How one man’s passion gave rise to Metrobank

In 1952, George S.K. Ty was living in Tondo with his parents who operated the family flour mill.

The Philippines was on its way to becoming the first Asian tiger economy. Like many young dreamers of his time, he realized that the country could continue its upward growth with the help of banking.

“Banking was not such a simple industry,” he said, recalling those days. “But I felt that banking was the king of all businesses. A bank is like the head of a dragon…whatever business you go into, you need a bank. That’s why when the flour mill became stable, I started to dream of opening a bank.”

If there was anything that George Ty was known for, it was his persistence. For the next 10 years, he worked on building his bank. He would often camp out on the steps of the Central Bank, as he completed the stringent requirements for his bank’s operating license.

In those long years, many banks also joined the fray, and competition became even more challenging. But his persistence paid off.

On September 5, 1962, Metrobank’s very first branch opened its doors at Plaza Calderon in Binondo, Manila.

No less than President Diosdado Macapagal was present to cut the ribbon that officially opened the first Metrobank branch.

58 years later, George Ty’s passion to help the Filipino people has grown from 1 branch at Plaza Calderon to what is now Metrobank’s wide network in the Philippines and overseas, offering meaningful products and services throughout the years. As he said it aptly in Metrobank’s first years, “Banking is a social business….The bank is there to do good, to help other people, to help the country.”