A metal band as an inlay for trim strips or sealing strips of flexible material, in particular of rubber or plastic, which is in particular bent to form a shape, having a plurality of slots, in particular periodically sequential slots in the longitudinal direction of the band which are directed inwardly from an edge of the metal band transversely to its longitudinal direction, which are wedge shaped or which run out inwardly in wedge shape, and also having central slots which run out to a tip at their two ends, which are arranged between sequential edge slots in the longitudinal direction and which likewise extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the metal band, but do not extend up to the edge, wherein at least two sequential central slots in the longitudinal direction of the metal band are arranged between two sequential edge slots to improve the band properties.