Metrobank eyes 20 China branches in 5 years

The Philippine's Metrobank plans to have 20 branches in China within five years.

A branch and a sub-branch in Shanghai and a representative office in Beijing were folded into Metropolitan Bank (China) Limited in April last year.

Ferdinand Antonio A. Tansingco, Metrobank head of treasury group, clarified the 20 branches would include MBCL’s eadquarters in Nanjing and the offices in Shanghai and Beijing.

“We have to align ourselves and maximize our potential in China,” added Francisco C. Sebastian, Metrobank vice chairman and concurrent president of the First Metro Investment Corp., the Metrobank Group’s investment banking arm.

Metrobank wants to open branches in Xiamen and Guangzhou, and more branches in Beijing, the Chinese capital, among other locations.