A semiconductor device is provided which includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of microelectronic elements formed therein; an interconnect structure formed over the substrate, the interconnect structure including metal layers isolated from one another by an inter-metal dielectric, the metal layers including a topmost metal layer; dummy metal vias formed between at least two metal layers and disposed within a region of the interconnect structure; and a bonding pad formed over the topmost metal layer such that the bonding pad is aligned with the region of the interconnect structure.