Updated March 2021
Yes, there are only two Philippine banks in the US licensed to operate as banks.
The other “Philippine banks” you might have encountered in the US are operating as remittance firms, money transfer operators or remittance partners of Philippine banks.
Philippine National Bank and Metrobank are the only Philippine banks licensed to offer banking services in the USA. They’re operating as US branches of the Philippine-based banks Metrobank and PNB.
METROBANK NEW YORK Branch
10 East 53rd Street
New York, New York 10022
Phone: 1 (212) 832-0855
Toll free: 1 (800) 863-8762
Fax: 1 (212) 832-0993
Email: customerservice@metrobankny.com
Business Hours:
Mondays to Fridays — 9am to 5pm
Saturdays — 10am to 1pm (for remittances only)
Website: metrobankny.com
Metrobank New York has been insured by the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) since June 1983 under FDIC No. 33656. Its primary federal regulator is the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Metrobank New York is also a designated lender of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank).
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK NEW YORK Branch (Manhattan)
561 7th Ave. 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 790-9600
Email: newyork@pnb.com.ph
Business Hours: Monday to Friday — 9am to 3pm
Website: https://www.pnb.com.ph/newyork/
PNB New York Branch is licensed by the New York State Banking Department and also regulated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
It is not a member of the US FDIC.
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK NEW YORK Extension Office (Queens)
69-18 Roosevelt Avenue
Woodside, NY 11377
Phone: (718) 898-6113
Email: newyork@pnb.com.ph
Business hours: Mon to Fri — 9am to 3pm, Saturday — 9am to 1pm
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK Los Angeles Branch
316 W. 2nd Street, Ste. 700
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(Bounded by Broadway and Hill Streets)
Business Hours:
Monday to Friday — 9am to 3pm
Saturday — 9am to 1pm
Closed on Sundays, federal holidays and Saturdays that fall before or after the federal holiday
Email for general enquiries: losangeles@pnb.com.ph
Email for loan inquiries: laophl@pnb.com.ph
General manager 213-401-1802
Operations head 213-401-1800 ext 214
Loan officer 213-401-1800 ext 212
Branch staff 213-401-1800 ext 201, 202 or 206
Fax: 213-401-1803
Website: PNB Los Angeles
PNBLA is regulated by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (FRBSF) and the California Department Business Oversight (CADBO).
You have a lot of other remittance options if you’re far from Philippine banks in the US.
There are US-operating remittance service companies owned by Philippine banks.
BDO Remit (USA) Inc.
BPI Express Remittance Corporation
Metro Remittance Center Inc. (U.S.A.)
Metro Remittance Center (California) Inc.
MB Remittance Center (Hawaii) Ltd.
PNB Remittance Centers Inc. (PNBRCI) — at least 46 PNBRCI branches across the US
RCBC North America
Filipino-Owned or Filipino-American Owned Non-Bank Money Transfer Companies that Send Money to the Philippines from the USA
- I-Remit Inc.
- Lucky Money Inc. (LMI Express)
- LBC Express
- MLhuillier Financial Services
- Johnny Air Cargo Padala (their website does not mention money transfer, but Johnny Air Cargo is in the World Bank Remittance price comparison chart for US-Philippines money transfers)
Filipino-owned or Filipino-American-owned money transfer companies
registered with the California Department of Business Oversight (DBO)under its Directory of Money Transmitters
- BDO Remit (USA) Inc.
- Mundial Corporation
- Lucky Money, Inc.
- M. Lhuillier Financial Services, Inc.
- Remittance Centers, Inc.
Reference: California Department of Business Oversight
dbo.ca.gov/directory-of-money-transmitters
US Bank-Owned Money Transfer Service
. Wells Fargo Express Send (through BDO, BPI, PNB, Cebuana Lhuillier and MLhuillier)
. Citibank Global Funds Transfer (Free transfers for account owners of Citibank Philippines)
International Money Transfer Operators that Send Money from the USA to the Philippines
. Moneygram
. Western Union
. Xoom
. Transferwise
. Remitly
. World Remit
. RIA
. Xpress Money
. Sigue Money Transfer (BDO, LBC, MLhuillier and Cebuana Lhuillier)
. Uniteller
. Transfast / New York Bay Remittance
. Small World
. Walmart2World Money Transfers (Powered by Moneygram)
. Pangea Money Transfer (download the Pangea Mobile App)
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what is the intrust rate for a savings account with bpi????
