If you’re a Filipino working or living abroad or a Filipino immigrant, you have at least 4 ways to open a Philippine bank account while abroad.
Table of Contents:
. Open an OFBank digital account using your phone
. Open a PNB or Metrobank account
. Open a BDO Kabayan savings account
. Open a Landbank OFW savings account
. Bank account in country where you are
1. Open a digital account with Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank).
You can open an OFBank account anywhere you are. Just make sure your phone number can receive a text from the Philippines. Just download the OFBank mobile app from Google Play or Apple Store. Install it, then follow the instructions. Prepare your Philippine passport or a valid Philippine ID.
Later on, if it takes a long time to receive your One Time Password (OTP) from OFBank via text, you can choose to receive your OTP via email. OFBank will use the email address you’ve previously registered with the bank.
OFBank is owned by Land Bank of the Philippines, and its main goal is to help OFWs with their remittances and savings. It’s the first licensed digital bank in the Philippines. It has become popular with many OFWs. To know more about OFBank, follow its Facebook page Overseas Filipino Bank (with the blue check mark) and the Facebook group named Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank) – Depositor’s Group.
Remember:
When sending money to an OFBank account, use the following:
Name of OFBank account owner
Account No.: OFBank 10-digit account number
Name of Bank: Land Bank of the Philippines
Why Land Bank of the Philippines? Because Landbank is the parent company of OFBank, and Landbank is the one with international connections.
For wire transfers or Swift transfers:
Landbank’s 8-digit Swift code is TLBPPHMM.
If 11 digit is needed, it’s TLBPPHMMXXX.
If a Landbank address is needed, use the main Landbank office address:
1598 M.H del Pilar cor. Dr. J. Quintos Sts.
1004 Malate, Manila, Philippines
Landbank’s email address: customercare@mail.landbank.com
Landbank’s phone nos. : +63 2 8-522-0000 | +63 2 8-551-2200
For faster remittance, use Landbank’s remittance partners.
Contact OFBank if you have concerns:
Email: customer.care@mail.ofbank.com.ph
Website: https://www.ofbank.com.ph/
The old website of OFBank, overseasfilipinobank.gov.ph, can no longer be opened online. The new website is: https://www.ofbank.com.ph/
2. Open a Philippine bank account while abroad with subsidiaries, foreign branches, remittance firms or remittance partners of Philippine National Bank (PNB) or Metrobank.
PNB, Metrobank and BDO are the three Philippine banks with consumer banking branches or subsidiaries abroad. You can go to their offices and ask assistance for opening a Philippine-based account.
You can also ask help from their own remittance companies abroad.
PNB Branches in Japan: Tokyo and Nagoya
You can apply for a Philippine-based peso or US dollar savings account, checking account or time deposit at PNB Tokyo or Nagoya. Bring your Residence card and My Number (if resident), passport or any government-issued ID and two 30x24mm photos. Deposit in yen.
Accounts you can open:
Peso OFW Savings Account – Initial deposit: JPY25,000
Peso Regular Savings Account – Initial deposit: equivalent of PHP10,000
USD OFW Savings Account – Initial deposit: JPY70,000
USD Savings Account – Initial deposit: JPY70,000
Peso Regular Checking – Initial deposit: equivalent of PHP10,000
Peso Budget Checking – Initial deposit: JPY25,000
Peso Time deposit – Initial deposit of JPY1000,000
US Dollar Time Deposit – Initial deposit of JPY200,000
PNB Tokyo Branch
Mita43MT Building
1st Floor 3-13-16
Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0073
Phone: (03) 6858-5910
Free Dial: 0120-86-6382
Fax (24 hours): (03) 6858-5920
E-mail: customercare@pnbtokyo.co.jp
Softbank Mobile: 080-3724-4544
PNB Nagoya Sub-Branch
7th Floor Nishiki 324 Building 3-24-24
Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi
Phone: (052) 968-1800
Free Dial: 0120-143-633
Fax (24 hours): (052) 968-1900
E-mail: pnbnagoya@pnbtokyo.co.jp
Softbank Mobile: 080-3601-6240
PNB Los Angeles, California
You can open a Philippine-based peso or US dollar savings account, peso checking account, peso or dollar time deposit. Minimum initial deposit for a peso savings account is the dollar equivalent of 10,000 pesos.
For those in the U.S. who cannot go to the PNB Los Angeles branch in person, read this info:
Open a Philippine Bank Account in the U.S.
PNB Los Angeles Branch
316 W. 2nd Street, Ste. 700
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(Between Broadway & Hill Streets)
Phone: 213-401-1800 ext 201, 202 or 206
Fax: 213-401-1803
Email: losangeles@pnb.com.ph
PNB New York Branches
If you’ve decided to retire in the Philippines, you can ask help in opening your Philippine-based Direct Deposit account so you can receive your US pension in the Philippines.
PNB New York Branch – Manhattan
561 7th Ave. 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10018
Tel : (212) 790-9600
Email : newyork@pnb.com.ph
PNB New York – Queens Extension Office
69-18 Roosevelt Avenue, Woodside, NY 11377
Tel : (718) 898-6113
Email : newyork@pnb.com.ph
PNB Global Filipino Card
At most PNB locations abroad, you can apply for a Global Filipino Card (GFC) or Global Filipino Money Card (GFMC) for your beneficiary. This is a prepaid atm card that your beneficiary can use to withdraw your remittance from PNB and Bancnet atms. Your beneficiary can pick up the card at the nearest PNB branch. Valid IDs are needed to claim the card. You can apply for more than 1 card.
A GFC can only be funded abroad; it cannot accept a deposit over-the-counter in the Philippines.
