Grab Q1 2026 results showed accelerating momentum across its lending business, as the company’s financial services arm disbursed more than $1 billion in loans in a single quarter for the first time.
Alex Hungate, Grab’s President and COO, shared on LinkedIn that this has been a strong quarter financially in an otherwise “usually seasonally quieter period.” Grab now has 52 million monthly transacting users, up both YoY and QoQ.
He explained more about Grab’s financial services performance, saying,
“The power of AI is reshaping Financial Services. AI underwriting is unlocking formal credit to more driver- and merchant-partners, responsibly. We were able to lend over $1 billion in a single quarter for the first time, even while improving credit quality YoY.”
According to the Grab unaudited Q1 2026 results announcement, its financial services segment posted revenue growth of 43% YoY to US$107 million in Q1 2026, driven by increased contributions from lending across GrabFin and Grab’s Digibanks.
Segment adjusted EBITDA also improved by US$13 million YoY to negative US$17 million in Q1 2026, narrowing from negative US$30 million in the prior year period, on the back of stronger lending revenue contributions.
Total loans disbursed, meanwhile, grew by 67% YoY, hitting an all-time high of US$1.1 billion for the quarter.
Grab’s gross loan portfolio grew 130% YoY to US$1.438 billion in Q1 2026, up from US$625 million a year earlier, reflecting robust credit demand across GrabFin and its Digibanks.
Combined customer deposits across GXS Bank (Singapore) and GX Bank (Malaysia) remained broadly stable QoQ at US$1.630 billion as of the end of Q1 2026.
AI-Driven Gains for Drivers, Merchants, and Users
Grab recently showcased 13 AI-powered experiences at GrabX 2026, pushed by plans to “empower millions across SEA to live smarter, travel with less friction, and grow their businesses.”
These products, ranging from a Driver AI Assistant that offers real-time guidance to help drivers improve efficiency and grow daily earnings to a Virtual Store Manager for merchants and GrabMaps for Consumers, are powered by the Grab Intelligence Layer, the company’s AI infrastructure built on insights from 20 billion rides and orders.
Anthony Tan, Group Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Grab, shared,
“As we look ahead to the rest of the year, we remain committed to delivering durable, profitable growth while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our communities — leaning deeply into AI to outserve our users with hyper-personalised experiences, while simultaneously unlocking more sustainable earnings opportunities for our ecosystem partners.”
The Grab Q1 2026 results came just days after Grab received the first Cross-Border Ride-Hail Service Operator Licence on 30 April 2026 under the enhanced Cross-Border Taxi Scheme jointly announced by Singapore and Malaysia.
This would allow the company to pilot a door-to-door taxi booking service between Singapore and select areas in Johor from 4 May 2026.
Featured image edited by Fintech News Singapore based on an image by Grab