Updated April 29, 2020: After reading the article, please see also see the comments below. It contains helpful tips from some Filipinos working in China about how to send money to the Philippines from China.
Here are ways to send money from China to the Philippines:
Use of Debit Cards or ATM Cards Issued in China by a Chinese Bank
Open at least 2 accounts in the same bank in China. One could be your payroll account and the other, your personal account. So you can be more flexible with your personal accounts, open an account in another bank. Find a bank that has free online transfer agreement with your first bank.
Then send one of your atm cards or debit cards to your family in the Philippines. Your family can then withdraw from ATMs here in the Philippines that display the Union Pay or China Union Pay logo. Ask them to find an ATM that dispenses 10,000 pesos or 20,000 pesos per withdrawal, so they don’t have to pay a lot for their ATM withdrawals. ATM withdrawal fee is 200 pesos or more per withdrawal.
Wire Transfer or Telegraphic Transfer or Swift Transfer at your Bank in China
China’s major banks offer wire transfers, and usually, they require US dollars. Check your online banking or your mobile app if wire transfer is now offered online even with yuan accounts.
If not offered online, go to your bank branch with your US dollars, proof of source of money, taxation payment and IDs.
- passport with residence visa or residence permit
- employment contract
- pay slips
- tax receipts
You will need the following information:
. Remittance currency and amount
. Recipient’s name, address and contact information in the Philippines
. Recipient’s Philippine bank name and account number
. SWIFT code and location of Philippine bank
. Your contact information in China
A Pinay in China wrote to this blog and said that she sent US$150 to her own BDO Kabayan account in the Philippines through a bank wire transfer at Bank of China (BOC). She said she paid the bank 200 rmb (Chinese yuan renminbi) for the transfer. She later discovered that BDO also charged her about 900 pesos. If we use the exchange rates of US$1=44.26 pesos and 1 RMB=6.63 pesos, she paid a total of 2,256 pesos to send 6,639 pesos to the Philippines! That’s more than one-third of the amount she sent! This Pinay later wrote she’s going to try MoneyGram or Western Union.
Here’s information on outward remittance from the Bank of China (BOC) website.
BPI, Metrobank and PNB have correspondent banks in China where you can make a wire transfer:
BPI lists 18 correspondent banks on its website, some of which are the following:
- Agricultural Bank of China
- Bank of China
- Citibank China
- DBS Bank China
- HSBC Bank
- Standard Chartered Bank China
METROBANK has a long list of correspondent banks in China. Among them are:
Agricultural Bank of China
Bank of China
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (China)
Citibank (China)
HSBC Bank (China)
Korea Exchange Bank (Shanghai, Beijing, Dalian, Tianjin)
Mega International Commercial Bank
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.
PNB has 14 correspondent banks in China. Among them are:
Agricultural Bank of China, Beijing
Bank of China
Citibank Co. Shanghai
Standard Chartered Bank Shanghai
Woori Bank, China
I also asked my friend about how she sent money to the Philippines when she was still working in China. She said she used Western Union. First, she would convert her yuan to USD. How? She would ask her American friends who have US dollar bank accounts in China to withdraw some of their dollars and change her yuans to US dollars. Sometimes she would also used the black market. She’d exchange her yuans with people waiting for customers at bank lobbies and who converts yuans to US dollars. She warns though that you could lose all or part of your money if something goes wrong.
WESTERN UNION
One of the reasons people send money to the Philippines from China through Western Union is that this global money transfer company does not require a lot of documents. Just be ready with your US dollars and your ID.
According to the Western Union China website, you can send money by going to its service providers located in branches of five banks:
- Postal Savings Bank of China
- Agricultural Bank of China
- China Everbright Bank
- Zhejiang Chouzhou Commercial Bank
- Bank of Jilin
- Harbin Bank
Just fill out the SEND MONEY form and show your government-issued ID or other supporting documents. Inform your receiver about:
- amount sent
- and the MTCN or Money Transfer Control Number.
