BPI Family Savings Bank, the country’s biggest savings bank, expects to grow its lending portfolio this year by 10 to 15 percent from last year’s P85 billion level as the bank widens its exposure to the micro and small enterprises sector.

Company president Alfonso L. Salcedo Jr. told reporters that this year’s growth would be propelled by its aggressive financing program for the micro and small enterprises sector under its “BPI Ka-Negosyo” program.

On Friday, the BPI Family and Go-Negosyo have announced a tie-up wherein BPI Family will provide a complete package of credit financing to micro and small enterprises that are being referred to by Go-Negosyo, which is chaired by Joey Concepcion.

Salcedo said that its SME lending portfolio accounts for a smaller portion of its P85 billion total lending portfolio.

Last year, the SME loan was estimated at P15 billion to P17 billion compared to the housing sector with P45 billion and auto loans of P20 billion.

“With our new advocacy, we expect the SME sector to grow the fastest,” Salcedo said.

For its lending program, Salcedo said they will grow their existing 5,000 borrowers who may need of additional capital.

Loanable amount would start from P500,000 to P1.5 million.

The company’s “Ka-Negosyo” program would have an annual interest rate of between 9 to 12 percent and a relatively short term repayment period of 3 to 5 years.

Salcedo said they do not have any preference as to the kind of business a borrower may venture into as long as it is ethical and legal.

Salcedo, however, said that despite the optimism in the SME sector, the company is experiencing a “wait and see” attitude from the SME sector during the first two months of the year which he attributed to the May elections.

“Last year, the SME sector was down but this year they are optimistic with plans to expand but very calibrated because of the upcoming elections,” he said.

“My hope is elections will go as planned. What is important is it is credible and we will see growth in the second of year the year that will surely offset the waiting and seeing attitude in the first half of the year,” he added.