List of PNB Bank Branches and Subsidiary Banks Abroad
Metrobank Japan
You can open a single-account Metrobank OFW Peso ATM savings account:
– For Filipinos only
– Valid Philippine passport and Japan Residence Card
– Minimum initial deposit: JPY10,000
– Remaining Japan visa must have at least 6 months validity
– Provide one of these: TIN, SSS no., GSIS no., UMID no., Philhealth no. or Pag-ibig no.
– Schedule a reservation at metrobank.co.jp
Metrobank Tokyo Branch
1st Floor Kandabashi Park Bldg.
1-19-1 Kanda Nishiki-cho,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0054
Phone: 03-5281-7281
Fax: 03-5281-7282
Email: MBTOKYO@metrobank.co.jp
Metrobank Osaka Branch
3F Osaka Kokusai Building
2-3-13 Azuchi-machi,
Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0052
Phone: 06-7711-1315
Fax: 06-7709-9243
Email: MBOSAKA@metrobank.co.jp
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 832-0855
Toll-free for US only: (800) 863-8762
Fax: (212) 832-0993 / (212) 223-0916
Email: customerservice@metrobankny.com
Other Metrobank branches abroad are in:
China, Korea, Taiwan and the Bahamas.
There are Metrobank remittance companies in:
Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada and the UK
Metro Remittance UK (MetroRemit)
1st Floor 12 Kensington Church Street
London London W8 4EP
United Kingdom
Phone: 02073 684 490
Alternate No.: 02079 382 571
TextLine: 07781 480 144
Fax: 02079 376 140
Email: info@metrorem.co.uk
MetroRemit is a subsidiary of Metrobank Philippines.
You can request MetroRemit to help your beneficiary in the Philippines open a Metrobank OFW Savings Account at any Metrobank branch close to where your beneficiary lives or works. Just advise your beneficiary to bring valid IDs. This account is a no-maintaining-balance account.
What about BPI Europe PLC?
It has changed!
BPI Europe PLC might no longer be offering assistance in the opening of Philippine-based accounts. It has stopped offering remittance services at its Earl’s Court branch.
It has changed its goals. It’s now focused on corporate and wholesale banking, securities and foreign exchange trading and loan syndication.
BPI Europe, London (Earl’s Court)
26A & 27A Earl’s Court Gardens
Phone: (+44) 207-8350088
Fax: (+44) 207-3731848
Email: bpinoy@bpieuropeplc.com
BPI Europe, London (Threadneedle)
4th Floor, 28/29 Threadneedle St.
Phone: (+44) 207-6389100
Fax: (+44) 207-6386838
List of BPI Bank Branches and Subsidiary Banks Abroad
Foreign-Based Accounts — Foreign Branches of Philippines Banks
3. Open a Philippine-based BDO Kabayan Savings Account or a BDO Remit Cash Card with BDO Remit offices or BDO remittance partners.
Here are some lists of BDO remittance partners:
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Bahrain
Brunei
California
Ireland
Japan
New York
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands
Taiwan
This BDO Kabayan account is a passbook-and-atm savings account. It does not require a maintaining balance, as long as it receives at least one foreign remittance within a 24-month period.
Warning: If this account does not receive a foreign remittance within 24 months, it will be automatically converted into a regular ATM account, and it will require a 2,000-peso maintaining balance. On the last business day of the 2nd consecutive month that the account is below maintaining balance, 300 pesos will be deducted as penalty, and another 300 pesos on the last day of the 3rd month, and so on, if the account remains below the maintaining balance requirement.
When you open your account at a remittance office, they will ask you to return on a certain date because they need to send your documents to BDO Philippines and then wait for your passbook and atm card to be sent. After getting your passbook and atm card, you can start sending money to your account, but you cannot use yet your atm card. You will need to activate your atm card in the Philippines.
A BDO Remit cash card is a reloadable atm card that your beneficiary can use to withdraw your remittance from an ATM in the Philippines. It is not a savings account and it does not require a maintaining balance.
It can contain a maximum of 100,000 pesos at any one time. Regular BDO cash cards can contain only 10,000 pesos (generic) and 25,000 pesos (with embossed name).
The Remit cash card can also be used as a debit card to pay purchases at SM supermarkets, stores and affiliates.
4. Apply for a Landbank OFW ATM Savings Account
The Landbank officer will give you a generic ATM card upon application.
Saudi Arabia:
Jose Aryiel G. Castor
Overseas Representative Officer in KSA
c/o Tahweel al Rajhi
Manila Plaza Bldg.
Al Batha, Riyadh
See other Landbank Overseas Representative Officers
Bank Account Based in the Country Where You Are
You can also open a bank account with a Philippine bank operating in the country where you are, if there’s a Philippine bank that operates there. Like a US-based US dollar account with Metrobank New York, or a Japan-based yen account with PNB Tokyo, or a Singapore-based Singapore dollar account with BDO Singapore.
Since the account is based abroad, it will not be covered by PDIC, and it may or may not be covered by insurance based in that foreign country.
If you have an online bank account and you transfer money from your foreign account to your account in the Philippines, the transfer will pass through a remittance system, so there will be a remittance charge.
The advantages of opening an account with a foreign branch or subsidiary of a Philippine bank are the lower cost and the faster processing due to the relationship between the Philippine bank and its foreign branch or subsidiary.
Most ATM cards issued abroad (with Mastercard, Visa, China Union Pay logos) can be used to withdraw from ATMs in the Philippines. The charge per ATM withdrawal is around 200 to 250 pesos.
