Southeast Asia’s largest buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider Atome has secured a $75 million (PHP 4.4 billion) asset-backed financing facility from Lending Ark, reinforcing its expansion into the Philippine market to promote broader access to responsible digital credit.
The financing was arranged through Lending Ark Asia Secured Private Debt Fund, advised by CITIC Securities CLSA Capital Partners (HK) Ltd., a leading player in asset-backed credit investments in Asia. This strategic deal marks a critical milestone for Atome’s parent company, Advance Intelligence Group, in expanding its financial services footprint in the country.
“Atome has cemented its position as a leading fintech player in Southeast Asia thanks to its unique strengths in credit risk management, responsible lending, and consumer empowerment,” said Carol Lee Park, managing director at Lending Ark. “We’re excited to support Atome in the Philippines, a high-growth market with increasing demand for accessible, affordable credit and mobile-first financial solutions.”
Lending Ark has invested over $1 billion across Asian markets, designing asset-backed financing solutions tailored to emerging consumer credit landscapes in the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, South Korea, and other economies.
Atome’s move to deepen its financial presence in the Philippines comes amid rising demand for BNPL options, particularly among the unbanked and underbanked segments. Despite notable growth in digital financial services, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) estimates that roughly 44% of Filipino adults remain unbanked, highlighting persistent gaps in financial inclusion.
“The Philippines is a key growth market for Atome,” said Andy Tan, chief commercial officer of Atome. “This financing reflects the continued confidence in Atome’s ability to deliver inclusive, risk-managed credit at scale. Lending Ark also supports our business in Indonesia and this latest expansion underscores the strength of our long-standing partnership. We’re grateful for their trust as we deepen our reach and empower more Filipinos with the tools to manage their finances responsibly.”
Atome Financial, the fintech arm of Advance Intelligence Group that includes Atome and Indonesia-based Kredit Pintar, posted strong results in fiscal year 2024. The platform recorded $280 million in revenue, up 45% year-over-year, while Gross Merchandise Value grew 35% to $2.5 billion. The company attributed its profitability to product portfolio optimization and efficiency gains powered by generative AI in customer service, collections and product sales.
The new capital will likely fuel Atome’s on-ground operations in the Philippines, including merchant partnerships, consumer outreach, and digital infrastructure expansion, as competition intensifies in the fintech lending space.
With the Philippines targeting 70% financial inclusion by 2026 under the BSP’s Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap, Atome’s strategic alignment with responsible lending standards and mobile-first innovation places it in a favorable position to scale nationwide.
