Metropolitan Bank

What Metropolitan Bank does

Metropolitan Bank is a privately-held, FDIC-insured community bank (Certificate No. 25869, insured since December 17, 1984) headquartered in Oakland, California. It operates four branches concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area: Oakland Head Office, Oakland Chinatown, San Francisco Chinatown, and San Jose Lion Plaza, and maintains a Chinese-language DBA (加州金城銀行) to serve immigrant and Asian-American business communities. The bank offers a full suite of retail and commercial banking products, including multiple checking tiers (Value Checking, Premier Interest Checking, Senior Citizen Checking, and three business checking variants), savings vehicles (Value Savings, Super Savings, Money Market), term deposits (personal, jumbo, and business CDs), IRAs, HSAs, debit/credit cards, and lending products spanning personal home loans and business financing (farm, construction, commercial real estate, professional business, and multi-family). Revenue is generated primarily through net interest income on the spread between loans and deposits, supplemented by account maintenance fees, transaction and excess-activity fees, and cash management service fees.

The bank runs a relationship-led, community-focused go-to-market model in which personal bankers conduct on-site account setup at customer locations and drive customer acquisition through community involvement, referral programs, and local branch presence, rather than paid digital marketing. Distribution is primarily through the four physical branches, supplemented by an Internet Banking platform (with Quicken, OFX, QuickBooks Online, and CSV/Mint export support) and a mobile application on iOS and Android that delivers balance checks, transfers, bill pay, mobile deposit, ACH transfers, and integrations with Zelle, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay. The underlying technology is described as traditional banking infrastructure with digital banking capabilities; AI/ML capabilities are not disclosed, and biometric authentication uses standard device-native APIs.

The target customer base spans small businesses and individual consumers in the Bay Area, with secondary segments in agricultural borrowers, real estate investors, property management companies, and retirement savers. While one source references entities in the New York area, the disclosed branch footprint is entirely Bay Area. No revenue, asset, or deposit figures are publicly disclosed, and the bank has no parent company, no disclosed investors, and no recorded M&A, funding rounds, or leadership changes during the data period. Recent operational activity is limited to the planned relocation of the Oakland Chinatown branch on or about August 31, 2026, and the prior retirement of the Super Interest Business Checking product effective April 1, 2021.

Name

Metropolitan Bank

Legal name

Metropolitan Bank

Website

https://met.bank

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Metropolitan Bank is a privately-held FDIC-insured community bank serving small businesses and individuals across four Bay Area branches (Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose), offering deposit accounts, consumer and commercial lending, mobile/online banking with Zelle and mobile wallet integrations, and relationship-based community banking.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs) (FSABABAC), SME Business Lending (Term Loans, Lines of Credit, Overdrafts) (FSABABAB)

Keywords

• Community banking services
• Retail banking products
• Commercial real estate lending
• Personal savings accounts
• Small business banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Net Interest Income: Revenue generated from the spread between interest earned on loans (including commercial real estate, construction, business, and personal loans) and interest paid on deposits (checking, savings, CDs, money market accounts)
2. Account and Transaction Fees: Monthly maintenance charges, per-item fees on checks exceeding limits, service charges for falling below minimum balance requirements, wire transfer fees, and early withdrawal penalties on CDs
3. Cash Management Services: Fees for business cash management tools including remote deposit capture, ACH transfers, and online banking services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Metropolitan Bank is an FDIC-insured community bank offering personal and business banking products including checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, IRAs, HSAs, debit and credit cards, personal home loans, and business financing such as construction loans, commercial real estate loans, farm loans, lines of credit, and working capital. The bank complements its deposit and lending products with digital banking services including online banking, a mobile app with mobile deposit and Zelle, bill pay, remote deposit capture, ACH transfers, and contactless wallet support.