READ MORE:
. List of Philippine Banks Overseas
. Direct Deposit Account for US Pensioners
. Peso Savings Accounts for OFWs
. US Dollar Accounts with Low Maintaining Balances
To save space, many of your Comments were moved here:
Comments from Dec 3, 2014 to May 22, 2016
Open a Philippine bank account while abroad
About Metrobank's OFW account and maintaining balance Sep 8
Hi My mother was not able to remit to her ofw account in metrobank though she has withdrawn money from her account there in Bahrain. what will happen to the remaining money?
ANSWER:
When was the last time your mother sent money to her Metrobank OFW account? How much was left? Does she have a passbook? Or atm card only? If 12 months or more have passed since her last remittance, her account is already a regular account. She must now maintain her account — 10k if passbook, and 2k if atm only. If not maintained, a penalty of 300 pesos will be deducted from her account every month, starting from the 2nd month the account fell below the maintaining balance level. Ask your mother to call or write Metrobank at metrobank.com.ph (Contact Us).
I want to open BPI account here in Kuwait what is the requirements? Where I will visit?
Hi Jirel, sorry BPI does not allow opening of accounts at its remittance partners abroad. Other banks like BDO, Metrobank and Landbank allow account opening abroad — just go to their accredited remittance partners, and ask because there are times that they stop temporarily account opening abroad. Common requirements are your foreign IDs or passport, initial deposit, and account opening fee.
About withdrawing initial deposit from Kabayan savings using passbook
Hello po. Can I withdraw my initial deposit in my bdo kabayan savings? It doesn't have maintaining balance, right? And if ever po, can I withdraw using my passbook because I don't have yet my atm card? Thank you. 🙂
ANSWER:
Yes, I think so. Yes, you can use your passbook. Why not wait for your atm, and then withdraw? Minimum atm withdrawal is 200 pesos.
Hello po ask q LNG po pgngopen b aq Ng account rito Kuwait pguwi q Ng pinas pd q po kya mgmit un as my personal savings account n for life?,,, bdo kbayan po sna… Bka po pg hinulugan q un mwala nl g pera q nkktmot… First time q po qng skali mgkrun account… Slmat po….
mary allen, about opening and maintaining BDO Kabayan account October 3, 2015
Hello po. If I open a BDO Kabayan account here in Kuwait, can I use this account when I go home to the Philippines? Can I use it as my personal savings account for life? I'm afraid my money will disappear. It's my first time to have a bank account. Thanks po.
ANSWER:
Hi mary allen, yes, you can use your BDO Kabayan account as your personal savings after you decide to stay home in the Philippines for good. But this is a passbook account, so when you're no longer working abroad, you must maintain 10,000 pesos in your account, to prevent your account from getting the monthly below-maintaing-balance penalty.
While abroad, your Kabayan account does not require a 10k maintaining balance, but you must send to your account from abroad at least once every 12 months.
Here are BDO remittance partners in Kuwait, where you can ask if they're offering BDO Kabayan account opening. Track your remittance here: BDO Remit Status Inquiry. Your money in a BDO account will not disappear, as long as you do not share your atm card or passbook with other people. Comment again if you have other questions.
Anu pong partner ng bdo dto s dammam ang my hghest currency rate? Mg open dn po aq ng kabayan account? Anu po mga requirements?
About BDO remittance partners in Dammam: Based on BDO's list, Al Rajhi Banking is its only partner in Dammam. To open your account, bring your IDs and iqama. Bring 2 ID photos in case these are required.
Hi, I want to ask where can I open Metrobank OFW Savings Account. I'm here in Jeddah KSA. Thanks
Hi Renz Bryan, about opening a Metrobank OFW account in Jeddah KSA:
Hi Renz, here's a list of Metrobank remittance partners in KSA. Sorry to say there's no partner in Jeddah. If you like, you can ask these BDO remittance partners in Jeddah if they're offering BDO Kabayan account opening.
Thanks you for the info. Mam,I take in a BDO Kababayan Account, but it's already close last August. Can I get a new one?
Hi Renz Ryan, yes, I think so, you can apply for a new Kabayan. I just don't know if they have rules about those whose Kabayan account was recently closed. Try a Landbank atm savings account. Al Rajhi Bank is a remittance partner of Landbank — ask them if they're offering Landbank OFW atm account opening.
Hi Nora,
I want to open an account to any of the banks. I am from Sacramento, California and can easily travel to San Francisco. The reason I am opening an account is so I can deposit money from the US that I could use when I travel to Manila.
About opening a Philippine-based account in California
Hello, if you like PNB, here's the address of the PNB Los Angeles branch and PNB remittance firms and partners.
If you like, you can open a BDO Kabayan account. Here's a list of BDO remittance partners in California.
Hi, I'm here in Hail KSA, Where can I open a Philippine savings account here in Hail. Thanks
Hi Hoydie, sorry there's no Hail in the list of BDO remittance partners in Saudi Arabia. But ask the branch of Bank Al-Bilad or Al-Rajhi Banking there if they're offering BDO Kabayan account opening.
Good day. Im currently working in Thailand. Nakuha ng mother ko check ko for my previous company and its a Managers Check from Security Bank. Di niya maencash need ng any atm account ko dae. I dont have any account sa Ph. Can i open one account online para madeposit niya and masend ko sa atm niya na landbank online? Thank you
Jenny, about opening a Philippine bank account online: Hi Jenny, sorry you can't open a bank account online. It was BPI Direct before that offered this to Pinoys in 5 countries, but it has suspended it. BDO Kabayan account is being offered by certain BDO remittance partners abroad, but there are no BDO partners there in Thailand.
Ask your mother to go to Security Bank (branch on the cheque) and ask if she can use a SPA from Thailand (verified by the Philippine consulate there) to encash your cheque. If the bank allows it, then request for a SPA from the Phil consulate there.
