The Ty family’s Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) posted a net income of ₱24.9 billion in the first half of 2026, slightly higher than the ₱24.8 billion earned in the same period last year, amid a business environment that remained challenging for the banking industry.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Friday, July 31, Metrobank said its core businesses provided 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,” said Metrobank President Fabian Dee.

He noted, “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.”

Metrobank’s net interest income increased by 12.8 percent to ₱67.7 billion, with net interest margin (NIM) remaining stable at 3.7 percent, as gross loans expanded by 12.4 percent year-on-year.

Corporate and commercial loans continued to grow, posting a 12.8 percent year-on-year increase to support customers’ investment spending and higher working capital needs. Consumer loans likewise rose by 11.1 percent on the back of growth in credit card and mortgage loans.

Total deposits grew by 10.4 percent to ₱2.6 trillion, with low-cost current and savings accounts (CASA) rising by 6.4 percent year-on-year and accounting for 60.5 percent of total deposits.

The loan-to-deposit ratio edged up to 81.1 percent, still providing the bank with sufficient capacity to continue expanding its lending activities.

Fee and trust income increased by 9.3 percent to ₱10 billion, partly offsetting the impact of volatile financial markets on trading income.

Operating costs grew by 10.1 percent to ₱42.4 billion, mainly driven by transaction volume-related taxes and technology expenses as the bank continued to invest in digital capabilities. The cost-to-income ratio stood at 52.4 percent.

While Metrobank’s portfolio health remained solid, with its non-performing loans (NPL) ratio of 1.8 percent still below the industry’s 3.4 percent, the bank raised provisions by 26.8 percent to keep its NPL cover high at 133.3 percent.

This should continue to provide a sufficient buffer against potential pressures on asset quality due to weaker macroeconomic conditions.

Meanwhile, Metrobank’s restructured loans remained minimal at 0.3 percent of total loans, compared with two percent for the industry.

Metrobank’s total consolidated assets expanded by 12.7 percent to ₱3.9 trillion, the second largest among private universal banks in terms of assets. Equity increased by 4.9 percent to ₱409.7 billion.

The bank’s capital position remained strong, well above minimum regulatory thresholds. Its capital adequacy ratio (CAR) and common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio stood at 14.9 percent and 14.2 percent, respectively. Its liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) also remained substantial at 150.1 percent. - James A. Loyola