1. Universal banks- Primarily governed by the GBL.

They can exercise the powers of an investment house

and invest in non-allied enterprises and have the highest capitalization.

2. Commercial banks - Ordinary banks governed by the GBL which have a lower capitalization
requirement than universal banks and can neither exercise the powers of an investment house nor
invest in non-allied enterprises.

3. Thrift banks – These are: a. Savings and mortgage banks; b. Stock savings and loan associations; and c.
Private development banks, which are primarily governed by the Thrift Banks Act (RA 7906).

4. Rural banks – These are mandated to make needed credit available and readily accessible in the rural
areas on reasonable terms and which are primarily governed by the Rural Banks Act of 1992 (RA 7353).

5. Cooperative banks – Banks whose majority shares are owned and controlled by cooperatives primarily
to provide financial and credit services to cooperatives. It shall include cooperative rural banks. They are
governed primarily by the Cooperative Code (RA 6938).

6. Islamic banks – Banks whose business dealings and activities are subject to the basic principles and
rulings of Islamic Shari’ a, such as the Al Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines which was
created by RA 6848.

7. Other classification of banks as determined by the Monetary Board of the BSP

enterprise which engages in the underwriting of securities of other corporations shall be

considered an "Investment House"

'Financing companies' hereinafter called companies, are corporations, except banks, investments
houses, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, cooperatives, and other financial
institutions organized or operating under other special laws, which are primarily organized for the
purpose of extending credit facilities to consumers and to industrial, commercial, or agricultural
enterprises, by direct lending or by discounting or factoring commercial papers or accounts receivable,
or by buying and selling contracts, leases, chattel mortgages, or other evidences of indebtedness, or
by financial leasing of movable as well as immovable property;

"investment company" means any issuer which is or holds itself out as being engaged
primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting, or
trading in securities;