Hi Robert, did you mean an in-trust savings account for kids? Some years ago, BPI had special rates for kids’ accounts, but now, it’s the super low rate of 0.25% for most savings accounts. If you’re a Pag-ibig member, you can save in their MP2 savings program (maturity: 5 years). Their dividend rate in 2019 was 7.41%, much higher than banks’ time deposit rates.
So the intrust rates with bpi is at 7.41% right now for adults n kids???
Is there a Metrobank branch in Southern California?
Hi Liezl, sorry there’s no Metrobank branch in California. Metrobank has only one US branch, and that’s in New York City: https://www.pnb.com.ph/losangeles/. It’s PNB that has a branch in Los Angeles: https://www.pnb.com.ph/losangeles/
Thank you for the heads up.
accounts opened in metrobank or pnb become actual accounts in philippines, can someone from philippines deposit to this bank account?
Hi Miro, if those accounts are Philippine-based accounts, even if opened with assistance by the US branches, yes, anyone can deposit into those accounts here.
Can I have a bank account as a Primary to deposit & withdraw
And a Secondary just to deposit, NOT ABLE TO WITHDRAW ?
Hi Thomas, yes, you can open 2 accounts, but they should be of different types, like one debit card account (for deposit and withdraw) and the other is a passbook account (for deposit only), or a Top Savers account (PNB). With the passbook account, you can still withdraw, but DECIDE not to withdraw so you can save, and then when you have saved enough, put your accumulated money in a time deposit (one-year-term, auto-renew every year).
So if I open an account with MetroBank in NYC, and fund it, can I withdraw from Metrobank ATMs in PH using the new York-issued ATM card? Will there be fees involved?
Hi Raj, yes, just make sure the atm card you’re getting is linked with Visa, Mastercard (Cirrus or Maestro) or American Express and that your ATM PIN is 4 to 6 digits. The atm withdrawal fee for foreign-issued cards is 250 to 300 pesos per atm withdrawal (will be in pesos, conversion rate will depend on bank’s rate at time of withdrawal)
In Alabama there are some Metro Banks are those affiliated with the ones that’s in the Philippines.
Hi Anthony, no, Metro Bank in Alabama and other states are not affiliated with Metrobank in the Philippines.
If I open a PNB account in the Philippines, can I make transactions online from the States, particularly transferring money from this bank account to other bank accounts in the States? Thanks.
Hi Boy, fund transfers from Philippine-based accounts to accounts abroad can be made through wire transfer. I checked PNB’s wire transfer and I found out it can only be done over the counter, so you won’t be able to do wire transfer online while in the US. As of today, I think it’s only BDO that processes wire transfer online, so you might want to consider BDO. It also uses an OTP generator, meaning you don’t need a texted OTP to verify your transaction. Just activate all (debit card, online banking, mobile app, OTP generator, phone number and email) before going back to the US. BDO account should be in US dollars. Peso account does not have the wire transfer option. I checked also the fees: PNB’s over the counter wire transfer costs $75 plus $40. BDO’s online wire transfer costs $10 plus $25. I don’t know if there’s a fee to be charged by the receiving bank in the US. I think opening a BDO peso account together with a US dollar account will give flexibility.
Nora,
I started a Corp. in the Philippines with my wife’s family. It has been hell trying to open a corporate account. Landbank has given us the runaround nonstop. What are your suggestions to keep provincial family off 6 hour bus rides just to get turned away? They have every piece of required paperwork Articles of Inc., GIS, Etc. Etc.?
We’ve been working on this 5 months
Hi Larry, sad to say that opening a checking account here is also not easy, more so when opening a corporate account that involves more than checking. I don’t have experience in opening a corporate account, so I’m just assuming here, meaning I’m assuming that just like with checking account opening, banks also require familiarity (know-your-customer regulation in banking) or previous transactions with the ones opening a corporate account. Do the company owners have long-time (more than 6 months) personal savings/checking accounts with Landbank? On the other hand, is there no commercial bank nearer to your wife’s residence? Or is a single-proprietorship not viable with your business plans? Overall, I think it’s easier to open a business account at a bank where your wife or wife’s family members have active and well-maintained bank accounts. Or try Security Bank — they’re in expansion mode right now — they might be more flexible. Best regards
HI Nora. You did not mention Chase Bank . Like Wells Fargo, is Chase Bank have Express
Send .I want to send money to the Phil. thru Chase Bank.
