Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) posted a net income of PHP24.9 billion in the first half of 2026. The results reflect a business environment that remained challenging for the banking industry, with Metrobank’s core businesses providing steady earnings through continued loan growth, stable margins, and modest fee income.
“The operating environment remained challenging in the first half, requiring us to stay disciplined and focused. Our results reflect the strength of Metrobank’s core businesses, the continued trust of our clients, and our prudent approach to balancing growth and risk. We will continue to support our clients while pursuing sustainable growth in an uncertain environment,” said Metrobank President Fabian Dee.
The Bank’s net interest income increased by 12.8% to PHP67.7 billion, with net interest margin staying stable at 3.7%. Gross loans expanded by 12.4% year-on-year. Corporate and commercial loans continued to grow, posting a 12.8% year-on-year increase to support investment spending and higher working capital needs of customers. Consumer loans likewise rose by 11.1% on the back of growth in credit cards and mortgage loans.
Total deposits grew by 10.4% to PHP2.6 trillion, with low-cost Current and Savings Accounts (CASA) rising by 6.4% year-on-year, accounting for 60.5% of total deposits. Loan to deposit ratio edged up to 81.1%, still providing the Bank with sufficient capacity to continue expanding lending activities.
Fee and trust income increased by 9.3% to PHP10.0 billion, which partly offset the impact of volatile financial markets on trading income.
Operating costs grew by 10.1% to PHP42.4 billion, mainly driven by transaction volume- related taxes and technology expenses as the Bank continued to invest in digital capabilities. Cost to income ratio stood at 52.4%.
While Metrobank’s portfolio health remains solid with non-performing loans (NPL) ratio of 1.8% still below industry’s 3.4%, the Bank raised provisions by 26.8% to keep NPL cover high at 133.3%. This should continue to provide sufficient buffer against potential pressures on asset quality due to weaker macro conditions. Meanwhile, our restructured loans remain minimal at 0.3% of total loans compared with 2.0% for the industry.
Metrobank’s total consolidated assets expanded by 12.7% to PHP3.9 trillion, the second largest among private universal banks, in asset terms. Equity increased by 4.9% to PHP409.7 billion. The Bank’s capital position remains strong, well above minimum regulatory thresholds. Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) and Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio stood at 14.9% and 14.2%, respectively. Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) also remains substantial at 150.1%.
