Metrobank adds four anti-fraud features to its mobile banking app

The new tools include a 24-hour cooling-off period after security changes, an instant savings lock, geolocation checks, and payee verification.

Courtesy: Metrobank

Four new layers against bank scams

Metrobank has rolled out four new security features in the Metrobank App aimed at giving users more control over their accounts and making it harder for fraudsters to access their money.

The rollout comes as social engineering attacks, including phishing, account takeovers, and identity theft, accounted for 76 percent of reported cyber fraud losses in the Philippines in 2025, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The first feature, a Cooling-Off Period, automatically disables all transactions in the app for 24 hours whenever critical security settings are changed, such as a password or registered device. Metrobank said this is meant to protect users from scammers attempting to alter account details, giving them time to notice suspicious activity and report unauthorized changes before money leaves their account.

The second, Money Lock, lets users instantly lock part or all of their available balance directly from the app. Once locked, funds cannot be transferred or used for any transaction, including scheduled ones, until the user unlocks them, protecting savings even if someone gains access to a customer's card. Metrobank advised users to keep enough unlocked balance to cover upcoming or scheduled transactions to avoid disruptions.

The third feature adds Geolocation checks, where the app verifies whether a transaction is being made from a user's registered device and its location, flagging unusual or inconsistent activity to help block unauthorized transactions. Metrobank said this feature runs in the background and is invisible during normal use.

The fourth, Payee Verification, displays a masked version of a recipient's registered account name before a transfer to another Metrobank account is completed, letting users confirm they are sending money to the correct person and helping prevent transfer errors.

Metrobank said the enhancements are part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen digital banking security and support government anti-scam initiatives under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA) and BSP Circular No. 1213.

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