MANILA - Universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) in the Philippines sustained their growth and continued to support the country's financing requirements, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). "Key U/KB performance indicators showed a steady rise in assets, loans, and deposits, and sustained profitability with ample credit loss reserves, sufficient liquidity and capital buffers," BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said in a statement. U/KB assets grew by 8.2 percent year-on-year (YoY) to PHP19.4 trillion at end-April 2022, higher than the 4-percent growth posted a year ago. The growth was financed mainly by deposits, which rose by 8.7 percent during the same period. The total loan portfolio, which largely comprised U/KBs' assets, went up by 9.8 percent to PHP10.7 trillion at end-April 2022. These loans were extended to productive sectors like real estate, wholesale and retail trade, and manufacturing. U/KB credit to micro, small and medium enterprises stood at P