Product overview

Metropolitan Bank offers a comprehensive community banking platform serving the San Francisco Bay Area with a full suite of personal and business banking products. The core offerings include multiple checking account types (Value Checking, Senior Citizen Checking, Premier Interest Checking for personal; Merchant Business Checking, Commercial Interest Checking for business), savings vehicles (Value Savings, Super Savings, Money Market Accounts), and term deposits (Certificates of Deposit, Jumbo CDs, IRAs, HSAs). Lending products span personal home loans and business financing including construction, commercial real estate, and working capital. Digital banking services include Online Banking, Mobile Banking with Mobile Deposit, Bill Pay, Remote Deposit Capture, and ACH Transfers. The bank integrates Zelle for peer-to-peer payments and supports Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay for mobile payments. Transaction export is available through Quicken, QuickBooks Online, OFX, and CSV formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Value Checking Basic personal checking account with unlimited check writing, free first order of checks, MasterCard Debit Card, direct deposit, online and mobile banking, and online bill pay. Monthly $8 maintenance charge waived with $1,500 average daily balance.
• Premier Interest Checking Interest-bearing personal checking with variable interest rate compounded daily and paid monthly on balances of $2,500 or more, plus all Value Checking features. $8 monthly maintenance charge waived with $2,500 average daily balance.
• Senior Citizen Checking Low-cost checking account for customers 62 years or older offering unlimited check writing with no monthly maintenance charge.
• Money Market Account Interest-bearing account with limited check-writing convenience, tiered market rates compounded daily and paid monthly. Limited to 6 preauthorized withdrawals per month; $10 service charge for each excess transaction.
• Value Savings Basic personal savings account with interest compounded daily and paid quarterly, including direct deposit and online/mobile banking access. $300 minimum balance to open; $15 monthly maintenance charge.
• Super Savings Higher-yield personal savings account with $5,000 minimum balance and tiered interest rates. Limited to 6 preauthorized withdrawals per month with $10 service charge for excess transactions.
• Certificate of Deposit (Personal) Personal term deposit offering the highest guaranteed APY among savings plans. Terms range from 7 days to 10 years. Interest paid monthly, quarterly, annually, or at maturity. Line of credit available on CDs with maturities of 12 months or longer. $2,500 minimum balance.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) Tax-advantaged savings account for depositors with high-deductible health plans. Interest compounded daily and paid monthly. 2021 contribution limits: $3,600 single, $7,200 family, with $1,000 catch-up for age 55+.
• Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Tax-deferred retirement savings available as CD IRAs with FDIC insurance. Up to $6,000 annual contribution for single persons ($7,000 for age 50+). Rollover IRAs available from employer-sponsored plans.
• Personal Lending Home loans for primary residences, second/vacation homes, and investment properties, including home loans, bridge financing, and personal and household investment loans.
• Merchant Business Checking Non-interest bearing business checking account designed for high-activity businesses. Free up to 99 checks per month; $0.25 per check over 99. $500 minimum balance; $15 cycle service charge if below minimum.
• Commercial Interest Checking Interest-bearing checking for sole proprietorships and non-profit organizations. Interest accrued daily and paid monthly on balances of $1,000 or more. Free up to 30 checks per month. $1,000 minimum balance.
• Business Savings Account Savings account designed for small businesses with interest compounded daily and paid quarterly. Telephone transfers (3 per month free); unlimited deposits and withdrawals by mail or in-person. $300 minimum balance.
• Business Money Market Account Business account with check-writing convenience, tiered market rates, and $2,500 minimum balance. $15 monthly service charge if below minimum; $10 per transaction for more than 6 preauthorized withdrawals per cycle.
• Business Certificate of Deposit Business term deposit with guaranteed rates, interest paid monthly, quarterly, annually, or at maturity. Automatic interest transfer to checking, savings, or money market accounts available. $2,500 minimum balance.
• Jumbo Certificate of Deposit Large-denomination CD with $50,000 minimum and $88,000 maximum balance. Higher rates than standard CDs, negotiable for amounts over $50,000. Terms of 3, 6, or 12 months.
• Business Lending Comprehensive business financing solutions including farm loans, construction loans, lines of credit, letters of credit, working capital, professional business loans, multi-family apartment buildings, 1-4 family residential properties, and commercial real estate including mixed-use properties.
• Online Banking Internet-based banking platform providing 24/7 access to account balances, transaction history, fund transfers between accounts, bill payment, check images, and loan account management. Supports Quicken, OFX, and CSV export formats.
• Mobile Banking Smartphone and tablet banking application enabling balance checks, fund transfers, bill payments, and mobile check deposits. Available for iOS and Android with facial and fingerprint recognition login.
• Mobile Deposit Remote check deposit feature within the mobile banking app allowing users to deposit checks by photographing them with their mobile device, available 24/7.
• Bill Pay Electronic bill payment service integrated with Online Banking. Supports one-time and recurring payments (weekly, semi-monthly, monthly). Payees must be in the United States and Territories. Account debited via ACH.
• Remote Deposit Capture Cash management tool allowing business customers to scan and deposit checks remotely without visiting a branch location.
• ACH Transfers Automated Clearing House fund transfer service for payroll, vendor payments, and other electronic transactions. Available for both personal and business accounts.
• Debit Card MasterCard debit card with free ATM access worldwide at bank network ATMs. Accepted wherever MasterCard is accepted for purchases. Included with checking accounts.
• Credit Card Credit card product available through a separate platform at mycommunitycc.com. Referenced in navigation on the bank website.

