Insider Spotlight
Through its #EarlyGIFTChallenge, the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., together with GT Foundation, continues to promote practical money management habits that encourage long-term stability rather than short-term gains.
The initiative centers on the GIFT model—Goal-setting, Investing wisely, Following a budget, and Taking advantage of deals—designed to help individuals make more intentional financial decisions, the bank said in a press release.
Why it matters
Financial education remains a critical gap for both youth and small business owners, especially as inflation, rising costs, and volatile markets test personal and enterprise resilience.
Metrobank’s approach positions financial literacy not as a one-time lesson, but as a lifelong skill that supports sustainable success.
For students and young professionals, the program emphasizes building habits early, from saving allowances with purpose to budgeting consistently.
In partnership with volunteer networks and academic institutions, Metrobank and GT Foundation have brought the challenge directly to campuses, reinforcing how small, disciplined actions can compound into long-term financial security.
For entrepreneurs
Metrobank is extending the same framework to business owners, reminding them that financial discipline is as vital to enterprises as innovation and sales growth.
During roadshow sessions with top clients, entrepreneurs were encouraged to adopt structured goal-setting and prudent investing as tools to protect and grow their businesses across cycles .
The bank noted that the #EarlyGIFTChallenge, introduced as a pre-holiday initiative, helps entrepreneurs anticipate expenses and manage liquidity before seasonal spending intensifies.
By planning ahead, business owners are better positioned to avoid cash flow disruptions and make strategic decisions aligned with long-term objectives, it said.
The bigger picture
Metrobank’s sustained push underscores a broader strategy of embedding financial mindfulness across generations.
By equipping the youth with foundational skills and reinforcing disciplined planning among entrepreneurs, the bank aims to help communities build resilience and preserve wealth over time.
As economic conditions continue to shift, Metrobank maintains that sustainable financial success is rooted not in quick wins, but in consistent, goal-driven habits that endure through change. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
