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2011 Annual Report innovative solutions focused Best Bank financialpowerhouse market mover customer Strongest sustainable earnings committed 2011 Annual Report a Vision To be the best bank for all our stakeholders. Our Mission We aim to be a premier universal bank of international standing, committed to creating and providing the best possible value for our core constituents – clients, employees, shareholders, and the communities whom we serve. We shall exert all efforts to transform every opportunity to expand our sphere of business activities into instruments to help our constituents realize their own goals and aspirations. We shall strive to reach a highly diversified customer base through an extensive distribution network at the same time delivering a wide array of premium-value products and services with distinctive quality. We realize that our success depends on the quality of our people, the efficiency of our systems, and the strength of our organization. Hence, we shall continuously invest in our human resources to ensure a service force characterized by the highest standards of dignity, probity and professionalism. We shall constantly endeavor to be more responsive to dynamic market conditions, flexible in coping with customer needs, innovative in leading the competition, and united in pursuing common objectives. Our financial capability shall likewise be continually invigorated to maintain dynamism, growth, and stability. Recognizing our responsibility to our shareholders, we shall exercise judicious management to consistently provide them with fair returns and enhance the value of their investments. As a responsible corporate citizen, we shall remain committed to making meaningful contributions for the economic and social development of the communities in which we serve. b Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company BREAKTHROUGH Companies that endure are able to reinvent themselves to stay aligned with customers and markets as they evolve. Metrobank had spent the last few years undergoing such a transformation. In 2011, we made a breakthrough. We recorded our highest-ever net profit. We remain to be the country’s largest financial powerhouse with a market capitalization close to Php145 billion. And for the second year in a row, Metrobank has been recognized as the “Best Bank in the Philippines” by Euromoney and the “Strongest Bank in the Philippines” by The Asian Banker.* To be consistent. To be the strongest. To be the best. This is a great time for the Metrobank Group. And as we mark our 50th year milestone in 2012, our commitment remains: to be the best in everything we do. And for everything we do to make a difference. *The Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2011 recognized Metrobank’s successful turnaround story, its pursuit of growth, its commitment to improve asset quality, and strong adherence to good governance principles. It is one of the most reputable awards in the finance services industry globally, recognizing 25 global awardees covering 100 countries worldwide. Metrobank was also ranked as the strongest bank in the Philippines and the 20th in Asia Pacific in The Asian Banker 500, a study that tracked the performance of the top 500 banks in the region for 2010. Banks were ranked according to asset size and strength, and based on data from annual reports and statistics provided by the central bank and industry associations. 2011 Annual Report 1 BEYOND BEST BANKING Once again, we have proven that our fundamental values of trust and teamwork have greatly contributed to the positive outcome of our performance in 2011. We believed that by working together as a group, our potential for success is limitless. This is evident in our breakthrough performance for the year which underscores the very essence of our synergy. 2 Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company BEYOND BEST BANKING 01 Chairpersons’ Message In so many respects, 2011 was both a challenging and rewarding year. For the global economy in general, it was another year of uncertainty and volatility. Concerns lingered over the fiscal downturn in the United States and the countries in Europe, the political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa, and closer to home, the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and flooding in Thailand. The Philippine economy was not spared the brunt of these market uncertainties and extraordinary challenges. The weakness in major economies dampened the demand for Philippine exports, which were heavily concentrated on electronics. Disruptions in the global supply chain as a result of the natural calamities and disasters and rising oil prices also slowed our economic momentum. In 2011, our gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 3.7% from the previous year’s 7.6%. Slower growth was attributed to the sharp decline in government infrastructure spending that was only reversed in the last quarter of 2011 when public construction surged by 49.4%. Still, there were bright spots as well. Remittances from overseas Filipino workers breached the US$20-billion mark by end- 2011 and buoyed up the retail, real estate, and other sectors. The business process outsourcing industry continued to attract investors. The Philippine stock market outperformed its counterparts in Asia and ranked as one of the best in the world. Further boosting investor confidence was the series of Philippine credit upgrades in 2011. The country has already received five positive credit ratings from various international agencies since the Aquino administration took office in 2010. These improved ratings translated to reduced borrowing costs for the country and easier access to funds for Philippine companies and individuals. cHAllENGE Of sustainabilITY Against this favorable macroeconomic backdrop, several Philippine banks saw record- breaking revenues in 2011. Even as interest rates further came down, competition among local banks remained fierce and pushed up loan volumes to double-digit growth levels. The frenetic pace of opening new branches and ATMs, and offering alternative banking channels also continued. % As Philippine banks face tighter regulations and more stringent capital requirements under 3.7 GDP growth in 2011 driven by strong the Basel 3 agreements, the quest for growth now becomes a question of sustainability. household consumption spending Philippine banks can no longer rely on spectacular one-off trading gains to sustain the historic profitability they reaped over the past two years. To be the best bank does not mean to be the most profitable. We must possess all the necessary ingredients of sustainable return on equity, strong balance sheet, high asset quality, and strict adherence to corporate governance standards. 7.2% growth in PHIlIPPINE RemittancES to $20.1b 2011 Annual Report 3 01 Chairpersons’ Message BAROMETER Of GROwTH In this context, Metrobank becomes an accurate barometer for the Philippine growth story. Despite the heady days of 2011, Metrobank turned in a strong performance and exceeded our targeted growth, asset health and financial returns. We made solid and steady progress due to the strategic clarity and exceptional efforts of our leadership team, supported by the concerted effort of all our employees. 2011 also turned out to be a milestone year as Metrobank earned the top recognition from two prestigious and independent regional awards for its industry leadership. For the second year in a row, the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence made us the “Best Bank in the Philippines” because of our remarkable turnaround story: growing our assets and profitability while continuing to improve our asset quality and corporate governance practices. Metrobank emerged as one of the 25 global awardees from 100 countries worldwide recognized by Euromoney. Metrobank was also named the strongest bank in the Philippines and the 20th in Asia Pacific in a study of the top 500 banks in the region by The Asian Banker. We also continue to derive strength from the growing synergy among the member companies of the Metrobank Group, most of which are also enjoying leadership positions in their respective sectors and industries. In fact, joining us in The Asian Banker study was our subsidiary and thrift-banking arm, Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank), ranked as the fifth strongest bank in the Philippines and the second-largest among local savings banks. Also noteworthy was the biggest contributor to our sustained profitability, First Metro Investment Corporation which continued its dominance in the investment banking sector by arranging landmark capital-raising deals in 2011. lOOKING AHEAD While we still see a bumpy road ahead for the global economy due to lingering uncertainties, we expect Asia to decouple much of its economy from the developed world. However, we do not discount the risks from a possible spillover of the Eurozone crisis, Continued stability in the rising joblessness in the US, slackening export growth, higher oil and gas prices, plunging banking system with commodity prices, and growing volatility in worldwide capital, stock and currency markets. These factors will make us cautiously optimistic in 2012. Nevertheless, we remain to be better positioned to respond to challenges and grasp 17.3% opportunities as they arise. We expect the pace of regional integration to further accelerate and culminate in the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. capital ADEqUAcY ratio (as of June 2011) This will make the Philippines well-placed to achieve a more robust economic growth. Investment in infrastructure will be a key driver in the country’s growth