Quantifiable outcome

• FDIC-insured deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, with CDARS program for higher coverage
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)coreOthers · 17 December 1984Metropolitan Bank is an FDIC member institution since December 17, 1984, with FDIC Certificate Number 25869. All deposits are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, promoting stability and public confidence in the U.S. financial system.
• Early Warning Services, LLC (Zelle)coreTechnology or IntegrationMetropolitan Bank has integrated Zelle into its mobile banking app, enabling customers to send money quickly and securely to friends, family, and others they trust. Zelle is a service of Early Warning Services, LLC, and the marks are used under license. This partnership provides real-time money transfer capabilities within the bank's digital ecosystem.
• Apple Inc. (Apple Pay)coreTechnology or IntegrationMetropolitan Bank supports Apple Pay for contactless payments using the bank's debit cards, allowing customers to make secure purchases at participating merchants.
• Samsung (Samsung Pay)coreTechnology or IntegrationMetropolitan Bank supports Samsung Pay for contactless payments using the bank's debit cards, providing customers with additional mobile payment options.
• Google (Google Pay)coreTechnology or IntegrationMetropolitan Bank supports Google Pay for contactless payments using the bank's debit cards, enabling Android users to make secure mobile payments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Cathay Bank: California-headquartered commercial bank focused on serving Chinese-American and Asian-American communities with consumer and business banking. Directly comparable to Metropolitan Bank in target demographic, product mix (deposits, lending, CRE), and relationship-driven community banking model.
• Mechanics Bank: California community bank with multi-branch presence across the Bay Area and Central Valley, offering consumer and commercial banking. Comparable to Metropolitan Bank in regional scope, community-bank positioning, and CRE/construction lending focus.
• California Bank of Commerce: Sacramento- and Bay Area-based commercial bank focused on business banking, treasury management, and CRE lending. Comparable to Metropolitan Bank in California community-bank positioning and emphasis on business/owner-managed lending.
• East West Bank: One of the largest Asian-American-focused banks in the U.S., headquartered in California with deep Bay Area presence. Comparable to Metropolitan Bank in serving Chinese-American communities with consumer, SMB, and CRE lending products at community-bank scale.
• Heritage Bank of Commerce: San Jose-headquartered community bank serving the Silicon Valley and greater Bay Area with business and consumer banking products. Directly comparable in geography, target SMB segment, and emphasis on local relationship banking.
• Luther Burbank Savings: Bay Area-headquartered community bank focused on residential, multifamily, and commercial real estate lending plus consumer deposits. Comparable to Metropolitan Bank in Bay Area footprint, CRE concentration, and community-bank scale.
• Mission National Bank: Small San Francisco-based community bank with a focus on serving immigrant and multicultural communities. Comparable to Metropolitan Bank in niche ethnic-community positioning, small-scale Bay Area footprint, and SMB/deposit-led business mix.
• Preferred Bank: Los Angeles-based commercial bank focused on Chinese-American, Korean-American, and other Asian-American business communities. Comparable to Metropolitan Bank in deposit/lending mix, Asian-American niche focus, and California-only community-bank scale.

Regional players

• Bank of San Francisco: Locally focused San Francisco community bank offering business and personal banking to Bay Area clients. Comparable to Metropolitan Bank in urban Bay Area focus and community-bank relationship model, though without the Chinatown niche specialization.
• First Northern Bank of Dixon: Northern California community bank with consumer and business banking across the Sacramento/San Francisco corridor. Comparable to Metropolitan Bank in California community-bank profile, agricultural and CRE lending, and deposit-led funding model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/met.bank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metropolitan-bank
• Instagraminstagram.com/met.bank

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metropolitan Bank