Hi, miss Nora Tamba, have a great day, I'm here in Jeddah Saudi Arabia where can I open a Philippine savings account here…thank you,
Liza, about opening a Philippine bank account in Jeddah Saudi Arabia: Hi Liza, here's a list of BDO remittance partners in Saudi Arabia. You can ask the banks in the list if they're offering BDO Kabayan account opening. They will forward your application to BDO Philippines. You will receive your passbook and atm, but you can activate only your atm at a BDO machine in the Philippines when you take your vacation.
Heloo po my sis is in manchester..my checkque po xa dto pinas.kso la xa account..pwede b xa on line apply don s manchester?
Anonymous, about opening a bank account in Manchester, UK October 22, 2015
Hello po my sis is in manchester. she has a cheque here in pinas but she doesn't have an account here. Can she open an account online there in Manchester?
ANSWER:
Your sister can ask this BDO partner AFTAB Currency Exchange Ltd., Pall Mall Court 61-67, Kings Street, Manchester M2 4PD, Lancashire if they're offering a BDO Kabayan account opening. If not, your sister can open an account with BPI Europe and then ask for assistance in opening a Philippine-based BPI account.
hi ms nora, where can i check the balance inquiry on my bpi atm here in singapore? how much the charge in sgd?tanx!
About checking BPI atm balance in Singapore: Does your atm have Cirrus logo at the back? If yes, then look for an atm machine that has a Cirrus, Mastercard, or Maestro logo and make a balance inquiry. The charge for balance inquiry is around 1 US dollar. For withdrawal, it's 3.50 US dollars.
Kahit ba da kuwait pwede basta may cirrus?
Hi po, pwd po ba mgremit to BPI sa al senaya bank sa hail ksa? Please rply po thanks.
Myla Sarraga, about remittance to BPI throough Al Senaya Bank in Hail, KSA November 12, 2015
Hi po, can I remit to BPI through al senaya bank in hail ksa? Please reply po thanks.
ANSWER:
Hi Myla, Al Senaya is not a remittance partner of BPI. Look at these lists of banks in Saudi Arabia that have partnered with BPI: BPI Remittance partners in Saudi Arabia
good day po mam nora ask ko lang po sana kaka open ko lamang po ng BPI epress teller international last year here in kuwait bale ang sabi po pag uwi pa lang ng pinas bago ma widraw yung pera at pag uwi pa lang din ma change yung pasword.. ok lang po ba kahit abutin ng 3 years bago mapalitan ng pasword pero nahuhulugan sya at makukuha po b yung na deposit na pera sa account. kung hinde po sya makuha pano po kea ang dapat gawin me mga resibo po akong tinabe katibayan na nag hulog ako maraming salamat po madam
Hi Ms. Nora, Ask ko lang po if theres a way to send a usd to a usd account in BPI that doesnt have a fee. It was suggested before kasi na I open a dollar account para daw if magpapdala anyone from the US wala na siyang fee. But sadly,nalipat ata ng branch ung nakausap ko and I have no time to go to the bank to ask them personally. Thank you.
kung mag oopen account ako sa metrobank dito japan magagamit ko kaha sa pinas
kung mag open account sa metrobank ako dito sa japan magagamit ku kaha sa pinas
Hello ma'am nora. Anu pong pwedeng Bank ang pwede kong ipa open sa kapatid kong nasa PH para makapag hulog at savings po ako. Habang nan dito ako sa abroad. THANK YOU.
Hello Ma'am Nora. I would like to know kung anung bank ang pwede kong ipaopen sa kapatid ko para makapag Padala ako at the same time pwede rin syang gawing savings acct at pwedeng icheck online. Ipapangalang ko po kasi sa kapatid ko. Thank you.
About a good savings account for sibling of person working overseas
Hello Mrs Nora. I would like to know in which bank can my sibling open an account so I can send money to it and at the same time he/she can maintain it as a savings account that we can check online. The account will be in his/her name. Thank you.
ANSWER:
It depends on where you are, which bank have many remittance partners there, and which bank is near your sibling's house or school. BDO, BPI, Metrobank and PNB are the banks that have many remittance partners abroad. Landbank too. All these offer accounts for OFWs and their beneficiaries and all these offer online banking. The most popular, based on comments on our websites, is the BDO Kabayan account. To open this account, your sibling needs to present a recent receipt of remittance from overseas, school ID and another ID, if there is, and 1 or 2 ID pictures.
There have been many complaints about additional remittance fees from remittances sent to accounts, so you can consider sending money for CASH PICKUP — your sibling picks up the money at his/her bank, and then deposit the money to his/her account. Your sibling can open a regular atm savings account at this bank. She/he needs to maintain the maintaining-balance requirement (2k at BDO, 1k at BPI Family, 3k at BPI),
Hi.. i filled up my applicatin of activation ng bpiexpressonline ko. Tanong ko lang po kung any bpi branch pwede i pa submit ung form na un. Ipapadala ko lang po kc sa kakilala ko.. im here in kuwait. Thanks
Lester Concepcion, about BPI online banking enrollment November 25, 2015
Hi. i filled up my applicatin of activation ng bpiexpressonline ko. Can I submit the form at any bpi branch? I'll send it through an acquaintance. i'm here in kuwait. Thanks
ANSWER:
Here's the process of enrollment: Enroll in BPI online banking while abroad. Do not send your printed application through somebody; you should mail it directly to BPI by postal mail. See the BPI address in the post.
