MANILA - Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank) announced Tuesday that it has added 25 new automated teller machines (ATM) in key areas nationwide, bringing the bank's consolidated network to over 1,000 ATMs.

In a statement, Ty-led Metrobank said it has installed 10 ATMs within Metro Manila, eight in Luzon, five in Visayas, and two in Mindanao. Of this number, Metrobank said 23 are off-site ATMs.

"These new ATMs rolled out nationwide increases accessiblity and coverage to the benefit of our customers," Metrobank Director and National Branch Banking Sector Head Fabian Dee said.

“The expansion is also one of the bank’s initiatives to improve operational efficiency, especially in the areas of optimizing delivery channels to our customers,” he added.

As a member of Bancnet, the largest ATM consortium in the country, Metrobank depositors have access to over 9,000 BancNet ATMs nationwide. Metrobank ATM cardholders can also access their accounts overseas through over 1 million Cirrus-Maestro (Mastercard) ATMs in more than 21 countries.

Metrobank has expanded its branch network in Cebu and Davao during the first three months of the year, and has bared plans to open more branches in the provinces of North and Central Luzon, Eastern and Western Visayas, and Western Mindanao.

To date, Metrobank has a consolidated network of 719 branches nationwide.

As of end-March, Metrobank reported a consolidated net income of P1.94 billion, 10.22 percent higher than the P1.76 billion recorded in the same period last year. The bank attributed the growth to strong banking gains despite poor economic conditions brought about by the global economic crisis.