holding company of GCash, Fuse has pursued its mission of offering “Fair loans that spark higher each day for all Filipinos.”
As of the second quarter of 2025, it has reported P287 billion in total loan disbursements to 9.5 million borrowers nationwide. Mostly from socio-economic classes C, D and E, where 1 out of three are women, and live outside Metro Manila.
All credit transactions are integrated into the GCash application, with credit scores generated through its in-house AI-powered GScore system. By embedding credit products directly into the appliance, Fuse eliminates traditional hurdles corresponding to collateral, paperwork, and long approval periods.
The corporate offers several products, including GLoan, which provides money loans of as much as P150,000; GGives, an installment option for purchases of as much as 24 months without downpayments; GCredit, an quick credit line of as much as P50,000; Borrow Load, prepaid load borrowing across all networks; and Sakto Loans, a “nano-loan” product that enables customers to borrow as little as P100 which could be repaid in 14 days, barely enough to bridge their financial must the subsequent payday.
“As more Filipinos adopt digital tools for his or her financial needs, Fuse’s lending model is positioned to support the country’s continuous push toward financial inclusion, especially for the underserved and unbanked sector of the society,” Mr. Isidro added.
Human-centered approach to lending
Mr. Isidro’s approach is rooted in empathy and practicality, having worked in industries from consumer goods to insurance, he applies a consumer-first mindset to the Fuse lending model. He views Fuse as greater than a credit provider, positioning it as a partner in helping Filipinos manage and grow their funds.
Fuse has also targeted micro and small enterprises with 1 out of three borrowers are small business owners which frequently struggle to access reasonably priced credit. Through partnerships with firms corresponding to Puregold and Suy Sing, eligible store owners can take zero-interest loans starting at P3,000 to restock inventory. Flexible terms of seven or 14 days align repayment with sales cycles to assist owners manage money flow.
Taking its first step to green financing, Fuse partnered with Helios to finance residential solar solutions through GGives, offering zero down payment, interest, and processing fees. This system goals to make clean energy accessible to households often excluded by the banking sector and eliminate the burden of high upfront fees and collaterals.
Under Mr. Isidro’s leadership, Fuse has challenged the long-standing belief that lending to the unbanked is simply too dangerous. By integrating credit services right into a platform already utilized by thousands and thousands, the corporate has removed the intimidation and inaccessibility aspects related to banks and loan offices.
Furthermore, the corporate’s repayment rates remain strong, suggesting that financial inclusion and business sustainability can work together.
Expanding access to credit for essentially the most essential and essentially the most vulnerable
Fuse Financing has also recently launched programs expanding access to essential services with high upfront fees, like education and healthcare, through GGives.
Among the many services is “Study Now, Pay Later,” which allows students to spread tuition payments across manageable installments in partnership with several institutions under iPeople Inc. An analogous initiative, “Test Now, Pay Later,” has also been launched along with Healthway Medical Network, enabling patients to access zero-interest installment plans to pay for medical tests.
Mr. Isidro said the strategy addresses specific financial realities that different population segments face. “By launching responsible, digitally enabled lending solutions, Fuse has responded to the needs of borrowers and revolutionized how lending and credit work within the Philippines,” he said.
As Fuse moves forward, the corporate goals to offer practical financial tools that support business growth and help families manage unexpected expenses. It also intends to leverage innovation, removing traditional credit barriers while remaining grounded within the on a regular basis realities of Filipinos, whether it’s basic to business growth needs.
“The positive and transformative impact continues to ripple outward from households to small business owners to the underserved and unbanked segments getting access to formal credit for the primary time,” Mr. Isidro concluded.
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