Hello po Mam Nora. Mam ask ko lang po sana, may branch po ba ang metrobank sa uae na pwede ko po g pag withdrawan ng pera galing sa passbook ko po? Iniisip ko ho kasi na baka maubos yung cash ko, and kakailanganin ko pong magwithdraw from my dollar account pag nanduon na po ako sa uae. So ask ko lang po sana kung may pwedeng pag withdrawan ho ba ng pera mula sa passbook duon sa uae po? Thank you in advance mam.
Hi po mam nora,may sss cheque po kami ng father-in-law ko kasi nag-apply sya ma salary loan online. Pano po namin maencash dito sa pinas eh nasa saudi arabia po ung father-in-law ko?
Jane sapad, SSS cheque of father-in-law December 23, 2015
Hi po mrs nora, we have the sss cheque of my father-in-law. He applied for a salary loan online. How can we encash it here in pinas as he is in saudi arabia po?
ANSWER:
Sorry you cannot encash it. You might be able to encash it with a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) from your father-in-law. But ask first the bank that issued the cheque if they accept a SPA.
But you can deposit the cheque to your father-in-law's bank account. It will be available for withdrawal on the 3rd business day.
Hi ms nora. Monthly nako nghuhulog s metro bank account q dto s abu dhabi. Ndi pa activate account ko. Pano ko mlalaman ung balance? Ndi ko nman mgamit sa atm machines
Adrian Meneses December 25, 2015
Hi ms nora. I deposit monthly to my metrobank account here in abu dhabi. My account has not yet been activated. How can I know my balance? I cannot make balance inquiry at atm machines.
ANSWER:
I hope your vacation is soon so you can activate your atm card and enroll your atm card in Metrobank online banking. Meanwhile, you can go to metrobank.com.ph and then click "Send us email" and write your concern.
hello Ms. Nora. ano po mga requirements when opening a BDO Kabayan savings account sa remittance partner nila? dito po ako sa uae. thanks po.
Hi?ask q lang po f paano open account sa OFW BPinoy savings account sa sharja UAE and what are the requirements…tenks
Hello 🙂
ask ko lang po kung meron sa inyo may alam How to have a savings account from Japan? Yung dito ko po i dedeposit then sa Philippines lang po pwede iwithdraw? Thank in advanced
Hi 🙂 Ask ko lang po kung anong magndang option to have savings account in the Phil? Where I deposit the money from here at Japan and can only withdraw that money in the Philippines? Any suggestions pls
hi po, ask ko lng po ang duration ng bpi atm card activation, if it takes 3yrs pa po bago makabakasyon sa pinas ok lng po ba yon? with regular remittances po namn…salamat po
Jourter Delgado March 16, 2016
Hi po, May I ask po the duration of bpi atm card activation, if it takes 3 yrs before I can get back to pinas . Is that ok? with regular remittances po. Thanks po
ANSWER:
Hi Jourter, it's great that you continue to save through your bank account. Yes, in case later on your atm card is not recognized by the machine, just go to your branch and ask about it. Have you enrolled your account in BPI online banking? So you can track your balance? How to enroll in BPI Online banking while abroad
Hi po May i ask if i can open a bdo account in netherlands?
Hi. Thanks, Nora, for your many very helpful pieces of advice. I'm wondering if there is any difference between the exchange rates between BPI and BDO. My sister in law will be leaving for Oman in a week and we gave her our BPI account number to send her remittances to. But I compared the BPI FOREX rates with those of BDO and though they don't list the Omani Rial, for the currencies listed, BDO has better rates. Would it be worth it to open a BDO account if the rial-to-PhP is better at BDO instead of using our existing BPI account? Thanks!
Hi amalahi, thanks a lot for appreciating my efforts. Means a lot.
About the exchange rates, based on my experience, BDO's exchange rate for dollars or rials remitted is much lower than their rate posted or published. It could be the same with BPI and other banks. My suggestion is this: Your sis-in-law tries sending rials in 3 modes: rials for cash pickup, rials for deposit to account, and pesos for deposit to account, and then you compare the exchange rates used. Some OFWs also change rials to US dollars then send the dollars. I'm not very sure, but I think if the rial-peso exchange rate is good in Oman, then she sends in pesos so that BPI or BDO should just deduct their incoming remittance fee. Based on my experience getting dollars from the US and UK and won from South Korea, BDO deducts a lot when foreign currency is sent to a peso account.
hello po,
I am in Qatar now. I want sana mag open nang regular savings account. can you inform me which bank I can open regular savings account?
I have a check that needs to be deposited on a regular account. Hindi daw pwede magdeposit sa kabayan account nang BDO.
About opening a Philippine account while abroad for check deposit: Go to this info on applying for a Landbank account in Qatar and call or email to ask if the account you'll open in Qatar will be able to accept check deposits.
Another option is to ask the issuer if you can send an authorization letter or a SPA so they can reissue the check in your family member's name so your family member can encash the check and deposit to your account.
Hi Ms. Nora, dito aq riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ngopen aq PNB Passbook account sa telemoney after a month nakuha ko nmn passbook from pinas un. pero nkapgdeposit aq sa Tru ENJAZ ..ok lng ba un?
About depositing to PNB account via ENJAZ:
Enjaz is also a PNB remittance partner, so your remittance should have been credited already. You can enroll in PNB Internet banking so you can track your balance. I don't have PNB online banking (only BPI, BDO, Metrobank and Eastwest) so I don't know all PNB's activation rules. But I've read that non-atm accounts can be enrolled and that one-time password (the code sent through text) is only for funds transfer to a third-party account, so this means you can track your balance even without receiving OTP. Activation of your online banking enrollment might be through the regular postal mail (print your enrollment page and then send to PNB through the mail).
