First Digital Finance

What First Digital Finance does

First Digital Finance Corporation (FDFC) is a Manila-based fintech founded in 2015 that delivers consumer credit and digital financial services to underbanked Filipinos. It operates three brands: Billease, a buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) platform offering instant-approval installment plans primarily through Lazada for online shoppers without credit cards; Balikbayad, a specialized loan product for Overseas Filipino Workers and seafarers that combines traditional credit factors with online scoring; and Rural Bank of Sta. Maria-Ilocos Sur (RBSM), a rural bank acquired in November 2024 (over 90% stake) that is being re-platformed into a digital-first bank, with full banking services slated for Q3 2026.

The technology stack is built around AI-assisted credit underwriting and digital workflow automation to deliver instant credit decisions and growing credit limits for repeat borrowers. Distribution is anchored by the Billease-Lazada checkout integration and a Payrex API partnership that allows third-party merchants to embed Billease installment options at point of sale.

Revenue is generated primarily through interest and fees on installment credit (transaction-based), with planned diversification into deposit-funded banking via RBSM. The company reported 2025 revenue of PHP 9.3 billion (up 80% year-over-year) and PHP 840 million in net profit, reflecting a profitable scaling profile ahead of the banking launch. Customer segments include Filipino online shoppers, OFWs and seafarers, and rural banking customers in Ilocos Sur.

Name

First Digital Finance

Legal name

First Digital Finance Corporation

Website

https://firstdigitalfinance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

First Digital Finance Corporation is a Manila-based fintech operating Billease (BNPL for online shoppers), Balikbayad (loans for OFWs and seafarers), and Rural Bank of Sta. Maria-Ilocos Sur (acquired 2024), serving underbanked Filipino consumers with AI-assisted credit and digital banking services planned for 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Finance (BNPL and Digital Lending)

NAICS

Sales Financing (52222), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Merchant-Integrated BNPL (Checkout POS Financing) (FSAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

E-commerce & Digital Checkout Installment Financing (FSAKAFAC), Digital Retail Banking (Online & Mobile) (FSABAAAF), Digital Payments & Money Movement (ACH/SEPA/FPS, Bill Pay, P2P) (FSAGAAAF)

Keywords

• Buy now pay later
• Consumer credit
• Digital lending
• OFW loans
• Rural banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Ermita

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL): BillEase/Billease provides consumer financing for installment purchases, generating revenue through interest and fees on credit extended to consumers for online purchases.
2. OFW and Seaman Loans: Balikbayad provides loans for Overseas Filipino Workers and Seamen, combining traditional credit factors with online scoring to assess creditworthiness.
3. Rural Banking Services: Through Rural Bank of Sta. Maria-Ilocos Sur (RBSM), the company offers savings and deposits services, planning to launch banking services by Q3 2026.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

First Digital Finance Corporation operates the BillEase buy now, pay later platform that offers installment plans for online shopping (notably within the Lazada marketplace) and the Balikbayad loan product tailored to Overseas Filipino Workers and Seamen. Through its acquisition of Rural Bank of Sta. Maria-Ilocos Sur, Inc. (RBSM), the company is extending into licensed digital banking services including savings and deposits. All offerings are powered by AI and digital credit processes that deliver instant approvals and combine traditional credit factors with online scoring.

Product overview

First Digital Finance is a fintech company operating a multi-brand portfolio focused on consumer credit and digital financial services in the Philippines. The core offerings consist of Billease (BNPL platform for e-commerce installments), Balikbayad (specialized loans for OFWs and seafarers), and RBSM (acquired rural bank for digital-first banking). The company leverages AI and digital processes to provide accessible credit solutions, with Billease serving online shoppers at Lazada, Balikbayad targeting overseas Filipino workers, and RBSM expanding into traditional banking services with modern digital infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Billease Buy now, pay later platform that provides installment plans for online shopping on the Lazada marketplace, enabling customers without credit cards to make purchases with instant approval and dynamic credit limit expansion.
• Balikbayad Loan product tailored for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Seamen that combines traditional credit factors with an online scoring model to reduce paperwork, processing time, and cost.
• Rural Bank of Sta. Maria-Ilocos Sur (RBSM) Rural banking arm operating savings, deposits, and traditional banking services modernized through digital-first operations, with expansion of full digital banking services planned by Q3 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% revenue growth year-over-year to P9.3 billion
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• PayrexflagshipTechnology or Integration · 11 January 2026Payrex, a payment gateway startup, partnered with Billease to enable merchants to offer installment payments via a single API integration. The partnership aims to increase sales and average order value for merchants by providing flexible credit options to consumers.
• Rural Bank of Sta. Maria-Ilocos Sur, Inc. (RBSM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024BillEase, operated by First Digital Finance, acquired over 90% of RBSM in November 2024. Infused P500 million in capital with plans to add another P500 million later in 2026, bringing total capitalization to over P1 billion. The investment funds core system modernization, capital strengthening, and product innovation including savings and deposits services.
• LazadacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBillease is integrated into Lazada marketplace allowing shoppers to use installment plans without credit cards. This marketplace partnership provides distribution for the BNPL product.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Home Credit Philippines: Leading consumer finance provider in the Philippines offering installment loans for retail purchases and digital goods. Directly comparable to BillEase's installment lending model for non-credit-card holders.
• Atome: Singapore-headquartered BNPL operating in Southeast Asia including the Philippines. Directly competes with BillEase on online and offline merchant installment plans for unbanked and underbanked consumers.
• Akulaku: Indonesia-founded BNPL and digital lending platform with significant operations in the Philippines. Offers installment financing and virtual credit cards targeting similar unbanked Southeast Asian consumers.
• Cashalo: Philippine online lending platform (backed by Oriente/FinVolution) offering personal installment loans to underserved consumers. Comparable business model to Balikbayad's OFW and consumer lending products.
• Plentina: Philippine-headquartered BNPL startup serving online and offline merchants with installment plans. A more direct emerging competitor to BillEase within the local Philippine BNPL space.

Emerging players

• TendoPay: Philippine BNPL focused on online shopping installments. Targets a similar credit-underserved consumer segment as BillEase, though with a smaller merchant footprint.

Broad incumbents

• GCash (GCredit): Dominant Philippine super-app/e-wallet offering GCredit revolving credit line to tens of millions of users. Embedded credit at scale creates indirect but intense competition for BillEase and Balikbayad.
• Maya (Maya Bank): Philippine fintech super-app and digital bank offering credit, payments, and savings. Its integrated credit products and large user base make it a broad incumbent competitor to First Digital's consumer-finance and emerging banking business.
• BillEase competitor: Komo by UnionBank: Digital banking arm of UnionBank of the Philippines. Comparable to First Digital's planned RBSM-based digital banking service in targeting digitally native Filipino consumers with full-stack banking.

Regional players

• Tonik: Philippine digital-only neobank offering deposits, loans, and savings products. Regional Southeast Asian neobank comparable to the digital banking trajectory First Digital is pursuing via RBSM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/firstdigitalfinance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Digital Finance