Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) posted a net income of ₱48.1 billion in 2024, marking a 14% increase from the previous year. The bank credited its earnings growth to strong asset expansion and improved asset quality.
“This positive momentum and our strong balance sheet set us up very well to continuously meet the growing needs of our clients and to pursue our medium-term strategies,” said Fabian Dee, president of Metrobank.
The return on equity rose to 13%, up from 12.5% in 2023. Metrobank’s board also approved a total cash dividend of ₱5.00 per share, which includes a regular dividend of ₱3.00 per share and a special cash dividend of ₱2.00. Shareholders on record as of March 6, 2025, will receive the first payout of ₱3.50.
Metrobank’s net interest income climbed by 8.7% to ₱114.1 billion, supported by a 17% rise in gross loans, which outpaced the industry’s 12.5% growth. Commercial loans surged by 17.7%, while consumer loans grew by 14.4%, driven by an 18.6% increase in net credit card receivables and 18.2% growth in auto loans.
The bank’s total deposits reached ₱2.6 trillion, an 8% increase from the previous year. Current and Savings Accounts (CASA) made up 57.8% of the total deposits.
Metrobank also recorded ₱18.1 billion in fee and trust income, while gains from trading and foreign exchange transactions reached ₱5.6 billion, reflecting a 39% year-on-year increase.
Operating costs rose by 11% to ₱77.2 billion due to transaction-related taxes, manpower, technology, and marketing expenses. Despite the increase in costs, Metrobank’s non-performing loan (NPL) ratio improved to 1.43% from 1.69% in 2023, allowing the bank to reduce provisions by 29.2%. The NPL cover remained high at 163.5%, ensuring protection against potential risks.
With total consolidated assets reaching ₱3.52 trillion, Metrobank remains the country’s second-largest private universal bank. Its capital adequacy ratio stood at 16.7%, while the Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio was at 15.9%, both exceeding the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ regulatory requirements. The bank’s Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) was also high at 256.1%.