This book aims to form part of the growing literature on the banking system in developing countries in its aim to show the levels of stability in the banking sector of small economies. Any banking system is vulnerable to economic distress but one supported by universal and commercial banks that are efficient, stable, and which enjoy sufficient market power is most likely to withstand economic turmoil. Such is the Philippines’ Universal and Commercial Banking system, which displayed remarkable resilience to unprecedented economic shock.

Using data from 2005 to 2019, the five chapters of this work delve into the industrial organization framework of the banking industry in the Philippines, offering researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, and academics the first comprehensive research on bank competition, concentration, efficiency and financial stability in the Philippines.