Article Abstract:
Analysis of Philippine banks suggests that the Philippine situation is different from that in Thailand before the 1997 financial crisis, and that the Philippines will not suffer the same sort of economic turmoil. Differences include the smaller percentage of Philippine bank loan portfolios in property, 11% compared to Thailand's 20%, and the lower ratio of domestic credit to GDP at 62% compared to 99% in Thailand. However, Philippine banks could still be vulnerable, particular dangers being bankruptcy in major clients and widespread panic in the event of minor banking bankruptcies.
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Article Abstract:
Philippine banking is changing quickly in the wake of reforms that let in new foreign competitors, including the Bank of Tokyo and Chemical Banking. The heads of the top local banks are unconcerned, as newcomers will be limited to six branches and therefore unable to compete geographically. The 10 new foreign banks will join 48 existing commercial banks, some of them recent revivals of defunct institutions. Already they are pirating away the best local executives, and some experts foresee a crisis in five years.
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Article Abstract:
George Ty has almost single-handedly built Metropolitan Bank & Trust, or Metrobank, into one of the Philippines largest banks and, potentially, a major regional powerhouse. The unassuming Ty owns some 70% of Metrobank, which acounts for half his estimated $4 billion net worth, as well as other companies and properties through his family. Metrobank grew largely through a strategy of lending to mid-size Chinese-Filipino businesses, though it has many ethnic Malays on its board and has strong overseas ties.
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