Credit Cards for OFWs

April 28, 2009 · Filed Under BDO, BPI, Credit cards, OFW 

For OFWs looking for credit cards, I’ve found only two banks in the Philippines which are offering credit cards for OFWs — HSBC and BDO.

Based on our personal experience, BPI also offers credit cards to OFWs, but you wait for the bank to offer you one.  BPI offers a credit card to an OFW who has maintained a BPI time deposit account for a couple of years. BPI also has investment accounts that offer a credit card account as incentive.

BDO

BDO issues secured credit cards for OFWs, meaning one must have a savings or checking account with BDO.

The required documents are:

  1. Valid IDs
  2. Employment contract or certificate of employment
  3. Remittance receipts for the last 6 months or payslips for the last 3 months

The other requirements are:

  1. Minimum monthly income of 10,000 pesos
  2. At least 21 years old, not older than 65
  3. Must have a BDO checking or savings account or time deposit of at least 15,000 pesos or equivalent amount in dollars
  4. Must have 2 years continuous job contract
  5. Beneficiary or card administrator must be residing or working within 30 kms of a BDO branch
  6. Must have a home landline phone

You can call the following numbers for further inquiries:

Call 631-8000
(within Metro Manila)
1-800-10-6318000
(Libreng Tawag Outside Metro Manila)
(IAC)+800+6318000
(Libreng Tawag Outside of the Philippines)
Email: callcenter@bdo.com.ph

HSBC

For OFWs, the requirements are:

  1. Employment contract or certificate of employment
  2. Working visa or work permit or OFW card or certificate issued by POEA
  3. Proof of home address, such as the latest billing statement under the name of the applicant, with the address of the applicant.
  4. A valid ID, such as passport, driver’s license, PRC ID or SSS photocard
  5. TIN number
  6. SSS or GSIS number
  7. Proof of Income
  • could be latest ITR or
  • employer’s certificate of compensation or
  • payslips for the last 3 months

The other requirements are:

  1. At least 21 years old, not older than 65
  2. Philippine resident
  3. Have a residential landline phone
  4. Must be living or working in Metro Manila, Bacolod, Baguio City, Batangas, Bulacan, Butuan, Cabanatuan City, Cagayan de Oro, Calasiao Pangasinan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan City, Davao City, Digos Davao del Sur, Dipolog, Dumaguete City, General Santos, Kalibo, Iloilo, Laguna, Laoag City, Legaspi, Lucena City, Naga, Olongapo City, Ormoc City, Pampanga, Panabo & Tagum Davao del Norte, Puerto Princesa, Subic, Rizal, Roxas, Tacloban, Tagbilaran City, Tarlac City, Tuguegarao, Urdaneta Pangasinan, Zamboanga City.
  5. Have at least a gross annual income of 150,000 pesos for the classic cards and at least 480,000 pesos for the gold cards

Related Articles,  posted April 20, 2011:

Secured BPI Credit Cards for OFWs

BPI Credit Card Payment for College Tuition Fees

 

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Comments

Whether in ENGLISH, TAGALOG or TAGLISH, your comments are well-appreciated,  but please, not pure TEXT SPEAK, kasi matagal intindihin. Thanks a lot.

32 Responses to “Credit Cards for OFWs”

  1. katherine on June 7th, 2009 2:57 pm

    how can we apply for credit card if we are here abroad(australia)

  2. Nora on June 7th, 2009 6:22 pm

    Katherine, for BDO, you can go to http://www.bdo.com.ph/Personal_Banking/Credit_Cards/bdo_shopmore_mastercard.asp?id=3&mid=1&state=card2,0,pB3. At the lowest part of the page, a link will lead you to the OFW Asenso Kabayan forms. Additional BDO info: (IAC)+800+6318000 (Libreng Tawag Outside of the Philippines) Email: callcenter@bdo.com.ph For HSBC, you can go to http://www.hsbc.com.ph/1/2/personal/credit and appy online.

  3. mar on June 19th, 2009 1:07 pm

    how about seaman?can we apply for a credit card?what are the requirements?

  4. Nora on June 22nd, 2009 7:53 pm

    Hello, Mar, OFW ka rin naman, kaya palagay ko puede ka. Basta meron kang mga documents proving that you have regular income. Siguro, pag-uwi mo, mag-open ka ng savings account mo sa BDO, tapos mag-inquire ka na rin about credit cards. Yong HSBC, medyo mas mabilis silang mag-approve kesa sa BDO. Andito yong requirements sa article. Maraming nagpapa-apply ng credit cards sa Internet. Palagay ko, mas safe at mas magandang dumiretso ka sa bank (although marami rin namang nag-a-agent ng credit card nang maayos)

  5. creez on December 5th, 2009 3:58 pm

    DTO AKO SA QATAR NOW..PWED B AKO DTO NLNG MAG APPLY NG CREDIT CARD??TNX

  6. Nora on December 8th, 2009 9:59 pm

    Creez, sa mga websites ng mga local banks, puedeng online applications, pero kelangan mo pa rin mag-submit ng mga documents, either through fax or through mail.
    Dati, nagsusulat ako about credit card applications, pero dahil sa experiences ko sa cards, early next year, pag natapos ko na yong lahat ng cards ko (seven cards!), with God’s help, isa sa maging focus ko dito sa blog na ito ay to discourage readers from getting a credit card and expose credit card firm practices or kung kukuha man ay may kelangang mga gawin. Totoong nakakalunod at nakaka-alipin ang credit cards.

