ATM Charges/Fees: BancNet, Megalink, Expressnet, Mastercard, Cirrus, Maestro, Visa, Plus, JCB, Encash, Nationlink

Updated ATM charges per transaction in the Philippines (as of April 2013):

Balance Inquiry Transaction Fee:

On-us/proprietary: Free
Interbank (switched by BancNet: P1
Megalink: P1 (see note below)
ExpressNet: None
Cirrus/Maestro: $1
Plus: $1

Banks who charge P2 balance inquiry fee: PNB, UnionBank, Bank of Commerce, One Network Bank, Equitable Savings Bank, LBC Bank

ATM Cash Withdrawal Transaction Fee

On-us/proprietary: Free
Interbank (BancNet, Megalink, Expressnet): P8 to P12.50

Banks with highest charges: OK Bank (P12.50), UnionBank (P12), UCPB (P11), Bank of Commerce (P11), PNB (P11), UCPB (P11)

Banks with no charge: Citibank, Citibank Savings, HSBC

Cirrus/Maestro: $3.5
Plus: $3.0
(these rates apply also to ATM transactions abroad)

ENCASH ATM Cash Withdrawal: add P25 or P45 convenience fees on top of normal transaction charge (there is a warning screen for this)

Nationlink ATM Cash Withdrawal: add P20 convenience fees on top of normal transaction charge (there is a warning screen for this)

Note there is a maximum amount per withdrawal for switched transactions of P10,000.00 via BancNet or Megalink. BPI recently lowered this to P5,000.00. For on-us/proprietary transactions, the issuing bank's set amount is applied.

Fund Transfers via ATM Fee

On-us/Proprietary (if available): Free
Interbank (BancNet) : P25 (real time credit)
Interbank (Megalink): P25 (next day credit)


* called IBFT by BancNet, short for Inter Bank Funds Transfer

Bills Payment via ATM Fee

This service is free to all cardholders. It's the biller institution who pays the processor the fees per transaction.

Cash Advance Fees

Using credit cards to withdraw cash on ATMs (funds subject also to interest rates)
VISA, Mastercard: P300 or 3% of amount whichever is higher
American Express (AMEX): 5% of cash advance or P500 whichever is higher
Diner's Club: 5% of cash advance amount or P250 whichever is higher

Note: an access fee of P200.00 shall be charged on top of regular VISA/MASTERCARD/JCB/CUP transaction fees.

Many ATMs in the Philippines eg.g BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands), Metrobank and PSBank accept VISA/VISA Electron/Plus, Mastercard/Cirrus/Maestro where their logos are displayed

American Express is accepted at BPI ATMs

China Union Pay (CUP) cardholders can inquire balance and withdraw funds from BancNet ATMs plus shop using BancNet Point-of-Sale (POS) which is similar to BPI EPS and ECN. No information yet on the charges.

Japan's JCB cardholders can now also perform credit card cash advance transactions.

Cirrus and Maestro are affiliated with MasterCard; Plus is a VISA affiliate.

Using your Philippine-issued ATM card abroad is only possible for Cirrus, Maestro, and Plus affiliated banks (e.g. BPI International for Cirrus/Maestro). Inquire at your own bank for details.

How to avoid ATM transaction Charges in the Philippines:

1. Transact only at your own bank's ATMs
2. Open an account at Citibank, Citibank Savings or other banks that do not charge ATM withdrawals and account balance inquiries to their cardholders.
3. Open an account at a bank with an ATM near your place.
4. Do not put your money in the bank, invest it some place else :P

Note that transaction charges can be thought of as convenience fees; you pay the charges instead of wasting your time and spending money on fares/gas going to your own bank's ATMs.

ExpressNet Member Banks:

Effective April 1, 2013, BPI is part of BancNet

BancNet Member Banks:

Allied Bank, Allied Savings Bank, Asia United Bank (AUB), Banco San Juan, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Bank of Commerce (BOC), Bangko Mabuhay, BPI Family Savings Bank, CARD Bank (San Pablo City, Laguna), Centennial Savings Bank, China Banking Corporation (Chinabank), Chinabank Savings, Chinatrust Bank, Citibank, N.A., Citibank Savings Bank, Citystate Savings Bank, eCTK, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Dungganon Bank, East West Bank, Equicom Savings Bank, Export and Industry Bank (Exportbank), Green Bank of Caraga (Butuan), Hong Kong Shanghai Bank (HSBC), HSBC Savings, Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank, LBP), Malayan Bank, Maybank, Metrobank, OK Bank (Iloilo City), Philtrust Bank, Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCOM), Philippine National Bank (PNB), Postal Bank, Producers Bank, Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank), Quezon Capital Rural Bank (QCRB), The Real Bank, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), RCBC Savings Bank, Robinsons Savings Bank, Security Bank, Security Bank Savings, Standard Chartered Bank, Sterling Bank of Asia, Tong Yang Savings Bank, Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB), UCPB Savings Bank, World Partners Bank, Wealth Bank (Cebu City), Zambales Bank (Zambank)