Hi Natividad, no, sad to say, Chase Bank does not have a branded remittance service for Philippine recipients. But as with most banks, you can use wire transfer to send money internationally. However, with Chase Bank, you can send money to the Philippines thru wire transfer only if you have a business account. You can check here: Chase Bank USA’s wire transfer web page. JPMorgan Chase in the Philippines does not do retail banking; it services only corporations and institutions. You can also try XOOM or WISE — these are popular online remittance services.
Is there a Philippines bank in Maryland?aside from Metro bank and BPI in NewYork.
Hi Richie, none, there’s no Philippine bank in Maryland. If you’re looking for a remittance firm, there’s a BDO remittance partner there: Viamericas Corp., 7910 Woodmart Ave, Suite 220 Bethesda. Or you can use online remittance companies like XOOM, WISE or Remitly.
Which Philippines Bank in the United States can I open an account, checking & have no fee for transfer money from USA to the Philippines?
Hi Thomas, sad to say, there’s no Philippine bank or account that does not charge for USA-Phil transfer. Both PNB and Metrobank in the US charge $8 for dollar to peso transfer and around $20 for dollar to dollar transfer. You might want Wells Fargo. It’s ExpressSend service charges only $4 for dollar to peso transfer to BDO, BPI or Metrobank here in the Phils. There’s also Xoom (via any US account, can be dollar to dollar or dollar to peso, around $8 fee, sometimes has zero-fee promo but they make money from exchange rate.) Another is WISE (I’m an affiliate of WISE), dollar to peso only, and uses the most favorable dollar to peso exchange rate. I checked this moment and a 1k dollar remittance gives a net of 49,577.63 credited to a Phil account, fees already deducted. You can see all the details before you approve the final remittance.
By the way many banks also charge for inward remittance to accounts here. Over-the-counter cash pickup usually has no charge.
The only bank I know that offers free international transfer is Citibank. You need to have a Citibank account in the US and a Citibank account in the Philippines (minimum maintaining balance of 1M peso total deposit/insurance/investment), but this info is useless now as Citibank is now closing down its consumer banking operations here.
By the way, I have a post here that might help you: 9 Ways to get your pension in the Philippines
Hi Nora,
I went to PNB LA website and it says I can only open an account with a $250k minimum deposit. Is there a way where I can open an account here in the US and when I go to the Philippines, I can have access to the money? I thought of Citibank but you just said theyre closing down consumer banking there. What are tge other options? Thanks.
Hi Roger, I think if your current US bank has online and mobile banking, you can access it while in the Philippines. You can use a global money transfer firm like XOOM, WISE, or Remitly. XOOM can transfer to a dollar or peso account and can be claimed over the counter in dollar or peso (BDO and Metrobank). WISE can transfer to a peso account only, but it gives the best exchange rate (you can compare yourself before you Send) and any Philippine bank with Swift code is okay to send to via Wise. By the way, I’m an affiliate of WISE.
If you’re thinking of opening another or a new US account, based on online comments and lists of best banks for expats, you can choose from Capital One (360 account), Ally, Wells Fargo, First Republic. PNB and Metrobank are located in only 3 locations and PNB accounts are not FDIC insured, so I think a US bank is a better option. You might also want to check HSBC. Just like Citibank, it also offers free global transfers through its Premier account. HSBC has only 5 branches here (Makati, Ortigas, Fort Bonifacio, Cebu, Davao) and 3 HSBC Savings Bank branches. I hope you’ll share with us in the future the best option you have chosen
Hi Nora, So can I open a PNB Philippine peso account in Los Angeles? I am planning on slowly putting money in that account for retirement. Is it possible to open a PNB Philippine peso account in Los Angeles for P10k minimum initial deposit? Thanks.