  7. isidrobalana on May 2nd, 2010 12:42 am

    apply sana ako ng credit card .panong gagawin ko tnx!!

  8. Nors on May 7th, 2010 10:24 pm

    Based on my experiences with credit cards (both good and very awful), I advise that you first build your deposit account with BDO or BPI para may mapuntahan yong pinaghihirapan mo diyan sa ibang bansa. After you’ve maintained a fairly big time deposit with these banks for about a year or more, they’ll give you a pre-approved credit card, or you can request and they’ll grant you one. On the other hand, you can apply now kung gusto mo, sundin mo lang yong andon sa post.

  9. Romel Rivera on May 15th, 2010 10:09 pm

    Hi.. Im trying to call the number you posted here but i cannot contact it. im here in Saudi Arabia.

    Im interested in applying for a credit card in BDO.

    can u help me on this. Please do reply on my email. thanks

  10. Nors on May 16th, 2010 9:01 am

    Hi, Romel, you can go to this BDO web page and fill out the form so BDO officers can call you. You can also email them at
    callcenter@bdo.com.ph . I hope you have an account with them so it would be easier.

  11. kurt on July 5th, 2010 9:59 pm

    good day! im an ofw here in libya, i applied online on HSBC. then my wife told me may nakausap syang nag wowork sa HSBC, hindi raw po nila inaaproved ang mga ofw even though na pasado tayo sa mga requirements ang problema daw is contactability. My question is bakit naglagay pa sila sa website ng requirements for ofw kung hindi naman nila ma aaproved.

  12. Nors on July 6th, 2010 5:13 am

    Oo nga naman, Kurt,, dapat di na sila nag-iinvite online. Nagpost pa nga ako na puedeng cards for OFW sa HSBC. Yong sa BDO, napansin ko, tinanggal na nila. Meron dati, di ko na makita. When my husband was still in KSA, nag-apply din kami sa BPI ng card, rejected. Pero nong two years na kami doon na may time deposit, sila na mismo ang nag-offer ng pre-approved card. Ganon na lang siguro gawin mo. Dati meron din yong BPI ng secured credit card — yong magdeposit ka sa savings account, makakakuha ka pero nakablock yong savings mo from withdrawal — tingnan ko nga uli yon tapos i-post ko dito kung meron pa — para maka-start yong wife mo. Mag-email din ako sa HSBC, tingnan natin kung ano sagot. Thanks for visiting working pinoy.

  13. rey san juan on July 12th, 2010 1:35 am

    salamat sa danvil nabigay nila ung panagako nila sa akin. i just get my benefits on time.

  14. Bong on July 27th, 2010 5:07 pm

    Actually, ang bpi (express start), hsbc, bdo, unionbank (visa), metrobank and Pnb (ASK card specifically for OFWs) all offer secured credit cards. All you need is an account sa bank nila and thats all. Di ko lng sure kung pwede ito for international use pero supposedly pwede coz a secured card works just like an unsecured card.

  15. Bong on July 27th, 2010 5:28 pm

    Try the PNB ASK card, inquire na lng kayo. I heard this type of secured credit card was made for OFWs.

  16. Nors on July 28th, 2010 6:56 am

    Thanks a lot, Bong, for your suggestions. I’m sure those looking for OFW cards will be glad to read your suggestions.

  17. renante reyes on December 23rd, 2010 1:16 pm

    paano b mppbilis ung application ngc.card ko ang tagal n kc e ippadala qo nw ung kulang n docs.sna nman khit cp q twgwn nla 4 info paalis n kc aq dis 1st wk. ng jan.my no.09286987136

  18. Nors on December 24th, 2010 11:51 am

    Hi Renante, saang bank ka nag-apply? Ganon ang mga banks matagal mag-approve. mga 2 to 3 months. Mas strict din sila sa OFW. Mas preferred kasi nila yong mga employed dito para matawagan nila yong company at saka yong house phone. Based on my experiences, sa case ng OFW, your card application is easier if you have time deposit accounts with the bank.

  19. joemmer on March 22nd, 2011 2:04 am

    hello po,im ofw from riyadh saudi arabia, pwede ko bang bigyan ng BDO credit card ang asawa ko dyan s pinas, kahit andito me s riyadh? sa account ko n lng nakapangalan? thanks

  20. Nors on March 22nd, 2011 3:57 am

    Hi Joemmer, aaply ka pa ba ng credit card? O meron ka na? Kung meron ka nang credit card, puede mong bigyan ang wife mo ng extension card. Request ka lang ng extension card. Pero kung you mean your wife will apply for you, dapat mapirmahan mo yong application form, at ma-submit yong requirements. Additionally, pag OFW, secured credit cards lang ang ini-issue ng BDO. I hope you have a long-time savings/checking account with BDO.

