George Siao Kian Ty OL (Chinese: 鄭少堅; pinyin: Zhèng Shàojiān; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tīⁿ Siáu-kian 18 October 1932 – 23 November 2018) was a Filipino banker and business magnate. He founded Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company, the second largest bank in both assets and capital in the Philippines. He owned stakes in Federal Land, Inc., the Bank of the Philippine Islands and Philippine Savings Bank, a Metrobank subsidiary. Ty was the owner of the G.T. International Tower in Makati.

George Ty
鄭少堅
Ty in September 2016
Born(1932-10-18)18 October 1932
Died23 November 2018(2018-11-23) (aged 86)
NationalityFilipino
EducationUniversity of Santo Tomas (dropped out)
Known forFounder and chairman of Metrobank[1]
Chairman Emeritus of GT Capital Holdings, Inc.[2]
SpouseMary Vy
Children5[3]

Early life and education

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He was born to Norberto Ty and Victoria Ty-Tan. His father, Norberto, founded Wellington Flour Mills.[4]

He attended the University of Santo Tomas, where he enrolled his bachelor's degree in commerce in 1955, but he later stopped his studies, to help his father in their flour mill business.[5]

Because of his philanthropy and contributions in banking industry, his alma mater conferred him a honorary doctorate in humanities, Honoris Causa, on August 7, 2014.[6]

Business career

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In 1962, he founded Metrobank, together with Emilio Abello, Pio Pedrosa and Placido Mapa Sr.[4] Metrobank opened its first branch in 1963 and its first international branch in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1970.[4] The subsidiaries of the company includes Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation, Philippine Savings Bank, SMBC Metro Investment Corporation, and Philippine AXA Life Insurance Corporation.[4]

He also founded GT Capital Holdings Inc. in 2007,[7] a holdings company which has business interests in auto dealership, banking, insurance, power and real estate.

Death

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Ty passed away on November 23, 2018, due to pancreatic cancer.[4]

Honors

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References

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  1. ^ "Board of Directors". Metrobank webpage. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Board of Directors". GT Capital Holdings, Inc. webpage. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  3. ^ "George Ty". Forbes. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e "How persistence got Metrobank its own banking license". Rappler. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  5. ^ Lee Flores, Wilson (10 August 2014). "After 60 years, Dr. George S. K. Ty returns to alma mater UST to receive degree". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Thomasian banking tycoon George Ty, 86". The Varsitarian. University of Santo Tomas. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Company Information: GT Capital Holdings, Inc". PSE Edge. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  8. ^ "The Order of Lakandula". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 10 August 2023.