Hi Roger, yes, you can open a PNB Philippine peso account in PNB LA. About 10k, I think so, that’s the passbook account’s maintaining balance requirement. For the atm account, it’s 3k. Call them first to verify their business hours. Cost is $70, if not yet increased. Then you can remit to your PNB account thru global remitters like Xoom, Remitly, Wells Fargo ExpressSend, Western Union, etc. But I’ll recommend WISE because it offers the best US-peso exchange rate. You can compare rates yourself. By the way, I’m a WISE affiliate.
You might also like to explore OFBank. It’s a fully digital bank owned by Landbank for Filipinos overseas. You can open your account online while abroad by downloading the OFB app from Google Play or Apple Store, then follow instructions. Prepare your passport, UMID or Phil PRC ID. It’s a zero-maintaining-balance account. To remit to your OFBank account, use your OFBank account name and number, but use Landbank or Land Bank of the Philippines as bank name.
Hi good morning from Philippines,
Query pls, is the MetroBank in New York be able to accommodate requirement of Veterans Affairs in Washington DC on payments of US Military Veterans using VA GI Bill Education benefit programs wherein they have enrolled with Philippine University? Since our university has MetroBank $ Account, can they deposit here directly their payments? One recommendation is to open a “third party providers” (Western Union Business Solutions). But we have already existing MetroBAnk $Account in the Philippines where they can deposit their payments. Thanks for accommodating our query. My email” ymahadji79@gmail.com
Hi Amelita, first, I’m not affiliated with Metrobank New York. I searched the VA website and I found out that for VA educational benefits, VA also uses the form used for Direct Deposit for US pensioners in the Philippines (which are being offered by the top Philippine banks). So I think you can go to your Metrobank branch and apply for Direct Deposit to receive your educational benefits. PNB, BDO and BPI also offer Direct Deposit services. Just bring your documents. You can download the form here: VA Direct Deposit . I hope you can update us here if you were able to apply with Metrobank or any other bank. Thanks.
Can I ask what Banks or remittance centers are there in Columbus Ohio USA? A friend needs to remit money from Columbus OH to Quezon City Philippines, where can he send the money what bank or Wire transfer could he use that can be received by a PNB or BPI account here. Both are Mastercard accounts.
Hi Joanna, I think Western Union or Moneygram are good options. You can also use online remitters like WISE or XOOM.com. I am an affiliate of WISE — they have the best foreign exchange rates, and you can google them.
Hi. If I open an account in NY, can someone in the P.I. Deposit money that I can withdraw in NY?
Hi Michelita, the New York branches of Metrobank and PNB offer primarily US-based accounts. I’m not sure if PNB New York is offering a Philippine-based PNB account; it’s the LA branch that’s offering it and they charge fees. Anyone in the Philippines who has a bank account with a big bank (like BPI) can deposit to your account by making a wire transfer to your US-based account (any bank in the USA). With BDO, it offers wire transfers only to those with US dollar accounts. For those without a bank account here, they can send money to you or to your bank account via Western Union or Moneygram. See here ways to send money from the Philippines to the USA
Hello, my question is if I open and account to the Philippines At PNB can I withraw some money here in the States?
Hi Berna, only if you’re able to have your ATM PIN activated (PIN changed) in the Philippines. After PIN activation, your Mastercard ATM card can be used anywhere in the US where Mastercard or Maestro is accepted.
how do i know ny philippine atm metro bank balance while i am in usa>
Hi carlito, through mobile or online banking. If you didn’t register for online/mobile banking while here in the Philippines, you can enroll while there in the USA if your Philippine-issued phone no. (the no. you registered with Metrobank when you opened your account) is activated for international roaming. You need their texts (one-time password and verification code) when you enroll. If you like mobile banking, download the Metrobank app. Here’s their instruction on how to register for mobile banking.
Hi,
Is US metro bank and metrobank are the same? Thanks
Hi Richel, no, they are not the same. There’s only one Metrobank (Philippines) in the USA, and this is in New York. This is the Metrobank (Philippines) New York website. This US Metro Bank is a US bank, and different from Philippine Metrobank
Thank you, I want to open another metrobank account since my old account has been closed. NY is too far I live in WA
Can I open an account here at PNB
FOR DIRECT DEPOSIT FOR MY SS PENSIONAND WITHDRAW IN PNB IN THE PHILIPPINES
Hi Maridel, yes, if you live near Los Angeles, you can open an account at PNB there, but if you live far, you can open your Direct Deposit account at any PNB branch when you arrive in the Philippines. Other banks also offer Direct Deposit accounts like BPI, Metrobank and Landbank.
