Are you planning to work abroad, or just started your new career as overseas Filipino worker? One of the most crucial decisions that could influence your money-saving habits during the first few weeks as an OFW is how you choose your bank account.
Does it offer convenience of withdrawal across multiple ATMs but also too tempting for you to pull out funds on a whim? Does it guarantee better yields but require a certain maintaining balance? Choosing to commit to a bank goes beyond marketing stunts and celebrity endorsers; OFWs must be discerning to distinguish which bank best benefits their niche — lifestyles, priorities, and long-term plans.
1. Metrobank OFW Peso Savings account (Metrobank)
This is another savings account for Filipino migrant workers that provide convenience and savings flexibility both to OFWs and their families. Foreign currency deposits are automatically converted to Philippine peso which gets rid of the hassle for family to convert money into local currency. Tracking balance account is also possible with a passbook facility.
Features
- Available in passbook or ATM account
- ATM accessed 24/7 anywhere in the Philippines via BancNet or abroad via Maestro-Cirrus accounts
- Zero deposit
- No maintaining balance – provided there is at least one valid remittance transaction from any Metrobank foreign branches or foreign remittance partners.
- Interest rate at 0.25% p.a
- Account balance to earn interest P10,000
- Can be enrolled to Metrobank online banking MetrobankDirect facility
Application requirement
- Any government-issued ID card
Contact:
Metro Manila: +632 8700 700
Domestic Toll Free: 1 800 1888 5775
2. Overseas Kabayan Savings (Chinabank)
Chinabank Overseas Kabayan Savings is another option for OFWs that features zero deposit requirement and zero monthly average daily balance requirement. One of the smallest deposit amount to earn interest at P1,000.
Features
Zero initial deposit requirement
No maintaining balance required
Average daily balance to earn interest P1,000
Interest rate 0.25% p.a
Covered by PDIC with maximum deposit insurance per depositor at P500,000.
How to open an account
Basic Requirements
- Two (2) 1×1 ID Pictures
- Original/s and clear copy/ies of at least one (1) of the following valid IDs*:
- Passport
- Driver’s License
- Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) ID
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
- Police Clearance
- Postal ID
- Voter’s ID
- Barangay Certification
- Government Service and Insurance System (GSIS) e-Card
- Social Security System (SSS) Card
- Senior Citizen Card
- Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID
- Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) ID
- Seaman’s Book
- Government Office and GOCC ID [e.g. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) IDs]
- Certification from the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP)
- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Certification
- Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID
- Company IDs issued by private entities or institutions registered with or supervised or regulated either by the BSP, SEC or IC
- School ID, duly signed by the principal or head of the school (for students who are beneficiaries of remittances or fund transfers who are not yet of voting age)
*Please note that China Bank may require you to present additional IDs to establish and verify your identity.
Additional Requirements
- For Aliens and Non-residents to establish residency and for positive identification
- Passport
- Alien Certificate of Registration / Immigrant Certificate of Registration (ACR/ICR)
- Contract of employment (for citizens only)
- For Business Name / Sole Proprietorship Accounts
- Certificate of Registration of Business Name with DTI
- Application for Registration with DTI
- Special Power of Authority (SPA) if the signatory is other than the owner of the business
- Certificate of Tax Exemption / Preferential Tax Treatment (if exempt from withholding tax)
- For Partnership Accounts
- SEC Certificate of Registration
- Articles of Co-Partnership
- Partnership Resolution or Agreement duly notarized, designating the following:
- China Bank as its depository bank
- Authorized signatories
- Certificate of Tax Exemption / Preferential Tax Treatment (if exempt from withholding tax)
- For Domestic Corporate Accounts
- SEC Certificate of Filing Articles of Incorporation
- SEC Certificate of Filing Articles of By-Laws
- Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
- Board Resolution duly certified by the Corporate Secretary, designating the following:
- China Bank as its depository bank
- Authorized signatories Certificate of Tax Exemption / Preferential Tax Treatment (if exempt from withholding tax)
- For Foreign Corporate Accounts The following documents authenticated by the Philippine Consul:
- Articles of Incorporation
- By-Laws
- Board Resolution duly certified by the Corporate Secretary, designating the following:
- China Bank as its depository bank
- Authorized signatories
- SEC License to do business/to operate in the Philippines
Contact
Metro Manila, Philippines
Hotline: (632) 88-55-888 Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Domestic Toll-Free Numbers
PLDT: 1-800-1888-5888
Digitel: 1-800-3888-5888
International Toll-Free Numbers
Hong Kong – 001-800-1-888-5888
Italy – 00-800-1-888-5888
Singapore – 001-800-1-888-5888
USA – 011-800-1-888-5888
Australia – 0011-800-1-888-5888
Canada – 011-800-1-888-5888
China – 00-800-1-888-5888
Japan – 010-800-1-888-5888 / 0061010-800-1-888-5888
Korea – 001-800-1-888-5888
Thailand – 001-800-1-888-5888
You may also contact us viaemail: online@chinabank.ph or fax: (632) 519-0143
3. PSBank Overseas Filipino Savings (PSBank)
The PSBank Overseas Filipino Savings Account is a fixed interest bearing account that allows day and night banking through PSBank, Metrobank, BancNet, Megalink, and ExpressNet ATMs nationwide, and Maestro and Cirrus ATMs worldwide. Withdraw cash over-the-counter at any PSBank branch, experience hassle-free settlement of your utility bills or cashless shopping at any BancNet-affiliated establishments.