  21. Bong on April 20th, 2011 10:43 pm

    Guys, basta “secured Credit Card”, the requirements are simple.Its just the same as the requirements needed when opening an ordinary bank account. The thing is, since “secured”ang credit card, the bank gets to hold your passbook for as long as you hold the credit card. The maximum credit limit depends on the amount of you deposit with them (Usually 80% of your totaldeposit). For example, I applied for EXPRESS START (secured credit card program ng BPI), opened a passbook account with BPI (I chose the highest yielding passbook account type – they will ask you what type of account would you like to open with the express start), then submitted the requirements (basically just 2 valid IDs & picures, thats it!). After that, may ipapasign sila some sort of contract (i forgot what its called, its the same term used sa ibang banks actually), basically says that the bank will hold your deposit as long as you are using the credit card. 1 year ata minimum, but you can terminate the contract for a fee of course…The good thing about this is, this is hassle-free because of minimum requirements, plus maingat ako sa gastos coz basically hawak ng bank deposits ko, at the same time, hindi ko pa nagagalaw ipon ko…100,000 deposit ko sa BPI, 80,000 ang assigned credit limit ko.. hope that helped folks!

  22. Bong on April 20th, 2011 10:50 pm

    after a year of use, the bank can even give you an “UNSECURED CARD” kung maganda credit score mo…oh btw, kung sa BPI kayo apply, always choose VISA or MASTERCARD. Dont ever choose the BPI express credit classic…

  23. Nors on April 21st, 2011 1:39 am

    Hi Bong, wow, thanks again for sharing valuable info. And I liked how you shared kasi detailed. May I use what you shared for a blogpost para mas readily available to others? will post the link here later.
    By the way, naaliw ako sa “don’t ever choose the BPI classic.” Sabagay you can’t use this card abroad, but if the family uses the card in the Phil, minsan maganda rin ang classic kasi lower ang interest rate, puede direct charging sa certain schools, at meron siyang SIP, etc.

    Meron din bang facility yong BPI Visa or Mastercard for light installment payments? Na maging 1% or 0.7% lang ang monthly interest for certain purchases? Or a way that you can borrow cash thru the card at these low rates? Classic kasi ang akin. Ang regret ko lang sa Classic ay hindi ako maka-enroll sa free Internet credit card ng BPI. Thanks in advance.

  24. Bong on April 21st, 2011 1:53 am

    naalala ko na yung contract, its called “deed of assignment”…anyway, yun nga advantage ng BPI classic pero basically madami merchants that do not accept that card. Im a shopper (single naman ako), so mas valuable saken universal usage ng credit card and possible internationaluse. therefore, i chose mastercard. may SIP lahat ng card ng BPI, and you can even individually assign how much to assign sa SIP and how much sa regular line..ang maganda sa BPI, you can even balance transfer your own credit sa BPI to the SIP line of the same card…I think only BPI does this.

  25. Bong on April 21st, 2011 1:57 am

    lahat ng credit card ng BPI ay capable ng installments thru SIP. kahit secured ang credit card mo. Pwede din mag cash advance like any credit card..

  26. Nors on April 21st, 2011 2:20 am

    Thanks again Bong, you explain well, do you have a blog? I mean I think readers can benefit from what you know if you have the time to blog.

  27. Secured BPI Credit Cards for OFWs | Working Pinoy on April 21st, 2011 3:51 am

    [...] I’ve written previously a blogpost on credit card for OFWs. [...]

  28. Nors on April 21st, 2011 4:15 am

    Hi Bong, here’s the link to the post featuring your tips. Thanks a lot, Bong, for sharing… Secured BPI Credit Cards for OFWs

  29. Bong on April 21st, 2011 1:54 pm

    Hi Nors, thanks for the post in your blog, highly appreciate it. Anyway, I don’t have any blogs. My comments are just based on my experience with credit cards and bank transactions. I just thought I’d share some things and hope that I might be able to help out a few people.

  30. Nors on April 21st, 2011 7:54 pm

    Thanks again, Bong. You express your thoughts well, you describe things clearly — the traits of a good blogger. Perhaps, someday. Perhaps on blogger.com.

  31. grace on June 11th, 2011 5:54 pm

    hello po!ofw po ako sa taiwan.panu po kung nagre-rent lng po kami ng bahay at wala pong landline?kailangan po ba talaga meron yun?wala rin po ako TIN number.looking forward for your positive response sir.thank you and more power!

  32. Nors on June 12th, 2011 8:37 am

    Hi Grace, yes, most credit card issuers require landline numbers, para may matawagan sila. Yong cell no. kasi, mabilis palitan. Puede na yatang kumuha ng TIN number online. Check mo nga sa BIR website. Pero kung meron kang savings/time deposit sa isang bank na malaki-laki or matagal na kahit di masyado malaki, the bank can issue you a credit card, kahit wala ka yong ibang requirements. Kasi gagawing collateral yong deposit mo.

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