METROBANK HAILED AS PH’S ‘BEST BANK’

Ty family-led Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. is the “best” bank in the Philippines this 2021, especially credited for faring well despite the disruptions caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, according to financial publication Asiamoney.

“Metrobank is a firm to be reckoned with in the Philippines,” said Asiamoney Editor Rashmi Kumar, “What stands out with Metrobank is its sheer resilience during tough times, including all the uncertainty caused by the pandemic over the past eighteen months.”

Asiamoney Best Bank Awards 2021, which recognized Metrobank “Best Domestic Bank in the Philippines,” is an annual ceremony that recognizes which banks in each market excel across a range of categories.

Kumar pointed out Metrobank’s status as one of the country’s foremost universal banks, offering a diverse stable of business and products for a range of clients while showing strong growth year after year.

Metrobank credited its resilience to the lessons learned from the 1997 Asian financial crisis, which dragged the country to an economic recession and triggered a wave of corporate defaults that gnawed on the asset quality of banks.

“Drawing from our experience back then, our mantra this time is to be proactive at the onset of a crisis so we can quickly get our feet back on the ground,” said Fabian Dee, president of Metrobank.

Citing its prudent risk management strategy, he noted the bank had ensured strong capital levels, and kept a healthy balance sheet with “best in class” asset quality metrics.