Make sure your receiver knows your complete name and that you’re sending from CHINA. You can track your remittance at Western Union’s website. Look for the CHECK STATUS link.
MONEYGRAM
According to the Moneygram China website, it offers remittance services in 410 cities in China. To look for a specific location, just go to the Moneygram China website and click the FIND US button.
In Shanghai, for instance, Moneygram is available at certain branches of:
- Bank of Communications
- SZPA SH
- ICBC SH
- CITIC SH
Beijing:
- Bank of China
- Citic BJ
- Bank of Communications
- ICBC
Guangzhou:
- Bank of China
- ICBC
- CITIC
- Bank of Communications
Chongqing:
- Bank of Communications
- ICBC
- CITIC
If the transfer cost estimated by MoneyGram’s online Cost Estimator is our basis, then Moneygram would be the cheapest way to send money from China to the Philippines, as it imposes only US$6 on a remittance amount of US$200. It says, however, that the price could vary depending on the location of the MoneyGram provider.
For all transactions, remember to bring the following:
- ID (passport, driver’s license, national identity card or a government-issued ID)
- proof of address (bank statement or utility bill)
additional for bank wire transfers:
- residence permit or passport with residence visa
- employment contract
- pay slips
- tax receipts
Currency exchange rates vary, depending on MoneyGram, Western Union or the banks. Western Union explicitly says that it also earns from the exchange rate, in addition to its money transfer charges.
Remittance to the Philippines offered by METROBANK CHINA
The Philippine bank Metrobank operates several branches in China. Its main office is:
Metropolitan Bank (China) Ltd
L21-22, One ifc, Nanjing ifc
No.347 Middle Jiangdong Road, Jianye District Nanjing
Hotline? 400-864-9000
Its branches are:
Nanjing Branch
Building 32, 189 Leshan Road Biyao Garden, Jianye District Nanjing 210019, China
Business Hours: 9:00AM – 4:30PM Mon – Fri
Tel: 86(25)8966-7881 (8:30AM – 5:30PM Mon – Fri)
Shanghai Branch
1st Floor, Metrobank Plaza, 1152 Yan’an xi Road, Changning District Shanghai 200052, China
Business Hours: 9:00AM – 4:30PM Mon – Fri
Tel: 86(21)6191-8118 (8:30AM – 5:30PM Mon – Fri)
Pudong Branch
Rm D, New Shanghai International Tower, 360 South Pudong Road, Pudong new area Shanghai 200122,China
Business Hours: 9:00AM – 4:30PM Mon – Fri
Phone: 86(21)6886-0008 (8:30AM – 5:30PM Mon – Fri)
Changzhou Branch
No. 88-103 Jingchenghaoyuan, North Street, Zhonglou District Changzhou 213002, China
Business Hours: 9:00AM – 4:30PM Mon – Fri
Phone: 86(519)8806-1611 (8:30AM – 5:30PM Mon – Fri)
Xinbei Branch
8 Tongjiangzhong Road, Xinbei District Changzhou 213022, China
Business Hours: 9:00AM – 4:30PM Mon – Fri
Phone: 86(519)8806-1563 (8:30AM – 5:30PM Mon – Fri)
Changzhou Wujin Branch
Building 13, 101 and 102 Wujin Wanda Plaza Changzhou 213161, China
Business Hours: 9:00AM – 4:30PM Mon – Fri
Phone: 86(519)8806-1611 (8:30AM – 5:30PM Mon – Fri)
Quanzhou Branch
Units 1302-1303, Nanyi Plaza, No. 666 Fengze Street, Fengze District, Quanzhou, Fujian Province Quanzhou 362000, China
Business Hours: 9:00AM – 4:30PM Mon – Fri
Phone: 86(595)2988-9399 (8:30AM – 5:30PM Mon – Fri)
Xiamen Branch
Unit 06-07, Floor 11, Yishan Commercial Center(Xiamen Fortune Center), No. 100 Lujiang Road, Siming District Xiamen 361001, China
Business Hours: 9:00AM – 4:30PM Mon – Fri
Phone: 86(592)211-0265 (8:30AM – 5:30PM Mon – Fri)
Metrobank’s Beijing Representative
14/F Room 1410, Office Tower One, Henderson Center, 18 Jian Guo Men Nei Street Beijing 100005, China
Tel: 86(10)6518-3359 (8:30AM – 5:30PM Mon – Fri)
ALIPAY or WECHAT mobile apps
If you have a trustworthy friend who is a Chinese national, and who has a National ID, you can ask them if they can use their Alipay or WeChat app to send your money to the Philippines from China.