Nationlink Subscribers  (A member of BancNet):

Cantilan Bank, Kaunlaran Bank, Rural Bank of Manaoag, Coop Bank of Benguet, Coop Bank of Nueva Vizcaya, Optimum Development Bank, Rural Bank of Malasiqui, Community Rural Bank of Dapitan, Metro Ormoc Community Cooperative (OCCCI), Perpetual Help Credit Cooperative

Megalink Member Banks:

Banco de Oro (BDO), Pacific Ace Bank, MASS-SPEC, National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), One Network Bank, Queen City Development Bank, Union Bank of the Philippines (Unionbank), United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), Pacific Ace Savings Bank

ENCASH Member Banks(A member of Megalink):

Rural Bank of FloridaBlanca, GM Bank, Bangko Kabayan, Rural Bank of Tiaong, Progressive Rural Bank, Rural Bank of Puerto Galera, First Valley Bank, Rural Bank of Calasiao, Balai Isabel, GM Bank, Jose Panganiban Rural Bank, Rural Bank of Nabua, G7 Bank

You may visit your bank's website for ATM locator service to know where to find ATMs in the Philippines. For example, in Boracay, there are ATMs by Metrobank, Allied Bank and BPI.


Updated: April 2013

Prudential Life Text Scam is at it again!

Today, O received a text message from 09176167851 that says" FRM: PRUDENTIALIFE INC, Rada Branch- Makati. In line with our '29th Yr Anniversary',w're glad to inform you that you are entitled to receive Privileges from our company.You need to claim this ASAP.For more info please call at 8921731/4741191 look for Ms. Mary Anne Banico Many thanks. 'DISREGARD IF CLAIMED'"

Just to warn you, again, of this dubious offer from Prudential Life in Makati, they'll just ask you if you have a credit card and offer you insurance. I blogged about Prudential life Scam before so be forewarned. You'll just waste your time commuting to Makati and braving the horrendous traffic to be tricked by people who don't care as long they can sell something.

Ralated Post:

Prudential Life: Insurance Selling without Conscience

Batasan Bombing: Security Lapses

Last night, flash report on TV broke the news about a bomb explosion at the south wing of House of Representatives, barely a month after the Glorietta 2 blast occurred. Three people were killed including Basilan representative Wahab Akbar.

Speaker Jose de Venecia appeared on TV condemning the blast as an act of terrorists or anarchists. (I think it's a targeted assassination plot on a certain personality, but don't quote me on that)

I will offer my two cents worth on news like this particularly on the current (in)security practices by people whose job is to protect the lawmakers/congressmen (who, for the record are making much less laws per year yet spending is increasing).

First, noticeable is the absence of canine units particularly bomb sniffing dogs.

Second, the non-inspection of people entering the premises. I noticed once too often guards, like those deployed in mall entrances, don't really know what they're looking for with their magic sticks wagged at the openings of bags of people.

Third, the apparent lack of surveillance camera to monitor and record what's happening inside the Batasan complex and the House of Congress.

Fourth, why the hell were motorcycles and vehicles permitted to park near the exits? Acceptable cushion area for parking and people exiting should be made to prevent bombs on motorcycles and cars from inflicting too much damage.

Security in the whole Philippines should be upgraded to cope with threats but I can only see physical inspection of bags plus the absurd idea of banning taking pictures as if pictures pose a security threat.

Such old-school mindset!

Text2Sawa Unlimited Texting Scam

I have always been receiving offers about this unlimited texting to all networks in my email address subscribed to various yahoogroups. I contacted the sender once about his offer but offered no explanation on how the system works so i just surmised he's just a guy looking for a quick buck

With Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular offering unlimited texting (SMS) within their networks, it's just highly probable that a technically inclined pinoys with entrepreneural spirit will come up with a bridge or SMS bypass to connect all three unlimited texting services using at least 1 SIM card of the telco.

One of them is Text2Sawa, and true to my hunch, the law, however slow, finally caught up with them. The news was even shown on national tv of the entrapment operation. Sadly, only a dealer or distributor was apprehended and not the actual operator and source of the text cards.

Globe, Smart and Sun warned the public that the unlimited texting feature is for personal use only and not for purposes like SMS bypass.

The police informed the public that they'll charge the suspect with violation of RA8484: Access Device Law, the same law used by banks and credit card companies againts credit card and ATM card fraud.

Let's see if other scammers will take the place of Text2Sawa after a few days