Metrobank bags two Asiamoney awards

CEBU, Philippines — Premier universal bank Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank) has strengthened its lead in serving the growing ultra-high network depositor segment in the Philippines.

Amid the fragility of the global banking system particularly in the United States, Metrobank was recognized by the 2023 Asiamoney Private Banking Awards for its Private Wealth business service.

Metrobank garnered the Best Domestic Private Bank in the Philippines award for the second straight year. It was also named the Best Bank for Ultra-High Net Worth clients.

Metrobank’s performance versus competitors, successes in achieving market share, and ability to cope with difficult or changing market conditions, were among the reasons why Asiamoney named Metrobank as the winner for both categories.

Metrobank’s Private Wealth Division has managed to deliver exceptional results in 2022 amid challenging market conditions.

“Although the Covid-19 era was rough on the broader industry, Metrobank used the disruption to build up its internal muscle. It put relationship managers under stringent certification and training programs, for instance. That boosted quality and efficiency in product areas such as treasury and trust, basic derivatives, cash management, loans packaging, and consumer lending,” said Asiamoney.

On top of Metrobank’s top-notch pool of relationship managers, Asiamoney also recognized that this significant growth of the business was fueled by the Bank’s strategic efforts to leverage its extensive branch banking network for targeted acquisition, and innovative financial solutions. These resulted in improved client coverage and service delivery.

“Metrobank’s dynamic and holistic approach to managing the wealth of our clients is a key factor for our continued recognition as the preferred partner of the Ultra-High-Net-Worth

segment. But our mission goes beyond financial management. At the core, our purpose has always centered on enabling our clientele to fulfill their goals and maximize opportunities in front of them, through financial strategies tailor-made for each client and their respective families,” noted Lizette Perez, who heads Metrobank’s Private Wealth Division.

“This recognition is a testament to our commitment to becoming the best partner and most trusted financial advisor for Filipino affluent families. With this, we’re proud to say that our clients remain in good hands,” Perez added.

The Bank’s Private Wealth team was established in 2016. Since then, the business has rapidly and successfully captured the attention of the Ultra-High-Net-Worth segment in the Philippines.

Moreover, through Metrobank Private Wealth, customers are able to have access to the entire product suite of the Metrobank Group.

Last year, Metrobank brought home major awards from top global financial publications.

Euromoney and the Banker named it the Best Bank in the Philippines for 2022. It was also recognized as the Strongest Bank in the Philippines by The Asian Banker for 2021 and 2022.

Meanwhile, according to Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP), the country’s banking industry leaders maintained their growth outlook on the banking system in the next two years based on the results of the Banking Sector Outlook Survey (BSOS) for the first semester of 2022.

This level of optimism was supported by expectations of double-digit growth in assets, loans, deposits, and net income, as well as the general improvement in the banks’ asset and loan quality indicators. Philippine banks likewise plan to maintain risk-based capital, leverage, and liquidity ratios at levels higher than domestic and global standards to support expansion in their operations and promote institutional stability.

The BSP survey results revealed a remarkable increase in organizational awareness towards sustainable financing as 70.0 percent of respondents banks viewed such a mode of financing as highly important from 61.7 percent. Among those banks with plans of being involved in sustainable finance, most expressed willingness to finance projects in support of agriculture, solar power, transportation, and water supply management and treatment.

Metrobank is the country’s second-largest private universal bank in the country with an extensive consolidated network that spans over 940 domestic branches nationwide, more than 2,300 ATMs, and above 30 foreign branches, subsidiaries, and representative offices.

The Bank believes that its robust capital position and balance sheet strength will provide ample support as it navigates through uncertain times.

As of end-2022, its capital ratios are among the highest in the industry, with total CAR at 17.7 percent and Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio at 16.8 percent. The bank’s consolidated assets stood at P2.8 trillion, making it one of the strongest and most well-capitalized banks in the country.