Disclaimer/Request: Much research was exerted to make this blogpost, but if you have a different experience, or if you know a better way to send money from China to the Philippines, please share it here so that others may learn from your experience.
Beware of scammers here, Only send money via trustworthy institutions. I can’t believe how many here are trying to deceive their fellow citizens, Shame on you. Hope you all end up in jail.
Good day I would like to ask for help. Some of my students are asking for private lessons. I don’t know any payment options that are available for both of us to use since Wechat needs a lot of verification to receive the money.
If you want to exchange your peso to rmb or rmb to peso, add my wechat 00639956689822
Good rates await you. Guaranteed!
Hi! this is lhan. If you need help in sending money from China to the Philippines , please add my wechat: 00639956689822. The cheapest, fastest and most convenient way is here…
Hi!this is Mhyles. If you need help in sending money from China to Philippines , please add my wechat: mai_china2014. The cheapest,fastest and most convenient way is here…
Hello can someone help me how to receive money the cheapest and best way from chin ato philippines?please do help me
hello, can anyone help me how to send money from china to Philippines, using WeChat to remittance. maraming salamat po.
Question is different, I am trying to send money to China from the Philippines. Does anybody knows how to do it? Western Union/Xoom are no longer available to send money in China.
AaI am an ESL teacher ang my student want to stidy with me and want to send money here in the Philippines but don’t know how.Can anyone please help?
Hi everyone!…
I can help you sending money po from China to Philippines.
This is the cheapest and most convenient po to all our kababayan here in China with 50rmb service fee and to our very convenient mode of payments less hassle po talaga at dto po generally nagsesend ang mga pinoy dito0.
You may add me in my WeChat account: 15057404059 for more info.
Hello everyone,,pls.help me,,what if BPI, instead to BDO,,before, bdo to use method to transfer money,,but now is so defficult,also 200rmb more to charged,,what is best,,pls help..
Thanks for concern..
Hi everyone…I’m Mhyles here in Ningbo,China>>>if you are looking for ways of sending money to your loveones from China to Philippines, you may add my WeChat: 15057404059 for more details.
Hello Ms. Nora!
I’m an ESL instructor and I have few students from China who want to continue their lessons with me, which means they’ll pay directly to me. Ano po ba ang cheapest way? Thanks a lot!
It’s a major problem for us Kababayans. As for my experience, I opened an account in the Bank of China. I downloaded Alipay. You can transfer money thru Alipay however it will not allow you to transfer money internationallY because it will require a Chinese Citizen to do such transaction. So what I did, I have a close Chinese friend. Then, I will transfer money thru Alipay in her account. She will convert it to US dollars and send the money to the receiver which is my family in PH. It will only cost around 50 rmb. Much cheaper compared to a bank to bank transaction which cost me 200 rmb.
If you are sending money from China to the Philippines, and want a cheaper rate, maybe I can help. My WeChat ID: limhuibi WeChat name: Hui Bi
Hi,i hope this is still helpful.Im just staying here in china for almost a year and a friend of us recommended a middle person who sends money in the Phil. Medjo mas mababa kunti ung rate nia sa international exchage rate ng yuan-peso pero mura ung charge nia which is 50rmb and if 10k rmb up is wla ng charge…for more info..just co tact here sa wechat nia…ble ngpapadala sia through bank transfer…and other remitancees
Ito poh ung wechat id:princejheff
Wechat name:Shine
Filipino rin poh sia
Hi! My husband has recently got a job in shenzhen & we been searching ways on how he could send money & cheapest way to send money to the philippines. Maybe you can suggest the best way on how to send.
