Fabian Dee Steers Metrobank’s Double Wins at The Asian Banker Awards
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) received the highest accolades at the recently held 2025 The Asian Banker Leadership Achievement Awards.
The bank was named as the “Best Managed Bank in the Philippines,” and its president, Fabian Dee, was recognized as the “Best Bank CEO.” These awards are highly revered in the industry and given only every three years by the publication.
The Asian Banker underscored Dee's “visionary leadership in strengthening fundamentals, expanding the business, advancing operational excellence, cultivating talent, and driving digital innovation.”
Dee attributed the award to Metrobank employees who show up every day, highly dedicated, resilient, and with an unwavering commitment to deliver what is best for the bank's clients and the communities it serves.
“We are honored to receive these awards. To be recognized for leadership is a clear reflection of our focus on what is most important to us: our customers,” Dee said in his acceptance speech at the awarding ceremony.
Leading Metrobank Into the Future
Under Dee's leadership, Metrobank remained a reliable financial partner to its clients by practicing prudent lending, putting in place sound risk management processes, and providing relevant products to clients.
“We are always prudent in providing credit,” the Metrobank president said. “We practice sound risk management, and we always stay focused on providing products, services, and relevant insights that would make a difference. All these, with one goal in mind: to serve our customers better.”
Metrobank achieved consistent growth and financial resilience through prudent lending, disciplined cost control, and strong asset quality. Assets, loans, and deposits have expanded steadily, alongside record profits. Rigorous portfolio management has kept non-performing loan ratios of Metrobank among the lowest in the industry, reinforcing long-term value creation and stability.
With a solid capital base, the bank has balanced growth with shareholder returns through careful capital management and measured dividend policies. Dee’s forward-looking capital planning has steadily improved Metrobank's return on equity, therefore enhancing its competitiveness and supporting long-term development.
He has expanded the bank’s reach and improved services across key markets. Growth in the middle market and large corporates has been driven by proactive account management, an efficient branch network, innovative digital platforms, and strong service quality. In retail banking, Metrobank, together with its thrift bank arm, Philippine Savings Bank, leads in automotive lending and ranks third in credit card receivables and home loans.
Dee has also been at the forefront of digital transformation, which has enhanced customers’ experience and increased employees’ productivity and service quality.
Metrobank has also strengthened its treasury group—one of the largest bond houses in the country—allowing it to provide full market-making services. These support individual and business clients, ensuring they are well-guided in managing their funds and creating a seamless financial journey as they grow their wealth.
Dee views these recognitions not as a finish line, but as further motivation. “These awards will set the bar higher for us, and will motivate us to meet an exciting future of growing expectations of our clients and shareholders,” he said.
Building a Legacy of Vision and Consistency
A seasoned banker with extensive experience across treasury, corporate, and retail banking, Dee has served as president of Metrobank since 2012. Upon joining in 2000, he started as the head of Metrobank's business center in Grace Park in Caloocan, handling resources and recording profitability similar to that of a medium-sized bank.
Proving his expertise in growing the business and building strong relationships with clients, Dee moved to head Metrobank’s corporate banking business, which further strengthened the bank's stronghold among medium-sized companies and large conglomerates. In 2006, he moved to a bigger role and led the branch banking sector, the largest business segment of the bank, before becoming its president.
He also held other senior leadership roles within the Metrobank Group, which includes its investment banking arm, First Metro Investment Corp., and its corporate responsibility arm, Metrobank Foundation. Additionally, he also holds key roles in industry organizations, including sitting as BancNet president and as a director at the Bankers' Association of the Philippines.
Learn more about Metrobank and its services by visiting its website and following its Facebook page.