Hello mam, pwede po ba akng mag open ng BPI accnt dito sa singapore?kc po my magpapadala sa akin galing din sa ibang bansa e ang bank niya ay BPI
Sorry, you cannot open a BPI account there. Your sender can go to Western Union or to Moneygram to send money to you. You can open an account here when you take your next vacation
Hi Nora,
I would like to open an account with a Philippine bank.I live in Janesville, Wisconsin. Either going to the branch or online. Any suggestions?
Thank you,
Lilia
About opening a Philippine bank account in Janesville, Wisconsin: Hi Lilia, sorry, there's no Philippine bank branch in Janesville, or in any city in Wisconsin. Philippine banks do not allow opening of accounts online. They need personal appearance of the account applicant at the branch. PNB branches are in New York and Los Angeles. Metrobank branch is in New York. BDO previously allowed opening of Kabayan accounts in some of their remittance partner offices abroad, but they have stopped offering this service most probably because of the recent money laundering scandal.
Good day po, tanong ko lang kong pwede po ba ipagpatuloy ko ung na open na account ko sa BDO…hindi na po kasi nahulogan un hanggang nakauwi nako ng pinas last 2010 pa po un..hindi ko pa po nakuhanan ng pin nung umuwi nako pinas. please help po salamat
BDO account not updated since 2010: Sorry your account is already closed. Most likely your account was closed in 2011 or early 2012. Anyway, you can open a new account with BDO or with any other bank. Just present your IDs, ID pictures and initial deposit. Some banks require a bill that shows your home address.
Good Day Ma'am Nora
I wish to know the simplest way for my sons' mother in Dubai for her to make padala to my sons' bank accounts.
Which local bank would be simplest to use?
Thank you.
Hi COA Auditor: Very sorry I missed your post. I think BPI Easy Saver is the best. Why? Because it does not require a maintaining balance — something that many young people have difficulty in complying with. They usually spend all their balances. There's a 5-peso charge for every atm withdrawal and every balance inquiry, but this is better than paying 300 pesos for not maintaining the required balance.
Later on, when their mother takes her vacation, she can open her own BPI account, enrolls in BPI online banking, remits to it (has remittance fee), then transfers money online to her sons (free) anytime.
Ms. Nora,
Good Day. I'm just asking how to open an account in Bdo or Bpi abroad specially here in oman? Because I want to open an account either one in that two bank.
Thank you
Hi rose: Here's a list of BDO Remittance partners in Oman. Ask them if they're offering assistance in BDO Kabayan account opening.
BPI no longer offers account opening overseas.
Hi! Im in Perth, Australia. Please help me find a way to open a Philippine bank account. Thanks!
Hi Peter Paul Lawas: Try asking these BDO remittance partners in Perth Granstar or PeraMax or Fams Pera Padala if they're offering assistance in opening a BDO Kabayan account. Take note that if they offer this assistance, you might get the passbook after a month, as they'll forward your application to BDO in the Philippines. You won't also be able to use the atm card, as this can only be activated at a BDO atm in the Philippines
Hi ask q lng poh kung saan pde mg open ng bpi savings acct here in singapore…thanks poh
Hi Mik daje, sorry hindi na nagpapa-open ang BPI ng bank account overseas. Open a BPI account when you take your vacation here. Subukan mong mag-open sa BDO remittance partner diyan.
Try mo rin sa Metro Remittance Singapore Pte. Ltd. sa
#03-30 & 31 Lucky Plaza. Magtanong ka na rin sa PNB na andiyan din sa Lucky Plaza
Hi miss Nora, Happy New Year po. Tanong lang po, pwede po ba ako mag open account sa pinas pero kapatid ko po ang mag open kasi dito ako sa California. Pwede po ba ilagay ang pangalan ko sa application para pwede ko po makita ko online ang na di posit Kung money. Monthly ko po kasi hologan account. Or pwede po ba kapatid ko ang pupunta sa BDO Branch bali siya lang ang represintative ko pero pangalan ko po ang ilagay sa application. Salamat po,asahan ko po ang sagot ninyo.
Hi Mile2019, sorry hindi puedeng mag-open ng bank account ang kapatid mo in your behalf. Ang pag-open ng account ay in person, kasi you have to sign documents, witnessed by bank officers, and you have to present IDs.
If you want to save in a bank account based in the Philippines, you can try opening a Philippine-based account there in California if you're near a branch of PNB or PNBRCI or a BDO remittance partner. Here's a list of PNB and PNBRCI branches in California. Here's a list of BDO remittance partners in California. Kung PNB ang mas malapit sa iyo, mas okay ang PNB kasi meron silang services na ino-offer na hindi puedeng i-offer ng BDO remittance partner.
I hope you can share here later on your experience
Hello po . Dito po sko work sa thsiland . Ngpaopen po ako ng bdo savings account sa nsme ng mother ko . Pede po kaya ako ang mgtransact thru mobile or online within pinas din nmn po yung katransaction ko . Nhihirspan po kase sya ng palagi withdraw at deposit to other accounts .
How can I open a PNB account here in Kuwait
PNB in Kuwait: There are 2 PNB desk offices in Kuwait. Approach them and ask if they can help you open a PNB account while you're in Kuwait. PNB Offices in Kuwait
Hello, I'm planning to open an account in BDO here in Bahrain and I want to use it for stock trading (via BDO Nomura which requires an online banking account). If I open a Kabayan Savings account, I understand that I won't be able to use the atm card unless I activate it in the Philippines but will I be able to access it online or can I apply for an online banking account while I'm here in Bahrain?
About opening a BDO account in Bahrain for online banking: BDO needs OTP for its online banking login so if your phone can easily accept SMS from the Philippines, then you can use BDO for your online stock trading.
