METROPOLITAN BANK AND TRUST CO., the country’s largest bank, has reported a faster-than-expected growth in housing and car loans in the first eight months, suggesting a robust contribution from consumer lending for the rest of the year.

Metrobank’s car and home loan availments in the first eight months expanded by 30.65 percent and 27.65 percent, respectively, over the volume generated in the same period last year, the bank said in a statement.

Metrobank senior vice president and head of consumer lending Rowena Oliveros noted that the consumer loan production has shown consistent growth with June and July 2008 registering the highest volume.

As such, Metrobank is confident that consumer loan sector would be major growth driver for the rest of the year.

Oliveros attributed the bank’s consumer loan growth to the aggressive marketing efforts of its branches.

But while expanding its loan book, Metrobank said it paid close attention to credit quality.

The bank’s past due rate for car loans was kept at only 0.47 percent of total portfolio as of end-August 2008 while the soured portion of housing loans stood at 1.72 percent.

“A good mix of having an automated system, strong product policy and credit procedures to address the requirements of our selected target clients have helped us achieve a good portfolio,” Oliveros said.