The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a cease and desist order against Umeta Credit Lending Corp., directing it to immediately stop all lending activities, including the operation and promotion of its online lending platforms, after finding unauthorized use of unrecorded platforms and unfair debt collection practices. The order, issued by the SEC Financing and Lending Companies Department, covers the company as well as its owners, incorporators, agents, promoters and anyone acting on its behalf, and extends to platforms it controls such as Meta Cash, More Pautang - Loan Hub, Cash Twig, and FinLedger - Smart Ledger, as well as any other digital interface operated under other names. A departmental verification found the firm operated undisclosed online lending platforms in breach of SEC Memorandum Circular No. 19, Series of 2019 (disclosure and reporting of online lending platforms) and violated SEC Memorandum Circular No. 10, Series of 2021 (moratorium on new online lending platforms starting November 5, 2021). The SEC also cited over 300 informal complaints received from January 2025 to January 2026 alleging unfair collection practices, with five complaints escalated to formal administrative proceedings for alleged violations of SEC Memorandum Circular No. 18, Series of 2019, alongside the firm’s failure to respond to five show cause letters. The SEC framed the cease and desist order as an interim measure to halt operations and prevent further harm to borrowers pending final determination of the company’s administrative liability.

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