Thanks.
HI mISS nORA, AKO RIN PO. ONE OF MY CLIENT WANTS TO SEND HER PAYMENT BUT I DON’T KNOW WHICH ONE IS THE CHEAPEST AND CONVENIENT WAY AND ALSO IT’S HER FIRST TIME TO SEND MONEY ABROAD SO SHE DOESN’T HAVE ANY IDEA. HOPE YOU COULD HELP ME. mORE POWER PO=)
Hi Ms. Nora, I thought this thread is very helpful. I hope you can help me too. My client in China would like to send money to the Philippines. She has an account with Bank of China and mine is Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI). What’s the best way to send money? Is bank wire transfer convenient? Thanks. 🙂
Hi, Nora. I really hope you can help me. I am an ESL tutor who started recently. Now, I have a client in China who wants to pay me directly to be a personal tutor. I have no idea how I could receive her payment. She wants to use wechat but I won’t be able to withdraw it. What’s the cheapest and most efficient way to receive money from China?
How long will it take to receive a fund transfer via bank to bank?
hello i want to ask advice on what is the cheapest way to receive money from china. thank you
Thanks for replying by the way. I so appreciate it. Please don’t get tired of my queeries. I used that routing code you posted, my ATM account is BPI Express Teller , but Paypal says “No data found for the bank identifier”. Please help. I got the PayMaya app now…what’s the routing code for PayMAya please?
Thanks for replying by the way. I so appreciate it. Please don’t get tired of my queeries. I used that routing code you posted, my ATM account is BPI Express Teller , but Paypal says “No data found for the bank identifier”. Please help
Thanks for replying by the way. I so appreciate it
. Please don’t get tired of my queeries
yes, I believe this what I used. |Should I try again? (010040018 )Please help
Hi Faith, did you use 010040018 as BPI’s routing no.?
If you like buying from online sites, whether foreign-based or Philippine-based, you can apply for a PayMaya Visa debit card (puedeng virtual card or puedeng physical card). No annual fee. Just 150 pesos for the physical card. No fee if you just apply for the virtual card. Here’s Paymaya info. You can also use PayMaya to verify your Paypal account so it can receive bigger amounts of money.
Hi ,Nora!..I’m having issues with my Paypal as it won’t accept the routing code /swift code given by BPI…so my client now owes me 85USD for the service I rendered…She said if she could just deposit the amount to my bank. Is it ok for her to deposit to my BPI Express Teller Account through the banks you’ve mentioned above(BPI Correspondent Banks in China)?
By the way,I have 10USD on my Paypal, and I can’t even use it in ordering from Lazada as it will have an error that Paypal can’t pay for orders made in the Philippines. It’s so confusing as signing up for Paypal won’t accept Philippine addresses or numbers….Please help. I feel so stupid about these things.
Hi ,Nora!..I’m having issues with my Paypal as it won’t accept the routing code /swift code given by BPI…so my client now owes me 85USD for the service I rendered…She said if she could just deposit the amount to me. Is it ok for her to deposit to my BPI Express Teller Account through the banks you’ve mentioned above(BPI Correspondent Banks in China)?
Paypal really works that way .not unless your client will verify your transaction.because your client will receive an email asking if they have receive your service already .and they need to accept it then you just need to wait for 3 days instead of 21
Hello. I have a question. I recently linked my bank account to paypal and my Chinese client send money using it. I logged on to my paypal account and it says: “Payments you’ve received are placed in your PayPal account’s pending balance for up to 21 days before they’re available.
Your payments can be instantly available in your PayPal account, once you’re an established seller with us. To qualify, you’ll need to meet 3 basic requirements. Click here for more information.”
I’ve already verified my bank account to paypal. But now I still can’t transfer my money to my bank account (east west debit card) because I have to wait for 21 days?