FIRST Metro Securities Brokerage Corp., the stock brokerage arm of the Metrobank Group, has collaborated with six of the country’s top asset managers to offer the mutual funds through First Metro Securities’s online trading platform.
The platform now includes First Metro Asset Management Inc., ALFM–BPI Investment Management Inc., ATR Asset Management, Philam Asset Management, Philequity Management Inc. and Sunlife Asset Management.
“We are excited to offer clients ready access to the services of top professionals in the mutual-funds industry, with no up-front charges and in affordable amounts. We designed an intuitive and flexible interface, so that investors can best decide on funds that suit their individual needs,” First Metro Securities President Gonzalo Ordoñez said.
This platform broadens the services offered by FirstMetroSec, from Philippine Stock Exchange-listed stocks to peso-denominated mutual funds offered by various providers, he said.
It enables clients to buy and redeem funds without the need to fill out new forms or submit additional requirements.
Investors will be able to save on front-end fees that are normally paid when a mutual fund is purchased.
The platform features include scanning and sorting of funds by various criteria, accessing fund information, buying and selling, and generating consolidated statements.
“We are breaking barriers. This development is in line with our goal of providing Filipinos with investment products that are suitable, available and accessible. We don’t require any minimum balance for Metrobank and PSBank customers,” he said.
“Our clients can now also opt to fund their investments through the online banking platforms of other major banks. And very soon, clients can further expand their investment options through mutual funds,” Ordoñez added.
Mutual funds will be available to clients of First Metro Securities by the first quarter of 2017.