Metrobank raises P35 billion via Asean bonds

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

April 15, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) has listed P35 billion worth of ASEAN Sustainability Bonds on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp., marking its largest peso-denominated bond issuance to date as it ramps up funding for sustainable finance initiatives.

The Series F bonds, which carry a tenor of 1.5 years, offer a fixed interest rate of 5.4727 percent per annum. The issuance was met with robust demand, with total orders reaching seven times the base offer size of P5 billion, underscoring strong investor appetite from both institutional and retail segments.

“We are encouraged by the strong response to this issuance, which reflects the trust our clients and partners continue to place in Metrobank,” said John Lu, head of the bank’s Treasury Group. “It also highlights the growing demand for investments that deliver not only financial returns, but also meaningful and lasting impact.”

Originally scheduled to run from March 17 to 30, the public offer was cut short and closed on March 23 due to overwhelming interest, allowing the bank to lock in funding earlier than planned.

Proceeds from the bond sale will be used to diversify Metrobank’s funding base and support its lending activities, particularly projects aligned with environmental and social objectives.

The Ty-led bank said the funds would be allocated to finance or refinance eligible green and social assets under its Sustainable Finance Framework (SFF), which aims to support initiatives tied to environmental sustainability and inclusive growth.

Metrobank’s SFF has been assigned an SQS2 or “Very Good” Sustainability Quality Score by Moody’s Ratings, indicating strong alignment with recognized sustainability principles as well as measurable environmental and social outcomes.

First Metro Investment Corp., ING Bank N.V. Manila Branch and Standard Chartered Bank served as joint lead managers and bookrunners for the transaction. They also acted as selling agents alongside Metrobank, with ING taking on the role of sustainability coordinator.

The listing comes as banks continue to tap the domestic bond market amid evolving global conditions, with sustainability-linked instruments gaining traction among investors seeking both yield and impact.

Metrobank said it remains focused on maintaining a “disciplined and forward-looking approach” to funding and investment decisions, as it positions itself to navigate market uncertainties while supporting long-term growth.

The bank, one of the country’s largest lenders, reported consolidated assets of P3.88 trillion as of end-2025, supported by a solid capital base with a capital adequacy ratio of 16.8 percent and a common equity tier 1 ratio of 16.1 percent.