10 November 2015

MS. JANET A. ENCARNACION

Head, Disclosure Department
PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE, INC.
3/F Philippine Stock Exchange Plaza,
Ayala Triangle, Ayala Avenue,
Makati City

Dear Ms. Encarnacion:

We enclose a copy of our press release entitled Metrobank Named Strongest Bank in the
Philippines.
Thank you.

Very truly yours,

Juan Placido T. Mapa III

Head, Investor Relations

cc:
Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp.
37/F, Tower 1,The Enterprise Center
6766 Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas
1226 Makati City, Philippines

METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST COMPANY

Metropolitan Plaza, Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, 1200 Makati City, Philippines; Tel. no. (632) 898-8000 / 857-0000; Fax (632) 817-6248; www.metrobank.com.ph

Metrobank Named Strongest Bank in the Philippines

(10 November 2015, Manila).

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank) has been

named the Strongest Bank in the Philippines in The Asian Banker 500 (AB 500) Strongest Bank
by Balance Sheet Ranking 2015. Metrobank ranked No. 9 overall in Asia, which marks the first
time that a Philippine bank has made it to the Top Ten List.
The AB 500 is an evaluation of the 500 largest banks in the Asia Pacific region for the financial
year 2014. The AB 500 Strongest Banks by Balance Sheet Ranking is the most comprehensive
annual evaluation that captures the quality and sustainability of the balance sheets of banks in
the region. It tracks the relative financial strengths of banks in response to their respective
market conditions, based on a common scorecard. The Asian Banker cited the overall
sustained performance from Metrobank which saw it achieve impressive results in balance
sheet strength while maintaining good figures in asset quality and profitability.
Metrobank President Fabian Dee commented, We are very proud to be named as the strongest
bank in the Philippines, and to be recognized in the same league as some of the leading banks
across the Asia Pacific region. Our efforts continue to focus on delivering long term sustainable
growth while at the same time, maximizing the use of capital, sustaining prudent balance sheet
growth, and maintaining our superior asset quality.
Among the top 10 banks in the region, Metrobank garnered the highest score in terms of risk
profile, which included among other criteria, a banks Capital Adequacy Ratio. Metrobank
ended the third quarter with an equity base of P192.4 billion, the highest among local banks,
which translated to a 19.9% CAR and a 16.0% Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio (CET1), both
comfortably above the BSP minimum requirements.
For the period January to September this year, Metrobank reported a 25% increase year-onyear in core earnings, with unaudited consolidated net income of P13.3 billion.
Despite heightened competitive pressure and volatility in the interest rate environment, the Bank
continued to report double-digit growth in both loans and CASA as of end-September, stable
margins, and realized stronger contributions from fee based-income.
With a stronger focus on low cost deposit generation, CASA increased by 14% to P652.6 billion,
while consolidated deposits settled at P1.2 trillion as of September 30, 2015. The Group
continued to prioritize the expansion in the emerging commercial SME and retail customers
METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Metropolitan Plaza, Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, 1200 Makati City, Philippines; Tel. no. (632) 898-8000 / 857-0000; Fax (632) 817-6248; www.metrobank.com.ph

which combined increased by 19% year-on-year. Both segments continue to post healthy
growth, supporting the 10% increase in outstanding net loans and receivables to P768.9 billion.
The strategy to rebalance the loans and deposits mix has offset the competitive pressures on
margins. Metrobank maintained its net interest margin at 3.6%, one of the highest among its
peer banks. For the first nine months of the year, Metrobank booked P36.3 billion in net interest
income, which now comprises over 70% of total operating income.
Meanwhile, the Group reported P14.1 billion in non-interest income. This came from P7.4 billion
in service charges, fees and commissions, which went up by 11% from last year; P1.1 billion in
net trading and FX gains; and P5.7 billion in miscellaneous income.
Operating expenses continued to be under control at P29.4 billion, relatively flat to same period
last year.
Asset quality remains better than industry as non-performing loans (NPL) ratio came in at
1.2%. For the period, the Group set aside provisions for credit and impairment losses of less
than P2 billion.
Metrobank continued to pursue its coverage expansion strategy to improve customer
accessibility. In the nine months of the year, the Bank opened 19 branches and installed 83
new ATMs, bringing the consolidated total to 939 and 2,183, respectively.
###

Metrobank is the countrys premier universal bank and has one of the largest domestic networks of 939 branches and over 2,100
automated teller machines (ATMs) nationwide, and 32 foreign branches, subsidiaries and representative offices. For inquiries,
please contact the Investor Relations Department at (632) 857-9783 and investor.relations@metrobank.com.ph. Or call the
Metrobank 24/7 Customer Hotline at 8700-700, or log on to www.metrobank.com.ph. For provincial areas, call toll-free 1-800-18885775.

METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST COMPANY

Metropolitan Plaza, Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, 1200 Makati City, Philippines; Tel. no. (632) 898-8000 / 857-0000; Fax (632) 817-6248; www.metrobank.com.ph