1982–2008: Growth
In September 1982, the number of Metrobank branches, offices and subsidiaries surpassed 200. A year later, Metrobank topped all private domestic banks in total resources, with ₱8.8 billion.
The bank had steady growth through the years. In September 1989, it increased its authorized capital stock from ₱2 billion to ₱5 billion. The bank's total capital funds on June 30, 2006 stood at P57.3 billion. Its consolidated resources amounted to ₱588.1 billion as of the same period. As of June 2007 assets reached ₱669.1 billion ($14.5 billion) (₱46=$1).
In 1990, alongside Chinabank, Citibank Philippines, RCBC and Security Bank, Metrobank become a founding member of BancNet.
In May 2000, Metrobank acquired Solid Banking Corporation (Solidbank) from a joint consortium led by the Madrigal family and Canada-based Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank), with Metrobank as the surviving entity. as a result, all Solidbank branches along with Solidbank Mastercard will be merged with Metrobank, while most of Solidbank's remaining assets also merged with Metrobank's subsidiary, First Metro Investment Corporation.[6][7]
Metrobank created or acquired a number of subsidiaries including Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation, Philippine Savings Bank, First Metro Investment Corporation, Metrobank Card Corporation, ORIX Metro Leasing and Finance Corporation, SMBC Metro Investment Corporation, First Metro Travelex (formerly Thomas Cook (Phils.), Philippine Axa Life Insurance Corporation, Mirant Global Corporation, Philippine Charter Insurance Corporation, MBTC Technology, Inc., Robert Browns Wear Inc (Moose Gear & Moose Girl Apparel), Toyota Financial Services Corporation, Toyota Cubao, Inc., Toyota Manila Bay Corporation, First Metro Securities Corporation, First Metro International Investment Co. Ltd., Metropolitan Bank (Bahamas) Ltd., MB Remittance Center Inc. (USA), Metro Remittance Singapore, Metro Remittance UK Limited, Metro Remittance (Italia) SpA, Metro Remittance S.A. (Spain) and MBTC Exchange Services GmbH (Austria).
Lehman collapse
On September 17, 2008, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. announced Banco de Oro and Metrobank set aside provisions totalling $94.7 million to cover their exposure to the Lehman Brothers' collapse. Metrobank set aside $14 million in provisional funds, and it has $20.4 million worth of bonds issued by Lehman Brothers and ₱2.4 billion ($51.28 million) in loans to a Philippine-based subsidiary of the US investment bank.[8][9] The BSP data revealed Metrobank has a Lehman Brothers exposure of $71 million, and it set aside a buffer equivalent to 70% of its exposure.[10][11]
