The stockholders of the Gotianun-led bank approved the increase in its authorized capital stock to P40 billion from P20 billion last April, giving the bank more flexibility should an investment opportunity present itself and should it need additional capital to support its expected organic growth. The bank's earnings slipped 3.7 percent to P1.01 billion in the first six months of the year compared to P1.05 billion in the same period last year. The bank's assets grew 31 percent to P204.9 billion in the first half of the year from P155.9 billion in the same period last year. The growth in assets was propelled by the 23 percent expansion in loans to P131 billion. Deposits, on the other hand, grew by 25 percent to P158.1 billion from P126.1 billion a year ago. EastWest Bank has a total of 359 branches, with 164 of these branch stores in the restricted areas and a total of 205 of these branch stores in all of Metro Manila.