Metrobank

Metrobank
Name	Metrobank
Native name	Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company
Type	Public
Founded	1962
Headquarters	Manila
Key people	Henry Sy Sr., Hans Sy, Lucio Tan
Products	Banking, investment, trust, remittance

Metrobank

Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (commonly known as Metrobank) is a major Philippine commercial bank headquartered in Manila. Founded in 1962, it grew into one of the largest universal banks in the Philippines by assets, serving retail customers, corporations, and institutional clients. Metrobank has played a central role in Philippine financial services alongside peers such as BDO Unibank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Philippine National Bank. Its operations extend through subsidiaries and affiliates active in Hong Kong, Singapore, and regional financial centers.

History

Metrobank was established in 1962 by a group of businessmen including Benjamin Punongbayan and Jesus C. Marcelo during a period of rapid postwar expansion in the Philippine banking sector. In the 1970s and 1980s the bank expanded its branch network and diversified into trust and investment services, competing with institutions such as Chinatrust and UnionBank. During the 1990s the bank navigated the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis by restructuring assets and strengthening capital ratios in response to regulatory measures by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The 2000s saw corporate consolidation, strategic alliances, and entry into remittance flows tied to the Overseas Filipino Workers diaspora, connecting routes between the Middle East, North America, and Europe. Leadership transitions involved prominent Filipino business families linked to conglomerates such as SM Investments Corporation and L. C. Y. Group in board and management roles. Metrobank also increased its international presence by opening offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and representative offices in major financial centers.

Corporate structure and governance

Metrobank operates as a universal bank under the regulatory framework of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Securities and Exchange Commission (Philippines). Its governance structure includes a board of directors with independent and executive members drawn from Philippine banking, legal, and corporate sectors, with audit and risk committees aligned to Basel Committee on Banking Supervision principles. Shareholding historically features major Filipino conglomerates and institutional investors such as GT Capital Holdings, Ayala Corporation, and family-controlled stakes associated with business figures like Henry Sy Jr. and Filipino-Chinese entrepreneurial families. The bank’s subsidiary network includes trust companies, finance companies, and remittance arms subject to oversight by the Anti-Money Laundering Council and other compliance regimes, and it engages external auditors from the global accounting networks such as PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG.

Services and products

Metrobank provides a range of retail, corporate, and investment banking services. Retail offerings include deposit accounts, consumer loans, mortgages, and payment cards in partnership with global networks such as Visa and Mastercard. For corporations the bank supplies trade finance, cash management, project finance, syndications, and treasury services tied to markets including Philippine peso and foreign exchange corridors with US dollar, Japanese yen, and Eurozone currencies. Wealth management and trust services are administered via trust subsidiaries catering to high-net-worth clients and institutional investors alongside asset management products linked to Philippine government securities like Philippine Treasury Bills. Metrobank also supports remittance and correspondent banking relationships with international money transfer operators and overseas banks, servicing corridors to Saudi Arabia, United States, United Kingdom, and Singapore.

Financial performance and metrics

Metrobank’s financial reporting follows Philippine Financial Reporting Standards and includes consolidated statements covering domestic banking, international branches, and non-bank subsidiaries. Key metrics monitored by analysts and regulators include return on equity, non-performing loan ratios, capital adequacy ratios under Basel III, liquidity coverage ratio, and net interest margin. During periods of macroeconomic volatility—such as the 2008 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic—Metrobank adjusted provisioning levels and liquidity management, citing impacts on loan growth and fee-based income. Equity and debt issuances have been used to shore up capital, with the bank participating in corporate bond markets and engaging in syndicated loan arrangements with regional banks like DBS Bank and HSBC.

Branch and ATM network

Metrobank maintains an extensive branch network across the Philippines including major urban centers such as Manila, Cebu City, and Davao City, and services provided through automated teller machines (ATMs), online banking platforms, and mobile applications compatible with digital wallets and payment rails like GCash and international card schemes. The bank’s ATM consortium relationships include partnerships with domestic networks and interbank switches connecting to regional payment systems in Southeast Asia. Internationally, Metrobank operates representative offices and branches in financial hubs such as Hong Kong and Singapore to support corporate clients, expatriate remittances, and trade flows.

Controversies and legal issues

Metrobank has faced regulatory inquiries and litigation typical of large financial institutions. Issues have ranged from compliance reviews under the Anti-Money Laundering Council to disputes involving loan recoveries, foreclosure proceedings, and allegations of negligence in correspondent banking relationships. High-profile cases involved subpoenas and regulatory oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission (Philippines) and the Ombudsman (Philippines) where corporate governance and internal controls were scrutinized. The bank has responded by strengthening compliance programs, enhancing anti-fraud systems, and cooperating with law enforcement and regulatory reforms promulgated after notable banking sector incidents such as contagion effects observed in regional crises.

Category:Banks of the Philippines