USJ-R partners with SB Finance for workplace lending program

CEBU, Philippines — SB Finance has partnered with the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) to provide eligible university employees with access to salary-linked loans, expanding its workplace financing business as demand grows for formal credit among Filipino workers.

Under the agreement, qualified USJ-R employees may borrow between P10,000 and P2 million through SB Finance’s eSALAD program, subject to credit evaluation. The facility offers repayment terms of six to 36 months, with loan proceeds released through PESONet and repayments deducted directly from employees’ salaries.

The partnership reflects the growing demand for employer-backed loans as financial institutions expand access to formal credit, helping employees pay for household needs, education, medical expenses and other personal costs.

“Financial wellness has become an important part of overall employee well-being,” SB Finance President and Chief Executive Officer Abbie Dans-Casanova said.

She said access to responsible financing enables employees to better manage planned and unexpected expenses while strengthening their long-term financial resilience.

Loans worth up to P100,000 will automatically include Group Credit Life Insurance at no additional cost, providing coverage that can settle outstanding loan balances in the event of the borrower’s death.

USJ-R President Rev. Fr. Eduardo S. Celiz Jr., OAR, said the initiative complements the university’s employee welfare programs by providing staff with access to responsible financing.

“This partnership strengthens our efforts to provide meaningful support to our employees beyond the workplace,” Celiz said, adding that the program is expected to help employees manage financial challenges while remaining focused on their work and service to students.

The facility is open to regular employees who are at least 21 years old, have worked for the university for at least one year, earn a minimum gross monthly income of P8,000, and meet SB Finance’s credit requirements. Borrowers must not be older than 65 by the end of the loan term.

The collaboration comes as financial institutions continue to expand workplace-based lending programs to support financial inclusion. While access to formal financial services has improved in the Philippines, many workers still rely on informal sources of credit to address short-term liquidity needs.

SB Finance said the eSALAD program is part of its broader strategy to expand employer-linked financing partnerships nationwide, providing workers with structured access to formal credit while promoting responsible borrowing and financial wellness.