Mobile banking has made managing money more convenient. Unfortunately, it has also given scammers more opportunities to target unsuspecting users. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), social engineering attacks — including phishing, account takeovers, and identity theft — accounted for 76% of reported cyber fraud losses in 2025. As scams grow more sophisticated, Metrobank is fighting back with stronger security tools built directly into its app.
Metrobank recently rolled out four new Metrobank anti-fraud features in the Metrobank App. These updates give users more control over their accounts while making it significantly harder for fraudsters to access their money.
Feature 1: Cooling-Off Period — A 24-Hour Safety Buffer
Metrobank now automatically activates a 24-hour Cooling-Off Period whenever critical security settings change. For example, if your password or registered device gets updated, all transactions in your app are temporarily disabled for 24 hours.
This gives you time to notice any suspicious activity, secure your account, and report unauthorized changes before any money leaves. If a scammer tries to change your account details, this feature buys you a full day to act. It is one of the most straightforward — yet effective — protections in the update.
Feature 2: Money Lock — Instantly Protect Your Savings
One of the biggest concerns after a phishing attack is how fast fraudsters can move your money. Metrobank’s new Money Lock feature solves this directly. It lets you instantly lock part or all of your available balance straight from the app.
Once locked, those funds cannot transfer or be used in any transaction — including scheduled ones — until you unlock them yourself. Moreover, even if someone gains unauthorized access to your card, your Money Locked savings stay protected. Just make sure you keep enough available balance to cover upcoming scheduled transactions before locking your funds.
Feature 3: Geolocation — An Invisible Layer of Protection
Metrobank has also added Geolocation checks as an additional security layer. The app now checks whether a transaction comes from your registered mobile device and matches your device’s location. If anything appears unusual or inconsistent, the system flags the suspicious activity and helps block unauthorized transactions from pushing through.
During normal use, this feature stays invisible in the background. However, it actively works to catch anything out of the ordinary — making it one of the quietest but most powerful additions in this update.
Feature 4: Payee Verification — Double-Check Before You Send
Sending money to the wrong account due to a typo is a costly and stressful mistake. Metrobank’s new Payee Verification feature helps prevent exactly that. Before completing a transfer to another Metrobank account, the app displays a masked version of the recipient’s registered account name. This way, you can confirm you are sending to the right person before the transaction finalizes.
It is a simple addition — but it can save you from a very expensive and avoidable error.
A Safer Way to Bank Online
These four new security enhancements are part of Metrobank’s continuing efforts to strengthen digital banking security. They also align with the government’s broader anti-scam initiatives under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA) and BSP Circular No. 1213.
To start using these features, update to the latest version of the Metrobank App today. As digital scams continue to evolve, having multiple layers of protection — and knowing how to use them — goes a long way toward keeping your money safe.
For more updates, visit metrobank.com.ph or follow @Metrobank on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.