About enrollment: after you get your passbook and atm card, you can enroll in BDO online banking (Choose the "I'm outside the country" option. You will mail your printed acknowledgment page to BDO, and wait for BDO to call you. This will activate your online banking. Sometimes, BDO policies regarding their online banking enrollment abroad change, as they try to cope with money-laundering and security issues. So be open to changes as there could be a change in the procedure I just described.
How to Enroll in BDO Online Banking while abroad
OTP means one-time password
Hello po,Paano po ba i activate ulit ang account ko. matagal na pong di nagaglaw ang account ko laging out of town dahil sa work. i realize na may account pala ako sa Metro bank.. now IM back sa NY for good I would like to continue po mag deposit ulit. also po can I change my account from ATM to passbook? Nawala na din po ang ATM card ko.. I think I prefer passbook na lang..puwede po ba yon?TY po. Sammy
Hi Sammy: How long has it been since you last deposited or withdrawn? If it has been more than 2 years, your account is now dormant and is put on hold. To reactivate it, you need to appear in person at your branch. If you did not maintain your required balance, it most likely has been charged with penalties and/or closed, depending on your balance.
Sorry you cannot change your account type while abroad. You need to go to your branch and open a new passbook account, and close your atm account.
Hello po mam. Ano po kayang bank account and puwede ko pong i-open sa sitwasyon ko. Dito po ako ngayon australia. Magkakaroon na po ng uupa sa condo namin sa pilipinas pero wala po akong bank account sa pilipinas kung saan idedeposit ng tenant ang monthly rent niya. Sana at the same time din puwede ko ring madepositohan itong philippine bank account na ito from here abroad kung magpapadala po ako from here abroad.Paano po kaya madam? Salamat po in advance.
Hi ms. Nora, dto po ako kuwait,
Tanong ko lang po, pag nagdeposit po ba ako sa kabayan account,may deduction parin po ba pag nasend na sa account? At panu ko po malalaman pag magkanu na laman ng account ko,thanks…
BDO's inward remittance fee: Yes, there's an inward remittance fee. If the KD-to-peso exchange rate there in Kuwait is favorable, it's better to send in pesos, kasi yong exchange rate na gamit ng BDO for incoming dollar remittances is much lower than the rate used by money changers here.
Hi. Good day po, ask ko lng if meron din dto sa Dammam,Saudi Arabia para sa Landbank mk pag apply ng new account.if meron po saan po.
Salamat
Hi I'm from Riyadh can I open account here any location here in Riyadh Saudi arabia
Hello po mrs nora tumba need ko po mag open account sa na pwede po sa bancnet andto po ako sa saudi sa jeddah or SA BPI ako mag open account..at pupuwede bang ipadla ko sa father ko if naka pag open ako ng account dto sa saudi..ung ATM CARD AND PASSBOOK AND UNG ACCOUNT NUMBER KUNG PWEDE PO KSI NEED GAWA SA CHEKE NA MAKUKUHA KO SA GSIS GLING SA MOTHER KO.NEED MAIPASOK NG FATHER KO SA IPASOK SA ACCOUNT NA AKING OPEN..PLS REPLY ME ASAP MRS NORA TUMBA.IM ELVIRA MANAHAN RAMOS.FROM JEDDAH
Hi good day ask ko lang po kung anong bangko pwede mag open ng account husband ko nasa Riyadh po sya? Tnx
good day maam nora..ask qlng poh kun san d2 sa dubai pwd mkpg0pen ng accnt sa bdo and anu poh nids na requirements..tnx poh
good day maam nora..ask qlng poh kun san d2 sa dubai pwd mkpg0pen ng accnt sa bdo and anu poh nids na requirements..tnx poh
hi.this is noemi.
i just want to ask if a kabayan savings account can accept a cheque deposit?
thank u.
Hello..AM.WORKING AS HOUSE MAID HERE IN RIYADH….I WOULD LIKE TO ASK HOW CAN I HAVE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT ???Thank you?
Open a Philippine bank account in Riyadh: Punta ka sa Al Rajhi Banking, or Bank Al Bilad, or Alinma Bank or Al Zamil Exchange at tanungin mo na gusto mong mag-open ng BDO Kabayan account. Bring your iqama and money to pay for processing. Makukuha after about a month. Hindi mo pa magagamit diyan sa KSA yong atm card, pero puede mo nang padalhan yong account mo ng pera. Ang account number mo ay nasa loob ng passbook. Comment ka lang dito kung meron ka pang tanong
Hi Nora, I hope all is well with you.
My wife is expecting to receive a maternity benefit check from SSS here in Jubail, KSA, as she gave birth here in Dec 2018. However, the SSS Rep was suggesting that she should have a Saudi-Based Philippine bank account to be able to deposit the check.
Can you advise if Metrobank has any tie-up with any Saudi-based banks here in Jubail, KSA? If none, which Philippine bank should we choose if we plan to visit Enjaz Remittance or Al Rajhi Bank here in KSA?
I would appreciate your kind and prompt advice.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely yours.
