New Schiff-base ligands bearing tetrazole moiety and their polymeric metal complexes with Co(II), Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions are reported. Ligands were prepared in a multiple-step reaction. The reaction of sodium 2,6- diformylphenolate and cyclohexane-1,3-dione with 5-amino-2-fluorobenzonitrile resulted in the isolation of two precursors sodium 2,6-bis((E)-(3-cyano-4-fluorophenylimino)methyl)-4-methylphenolate 1 and 5,5'- (1E,1'E)-cyclohexane-1,3-diylidenebis- (azan-1-yl-1-ylidene)bis(2-fluorobenzonitrile) 2, respectively. The reaction of precursors with azide gave the required ligands; sodium 2,6-bis((E)-(4-fluoro-3-(1H-tetrazol-5- yl)phenylimino)methyl)-4-methylphenolate (NaL) and (N, N'E, N, N'E)-N, N'-(cyclohexane-1,3-diylidene)bis(4- fluoro-3-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)aniline) (L1). The reaction of these ligands with the appropriate metal ions gave polymeric metal complexes of the formulae {[M2(L)]Cl}n and [M(L1)Cl2]n (where M = Co(II), Ni(II) and Cd(II)). A range of techniques were used to confirm the entity of ligands and their complexes. The formation of ligands and mode of complexation and geometrical structure of the title polymeric complexes were verified using FTIR, electronic spectra, NMR, ESMS, magnetic susceptibility, micro-elemental analysis, metal content, chloride content and conductance. The analytical and spectroscopic data indicated the formation of four-coordinate complexes, with a tetrahedral geometry for Co(II) and Cd(II), and square planer for Ni(II) in L- and L1 complexes. Biological evaluation of ligands and their polymeric complexes against gram-positive bacteria (G+), Bacillus stubtili, Staphylococcus aureus, and gram-negative bacteria (G-), Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, showed ligands and their polymeric metal complexes have a good effect on the screened bacteria.