PSBank Overseas Filipino Savings Account brings the following benefits to you and your family:
- No initial and minimum maintaining balance;
- P5,000 minimum daily balance to earn interest;
- Get your personalized ATM card on the spot when you open an account;
- Experience hassle-free bills payments and cash withdrawals;
- Swipe your ATM card in BancNet and MasterCard affiliated establishments;
- Conveniently monitor your account through PSBank Online by simply enrolling your account via www.psbank.com.ph; and
- Remit from abroad via Metrobank, iRemit and partner remittance companies.
How to open an account:
- Application and Agreement for Deposit Account (AADA) Form
- Customer Information and Specimen Signature Cards (CISSC)
- For OFWs: New clients will be asked to declare the employer and country of employment.
- For OFW Beneficiaries: Indicate the name, relationship, contact details, country where OFW remitter works and employer under “Endorsed/Referred by” portion of the CISSC form.
- Presentation of at least two valid IDs bearing your photo and signature
Contact details:
Contact PSBank Customer Experience hotline at (632) 845-8888.
4. BDO Kabayan Savings Account (BDO)
Opening a BDO Kabayan Savings Account marks the start of a lasting relationship between BDO Remit and Filipinos migrants and families. Either the overseas Filipinos workers or their beneficiaries may open a BDO Kabayan Savings Account at any BDO Unibank branch in the Philippines.
- Initial deposit requirement of P100 (for Philippine peso account) or US$100 (for US dollar account)
- One valid ID
- 1 x 1 photo
- With passbook and ATM debit card
- Zero maintaining balance with at least one (1) remittance each year*
- Remitters may qualify for free life and accident insurance. Click here to register.
- Earn BDO Rewards points too from savings and remittances.
Seafarers employed by POEA-accredited shipping companies may open a BDO Kabayan Shipping Dollar Account where they can directly credit their allotment. Only $10 initial deposit, one (1) valid ID with picture, one (1) 1×1 ID picture and a valid seaman’s book are needed to open an account.
*Remit at least once a year to keep the zero maintaining balance feature of the account.
If there’s no remittance within a period of one (1) year, a BDO Kabayan Savings Account will be converted to a regular account with a maintaining balance of PHP10,000.
BDO Kabayan Savings Account also makes it easier for an account holder with good credit history to apply for a car, home, or business loan in the Philippines:
5. OFW Deposit Account (PNB)
Aptly named OFW Savings Account, PNB’s product allows OFWs to save while working abroad. While the aim is to eventually grow savings through this account, it’s good to know that OFW Savings Account does not even require an applicant to deposit initial amount when applying for an account. Nor will it require bank account holders to maintain a certain amount.
As an OFW gradually builds savings, deposits starting from P10,000 or US$500 will start earning interest payments. For the sake of convenience, funds are also accessible through ATMs that serve the PNB, MegaLink, BancNet and ExpressNet cards all throughout the Philippines.
How to apply
Applicants are urged to prepare acceptable identification cards to be presented upon opening of the account:
- Passport
- Original employment contract (duly notarized and approved by POEA ) will be accepted together with at least a photocopy of passport
- Drivers License
- Professional (PRC) license
- SSS/GSIS membership cards
- OFW ID (issued by POEA/OWWA)
- NBI/Police clearance
In addition to the above, documents without picture such as Marriage contract, BIR TIN and Credit cards should always be accompanied with a photographed ID.
- 2 ID pictures (1×1 or 2×2)
- Letter of Introduction (only needed if client is not ready to open OFW Savings account due to lack of funds and identification. The Letter of Introduction must be submitted with one ID to the particular branch chosen by the OFW/Beneficiary.)