Hello po mam ask ko lng po kung mag oprn account dto sa qatar at kung paano at ano mga kailangan kasi gusto ko po makapag ipon.at kung mawiwidraw din sa pilipinas pag umuwi ..salamat po
hi po mam gusto ko den po sana mag open ng bdo kabayan account dito sa jeddah .ano po ba ang una kong gagawen .magagamit ko ba ito pag nasa pinas na ko .first time ko lang po kase hinde ko po alam kung paano . yung totoo po natatakot ako na baka hinde ko ito magamit pag umuwe na ko ng pilipinas . ano po ang mga kelangan kong requirements . may mag guguide po ba sakin dito para makapag open nang bdo kabayan account .anong account po ba dapat pag ilalagay ko po yung pera ko .para maipon at magamit ko sa pilipinas .. sana po masagot niyo po ako .salamat po
Hi mhelai, maganda na gusto mong makapag-ipon. Yes, puedeng mag-open dian ng BDO Kabayan savings account. Magdala ka ng iqama mo at siguro 50 riyals or 100 riyals or more. Hindi ko na kasi alam kung magkano na ngayon ang account opening fee nila. Merong fee kasi ipapadala pa nila sa BDO Philipines ang application mo. Merong BDO partner bank na baka tumigil na sa pag-o-offer ng account opening, so try asking the other partner banks. Tingnan mo dito ang mga BDO partners sa Jeddah. Kapag na-process ang application mo, babalik ka mga after a month para makuha mo yong passbook at atm card mo. Yong atm card, hindi mo pa magagamit diyan, pero active na yong account mo, puede ka nang magpadala. Sa mga BDO partners ka lang magpadala. Later on, mag-enroll ka sa online banking para macheck mo ang balance mo. Comment ka na lang uli dito kapag ayaw na nilang magpa-open ng account at irerefer ko ang Metrobank at ibang bank.
hello po nasa pilipinas po ako,my fiance want me to open a dollar account the problem lang po he doesn’t know how to send dollars to here po..so i told him send it in peso ,i just recently closed my bpi account po kasi.i just wanted to ask if is it possible to open a dollar account here in ph using philippine peso?
may i receive a reply to my email ?
Hi sarah, you can use your peso money to buy US dollars sa mga money changers, so you can open a US dollar account. Usually $500 ang minimum to open a US dollar account (BDO, BPI, PNB, Metrobank, Landbank) and you need to maintain $500 in your account para walang penalty. Puede ring sabihin mo sa fiance mo na padalhan ka ng money through Xoom or Moneygram then kunin mo over the counter sa BDO.
is bdo Bahrain open in saturday and what is their clossing time and requirements to open a saving account
Hi francelyn, walang BDO Bahrain. Meron lang remittance companies diyan o banks diyan na naki-partner sa BDO for remittance purposes. Ang usual account opening requirements ay yong passport at company ID mo or Bahrain ID mo. Magtanong ka lang kasi minsan merong time na itinitigil yong account opening due to money laundering laws.
Hello!
I am a Filipina, residing here in Texas and I would like to inquire on how to open an account here and someone of my family in Dumaguete can gain access into my account?
Please help!
Thank you!
Evie
Hi Evie, there’s a PNB Remittance Center Inc. (PNBRCI) in Houston, Texas, 8388 W. Sam Houston Parkway #194
Houston, TX 77072, Tel (281) 988-7575, houston@pnbrci.com. You might want to call them and ask. There are now at least 3 digital banks here offering account opening online — you might want to try if it works there: Union Bank, ING Bank. About your family’s access to your account, it might be better if your family opens their own account here (the same bank — the account that you can open there), so you can transfer money to them online anytime, after remitting funds to your own account.
If I open a PNB account in New York. Will the money in PNB account be able to be accessible in the Philippines? Also do you have services like auto pay for like apartments etc. Due to the fact I still work in other places in the world. Being a Merchant Seaman.
Hi Jim, your PNB New York account will be only be accessible if you or your family use your ATM to withdraw money in the Philippines (with charges) and when you do transactions thru your PNB New York online account. If you like an autopay feature that auto pays Philippine bills, it should be a Philippine-based PNB account. Ask PNB New York to assist you in opening a Philippine-based PNB account so you can auto pay
Helow po I have my BDO account how I open online banking account in my phone thanks pls help me ma’am
Hi Rebecca, sa phone mo, click mo yong Google icon. Doon sa Search, i-type mo bdo.com.ph. Ang lalabas dapat is BDO | BDO Unibank, Inc. at bdo.com.ph. Merong icon ng padlock before “BDO”. I-enlarge mo yong screen para makita mo yong “Online Banking Login” sa top right corner. Click mo at makita mo “Not yet enrolled? Enroll now!”. Click then icheck mo “I have read….” then “Submit”. Select mo account type mo at i-check mo “Outside the Philippines.” Make sure you provide your phone number na ginagamit mo diyan sa abroad na natatawagan at nati-text from the Philippines. Within 5 days, after you submit your online application, someone from BDO will call you. Dapat tandaan mo yong mga ifinill-up mo sa application mo kasi ive-verify. Pag approved na ang online banking mo, puede mo nang idownload yong BDO mobile app and use the same username and password sa online banking mo. I-activate mo yong “OTP Generator” para hindi mo na kelangan yong tinetext na OTP from the Philippines. I hope when you have time, paki-share dito kung ok na mobile app mo. Have a nice day
UnionBank online account application pending last 6 months. what to do ?
Hi Jhan, why so patient? You can go to UnionBank’s page https://www.facebook.com/unionbankph then use “Send Message” to explain to them your concern.
Pwede Po ba Ang kapatid ko mag open account sa akin Ng atm card sa pinas Hindi Po Kasi Ako makalabas dito sa middle east salamat
Hi Liza, ang ibig mo bang sabihin ay account mo ang i-open ng kapatid mo? Sorry, hindi puede, hindi yan allowed. Puede kang mag-open ng account online sa digital bank na OFBank. Ito ay owned by Landbank. I-download mo lang yong OFBank app. Prepare your valid ID. Make sure you have a working email address. Kung ang phone mo is hindi nakakatanggap ng text from the Philippines, if you like, mag-usap kayo ng sister mo about using her phone no. sa pag-open mo ng OFBank account at i-open nio pareho ang Messenger nio so she can send you the OTP while you open an OFBank account. For more info about OFBank, search mo yong OFBank group sa FB.