Ty-led Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. posted a two percent increase in net income for the first quarter of the year, as the steady expansion in lending and improved margins offset the rise in operating expenses.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the lender controlled by the Ty family said that Metrobank’s net income reached ₱12.6 billion in the three months ended March, up from ₱12.3 billion in the same period a year earlier.

“Our first quarter results underscore the resilience of Metrobank’s core businesses and the consistency of our execution," Fabian S. Dee, Metrobank president, said.

He noted that, “With strong capitalization, solid asset quality and healthy buffers, we remain well-positioned to manage risks while continuing to support the growth and funding needs of our customers.”

The bank’s net interest income rose by 13.6 percent to ₱33.4 billion, with net interest margin higher by 12 basis points at 3.7 percent.

Gross loans grew by 9.2 percent year-on-year, with corporate and commercial loans up 8.6 percent and consumer loans increasing by 11.2 percent, indicative of economic growth trends.

Total deposits expanded to ₱2.6 trillion, with low-cost Current and Savings Accounts (CASA) rising by 8.4 percent year-on-year, accounting for 59.2 percent of total deposits. The Bank continues to have sufficient capacity to support lending with a loan-to-deposit ratio of 76.6 percent.

Meanwhile, fee and trust income increased by 11.8 percent to ₱5.1 billion, mitigating the impact of volatile markets on trading income.

Operating costs grew by 9.8 percent to ₱21.1 billion, mainly driven by transaction-related taxes and technology expenses. Cost-to-income ratio stood at 52.5 percent.

Metrobank’s portfolio health remains intact. Non-performing loans (NPL) ratio stood at 1.75 percent during the quarter, largely steady from end-2025 level and well below industry’s 3.44 percent, as of February 2026. NPL cover of 137.1. percent further provides a strong buffer against risks to asset quality.

Metrobank’s total consolidated assets expanded by 8.3 percent to ₱3.8 trillion, making it the second largest among private universal banks, in asset terms. Equity increased by 5.1 percent to ₱396.4 billion.

The bank’s capital position remains strong with Capital Adequacy Ratio of 14.9 percent and Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 14.2 percent, well above the BSP’s minimum regulatory requirements. Metrobank’s Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) is also still high at 151.1 percent. (James A. Loyola)