Metro Bank puts itself up for sale - who could buy the embattled lender?

Updated: 04:14 EST, 12 November 2026 Metro Bank has put itself up for sale after recent turnaround efforts, which could mark the end of a turbulent period for the lender as a publicly listed company.The bank, which has 78 branches across the UK, has launched a strategic review including a possible sale to ramp up growth after drastic cuts to operating expenses.Metro was founded in 2010 by Anthony Thomson and Vernon Hill and claimed to be the first high street bank to launch in Britain in more than 150 years. The FTSE 250 lender said it 'unanimously believes' that evaluating potential interest in the company through a sale will 'maximise the value creation opportunities available'.It said it had 'successfully completed a substantial transformation' in recent years but wanted to look at options to 'build on its strategic delivery to accelerate growth'.The sale process concludes a three-year turnaround programme which saw Metro Bank pivot from mainstream lending to focus on a more 'underserved market'.In January, it launched its third redundancy round in three years before reporting its most profitable half-year in its history in August, with pre-tax profits surging 41 per cent to £61million. Its share price has gained nearly 50 per cent this year. Metro Bank has staged a partial recovery since an emergency cash call in 2023 While Metro Bank, which has a market cap of over £1billion, has staged a partial recovery in recent years, its value has plummeted since its IPO in 2016.It has been a turbulent decade for the bank, which, in 2019, admitted it had misclassified a number of commercial loans, prompting investigations by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRU).It was forced to raise emergency capital in 2023 after shares dropped more than 50 per cent.In a statement, Metro Bank said: 'The significant progress made by Metro Bank means it is now well-positioned to consider a broader range of strategic opportunities for its next phase of growth.'It said a sale 'will maximise the value creation opportunities available to shareholders and deliver benefits for all stakeholders.'The lender said it 'is not in any active discussions' with any potential buyer, but any possible take-private deal would deal a further blow to the City, which has been stung by a series of takeovers this year. Among those targeted have been airline Easyjet, warehouse giant Segro, Lloyd's of London insurer Beazley and City institution Schroders.Metro Bank could receive renewed interest from private equity firm Pollen Street Capital, which last year approached the bank with a proposal to delist the bank and potentially combine it with a bank it owns a stake in, Shawbrook.It may also receive bids from rival challenger banks, having reportedly explored a potential merger over the summer with Aldermore, and rejected a bid from Shawbrook in 2023.Much will depend on the valuation of the bank and major shareholder Jaime Gilinski Bacal's willingness to exit. The Colombian billionaire holds a stake of over 50 per cent in the bank following the £325million rescue deal in 2023.Shares in Metro Bank rose 3.58 per cent in early trading. DIY INVESTING PLATFORMSAJ BellAJ BellEasy investing and ready-made portfoliosHargreaves LansdownHargreaves LansdownFree fund dealing and investment ideasinteractive investorinteractive investorFlat-fee investing from £4.99 per monthFreetradeFreetradeInvesting Isa now free on basic planTrading 212Trading 212Free share dealing and no account feeAffiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.Compare the best investing account for you