Balance Requirement | |
---|---|
Initial Deposit | Php 0.00 / $ 0.00 |
Minimum Maintaining Balance | Php 0.00 / $ 0.00 |
Minimum ADB to Earn Interest | Php 10,000.00 / $ 1,000.00 |
Interest Rate Effectivity Date: February 1, 2015 |
0.100% p.a. |
Dormancy | 2 years |
Dormancy Fee | Php 0.00 / $ 0.00 |
Record of Transactions | Upon request |
Other Charges | |
---|---|
Passbook Replacement | Php 100.00 / $ 5.00 |
Average Daily Balance (ADB) of the account falls below the required minimum monthly ADB for at least two (2) consecutive months. | Php 0.00 / $ 0.00 |
Interbranch/interoffice deposit/withdrawal transaction, except transactions made between and among —
|
Php 100.00/Php 200.00 |
6. BPInoy Savings account (BPI)
This account is aimed to provide convenience to both the OFWs and their families in the Philippines. Instead of passing through remittance agents which may charge higher fees or slower transmission of funds, BPInoy offers the following benefits:
- No initial deposit required.
- No maintaining balance required as long as there is a remittance transaction at least once every 3 months.
- Earn higher interest, better than any other regular savings account.
- Access your account through over 14,000 Expressnet, Bancnet and Megalink ATMs in the Philippines.
- Withdraw cash from over 1 million Cirrus-affiliated ATMs in over 210 countries worldwide using the default currency of the country you’re withdrawing the funds from.
- Enjoy cashless shopping via the Express Payment System (EPS) at accredited establishments nationwide. No enrollment required.
- Monitor your account balance, transfer funds, pay bills or reload cellphones through BPI ATMs, BPI Phone Banking, BPI Online Banking or even via your cellphone with BPI Mobile Banking.
Other things to note:
- The minimum amount balance that will earn interest is P500.
- Annual interest is 0.500%
Contact:
For any enquiries, email bpidirect@bpi.com.ph.
Banking 89-100 for Metro Manila calls, 1800-188-89100 domestic toll-free calls (where available) for our International Access Code 632-8910000 when calling from abroad.
It is also possible to call international toll-free numbers:
Country | Carrier | IAC | Toll free |
AUSTRALIA | TELSTRA |
1-800-140-390
|
|
0011 |
800-2748-9100
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OPTUS | 0011 |
800-2748-9100
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|
BAHRAIN
|
BATELCO | 800-040-07 | |
BELGIUM | BELGACOM | 00 |
800-2748-9100
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BRUNEI
|
JTB | 801-2003 | |
CANADA | TATA |
1-800-354-5449
|
|
011 |
800-2748-9100
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CYPRUS | CYTA | 00 |
800-274-89100
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FRANCE | FRANCE TEL |
0-800-905-585
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|
00 |
800-2748-9100
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||
GERMANY | DTAG | 00 |
800-2748-9100
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GREECE
|
OTE | 00800-6312-0014 | |
GUAM
|
IT&E | 1-800-163-0001 | |
1-888-557-8540 | |||
HONGKONG
|
NWT | 800-932-634 | |
INDONESIA
|
INDOSAT | 001-803-6310-032 | |
ITALY | TEL. ITALIA | 00 |
800-274-89100
|
JAPAN | KDD |
0053-163-6003
|
|
010 |
800-2748-9100
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SOFTBANK | 010 |
800-2748-9100
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NTT | 010 |
800-2748-9100
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KOREA | KT | 001 |
800-2748-9100
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MACAU
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CTM | 0800-452 | |
MALAYSIA | TM |
1-800-807-767
|
|
00 |
800-2748-9100
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NEW ZEALAND | TNZL | 00 |
800-274-89100
|
NORWAY | TELENOR | 00 |
800-274-89100
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SAUDI ARABIA
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STC | 800-863-0008 | |
SINGAPORE | SINGTEL |
800-6363-007
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001 |
800-2748-9100
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SPAIN | TELEFONICA | 00 |
800-274-89100
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SWITZERLAND | SWISSCOM | 00 |
800-274-89100
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TAIWAN | CHT-I |
00801-63-1305
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THAILAND | CAT | 001 |
800-2748-9100
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UAE
|
ETISALAT | 800-0630-0017 | |
UK | VODAFONE UK |
0500-894-040
|
|
00 |
800-2748-9100
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BT | 00 |
800-2748-9100
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USA | AT&T |
1-800-225-1202
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011 |
800-2748-9100
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SPRINT |
1-866-698-9100
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011 |
800-2748-9100
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VERIZON | 011 |
800-2748-9100
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