Does BPI have partners in NYC that I can visit to handle account maintenance?
Does BPI have locations in New York, United States?
Hi JJ, sad to say, there are no more BPI offices or BPI partners in New York. You can send them your concern via this page: BPI Contact/Concern Page or you can send a private message via BPI Facebook page
hello, i would like to know if it’s the other way around, how about sending money to the USA from the Philippines (business or professional fees) is there an article where I can learn more about this? or what the full detail on how banks handle transfers, what banks are the best and are reliable?
Hi Amia, here are ways to send money to the USA from the Philippines.. You use wire transfer from your accounts in major banks, or you can use Western Union or Moneygram. Bdo offers online wire transfer from your US dollar account. BPI offers wire transfer from your peso account. There are also information on other banks’ wire transfers.
Plan to open BDO $ account in the Philippines
with a family member as co-signora who can make a Transfer to my BDO account thru US Wells Fargo account. Will this be easy way to transferMoney for medical purposes? Last year
wire transfer from a BPI account of a friend
to my US Wells Fargo acct minimal amt of Ph150k was declined by BPI their reason
being banned by. Central Bank. My friend
Said ad of now April/2023 has not been lifted yet. Pls advise to facilitate transfer.
Hi Elena, if you’re here in the Philippines, yes, you can open your BDO dollar account. Maintaining balance is $500. It’s a passbook account. If you’re there in the US, one option is for a trusted family member to open her/his dollar account, from which they can make a wire transfer. BDO’s wire transfer is through online/mobile banking only for now from a US dollar account. See here other ways to transfer money from the Philippines to USA. Another option is for you to try opening a BDO dollar account online while you’re there in the USA. You’ll have a zoom video call with a BDO officer.
Can I open a PNB debit card account at the Houston branch and place funds in it to access cash when I land in the Philippines?
Hi Tim, you might be able to. To be sure, call (281) 988-7575 or email houston@pnbrci.com. You can also prepare your online banking with your US bank, so in case you’re not able to open a PNB account there, you can transfer money from your bank to yourself thru over-the-counter claiming, or to a Philippine bank account that you will open once you arrive here. Based on experience, among the best remitters are Xoom (can transfer US dollars to a US dollar Phil account, Wise (only to a peso account but their exchange rate is good; you can see the conversion before you click Send), and Remitly. Disclosure: I’m an affiliate of WISE
Hello I live in St. Louis Mo 63129 and would like to open b. PNB Close to me. Kansas. City has PNB .
Hi Estrella, sorry, there’s no PNB nor PNBRCI in Kansas City. The nearest PNB Remittance Center office is in Chicago or Grove City, Illinois. Just in case you want to visit Chicago, call first to make sure: PNB RCI Chicago 5033 N Elston Ave., 1st floor Chicago Illinois 60630 ( Inside Seafood City Supermarket ). Mon: 9am-530pm Tue-Sat: 930am-530pm Sunday: 930am-4pm (708) 669-7097 7083202952 aodulio@pnbrci.com; chicago@pnbrci.com. There are now many Philippine accounts you can open online while you’re abroad but you need international roaming to receive one-time-passwords, Philippine passport and you can only get the debit cards when you’re in the Philippines, with most cards activated only in ATMs here.
If I open an account in NY at PNB or Metro , Can I withdraw funds in the Philippines? Is there a cost to withdraw cash in the Philippines? Do either of these banks have business accounts? Thanks.
Hi Eric, yes, if you open there a Philippine-based account, when you withdraw at their ATM here, withdrawal is free. But if you open a US-based PNB or Metrobank account, withdrawal fee is 200 or more per withdrawal even at their own ATMs. Yes, their branches here in the Philippines offer business savings and checking accounts. If it’s a corporate account, they’ll require incorporation documents, but if it’s an individual business account, IDs and passport will be enough. If you’re a US citizen, they’ll ask you banking purpose questions, as they will spend time to comply with FATCA regulations.