First Circle offers a fully online business banking platform for Filipino SMEs, providing collateral‑free credit products such as same‑day Express Business Loans and longer‑term Business Credit Plus lines up to ₱20 million, with flexible repayment terms. The service includes fee‑free digital accounts, integrated payments, team‑member management tools, and Future Salary Access for employee salary advances, all delivered through a secure web and mobile dashboard.
Funding
$45.3M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Filipino small and medium enterprises often face slow, paperwork‑heavy loan processes, collateral requirements, and limited digital tools for managing cash flow and payroll, which hampers growth and operational efficiency.
Solution
First Circle provides a fully online business banking platform that delivers collateral‑free credit products—including same‑day Express Business Loans, longer‑term Business Credit Plus lines up to ₱20 million, and a non‑collateral Business Credit Line—allowing firms to access capital quickly and repay on flexible terms. The platform also offers fee‑free bank accounts, integrated payment capabilities, and tools for creating and managing team members. Through Future Salary Access, employers can extend interest‑free or low‑rate salary advances to employees, improving retention without exposing the business to loan risk. All services are delivered via a web‑based dashboard and mobile onboarding, with transparent fixed fees, early‑repayment rebates, and real‑time disbursement, enabling SMEs to maintain cash flow, fund expansion, and support their workforce efficiently.
Target Audience
Primary customers are Filipino small and medium enterprises that need fast, flexible financing and digital banking tools to manage cash flow, supplier payments, and employee payroll.
Features
- Collateral‑free credit products: Express Business Loan (same‑day disbursement, up to 1 month term) and Business Credit Plus (13–24 month term, up to ₱20 M)
- Fee‑free digital business account with free payments, invoicing, and team‑member management
- Fixed‑fee pricing model with early‑repayment rebates and no hidden interest charges
- 100 % online application requiring only 3–7 documents and no branch visits
- Future Salary Access offering interest‑free advances for health/education and low‑rate flexible salary loans, administered via payroll deductions
- Real‑time loan approval and disbursement within 24 hours, supported by automated underwriting
- Secure, cloud‑based platform with best‑in‑class technical and account security measures