After going through so many banks, I realized that I just want a several few I can trust. Let me reflect back on the different banks
1. BPI - savings ATM account, mutual fund, credit card
Pros:
Can schedule branch account appoint online! (Unfortunately, it's not yet available on the mobile app, and it's not available for the customer service part)
ATM - accessible online, money transfer, easy deposit via cash deposit machine, can use ATM internationally, can pay for my HSBC credit card
Mutual fund - has monthly hassle-free investment program
Credit Card - occasional promos with Jollibee, etc
Home loan - pre-approved for a 5.5% 4-yr fixed interest
Cons:
Very hard to talk to a phonebanking officer (last December, it took me 2 hours before I gave up)
Home Loan processing has more paperwork requirements
Always have a lot of people in the Katipunan branch
2. BDO - savings with checking account, IUTF, credit card
Pros:
ATM - bundled with checking account
IUTF - also has a regular EIP for investment
Credit card - rebate card, so no need to keep track of points expiry etc
Home loan - delayed in their response. but at least I got pre-approved for a 5.88% 5-yr fixed rate
Cons:
Interbank and online charges for transferring money!!!?
Credit card - made a scheduled payment to my credit card, but my savings account wasn't deducted and I WASN'T informed that my "scheduled" payment didn't come through. I don't understand why, because my savings account was fully funded. I was charged for penalty and interest fee. Though I called it up and clarified, they waived the penalty fee but not the interest. I just let it go and decided thereon that I would never use the scheduled payment ever again.
Home loan - online doesn't work. They had false advertising over a promo for it.
BDO Berkeley Residences and San Pablo-Maharlika has better branch customer service with more personnel.
3. Metrobank
Pros:
Branch - usually not much line in Katipunan branch
Savings account - can use ATM internationally (with better rates than BPI), can pay my SecBank credit card, linked to my ALFM fund
Credit Card - occasional credit card promos, easier to earn points
Home loan - currently have promo rates of 5.88% with 5.5% subject to approval
Cons:
less branches
home loan - processing is said to be very slooow
4. HSBC - credit card
Pros:
Branch - few people
Phone banking - great; they even let them call you from their website
Credit card - this is one of my oldest card, and I never had a problem (but need to call to waived annual fees, etc), I use it internationally, can pay my Globe and Smart bills online anytime
Home loan - rate is attractive, promo is attractive (waived 100k fees)
Cons:
not much promos
not much branches
5. Citibank - credit card
Pros:
can easily pay my Globe and Smart bills online
can use internationally without a problem
phone banking - so many buttons to click before I can talk to an officer
mobile and online app
Cons:
had a bit of a hassle waiving my annual fee
6. Security Bank - credit card (newest one so maybe not much experience yet)
Pros:
Branch - few people; lots of branches
Phone banking - can also let them call you; or in my case, I can SMS one of their personnel to ask
Credit card - rebate (no need to watch the points)
Home Loan - elastic fantastic option
Cons:
Credit card - cannot pay my telecom bills online
Home Loan - appraisal fee, before they can pre-approve
I am seriously thinking of closing my BDO savings account, and opening an account elsewhere. But I haven't decided what bank yet. I was thinking wherever home loan bank that will approve us instead.
1. BPI - savings ATM account, mutual fund, credit card
Pros:
Can schedule branch account appoint online! (Unfortunately, it's not yet available on the mobile app, and it's not available for the customer service part)
ATM - accessible online, money transfer, easy deposit via cash deposit machine, can use ATM internationally, can pay for my HSBC credit card
Mutual fund - has monthly hassle-free investment program
Credit Card - occasional promos with Jollibee, etc
Home loan - pre-approved for a 5.5% 4-yr fixed interest
Cons:
Very hard to talk to a phonebanking officer (last December, it took me 2 hours before I gave up)
Home Loan processing has more paperwork requirements
Always have a lot of people in the Katipunan branch
2. BDO - savings with checking account, IUTF, credit card
Pros:
ATM - bundled with checking account
IUTF - also has a regular EIP for investment
Credit card - rebate card, so no need to keep track of points expiry etc
Home loan - delayed in their response. but at least I got pre-approved for a 5.88% 5-yr fixed rate
Cons:
Interbank and online charges for transferring money!!!?
Credit card - made a scheduled payment to my credit card, but my savings account wasn't deducted and I WASN'T informed that my "scheduled" payment didn't come through. I don't understand why, because my savings account was fully funded. I was charged for penalty and interest fee. Though I called it up and clarified, they waived the penalty fee but not the interest. I just let it go and decided thereon that I would never use the scheduled payment ever again.
Home loan - online doesn't work. They had false advertising over a promo for it.
BDO Berkeley Residences and San Pablo-Maharlika has better branch customer service with more personnel.
3. Metrobank
Pros:
Branch - usually not much line in Katipunan branch
Savings account - can use ATM internationally (with better rates than BPI), can pay my SecBank credit card, linked to my ALFM fund
Credit Card - occasional credit card promos, easier to earn points
Home loan - currently have promo rates of 5.88% with 5.5% subject to approval
Cons:
less branches
home loan - processing is said to be very slooow
4. HSBC - credit card
Pros:
Branch - few people
Phone banking - great; they even let them call you from their website
Credit card - this is one of my oldest card, and I never had a problem (but need to call to waived annual fees, etc), I use it internationally, can pay my Globe and Smart bills online anytime
Home loan - rate is attractive, promo is attractive (waived 100k fees)
Cons:
not much promos
not much branches
5. Citibank - credit card
Pros:
can easily pay my Globe and Smart bills online
can use internationally without a problem
phone banking - so many buttons to click before I can talk to an officer
mobile and online app
Cons:
had a bit of a hassle waiving my annual fee
6. Security Bank - credit card (newest one so maybe not much experience yet)
Pros:
Branch - few people; lots of branches
Phone banking - can also let them call you; or in my case, I can SMS one of their personnel to ask
Credit card - rebate (no need to watch the points)
Home Loan - elastic fantastic option
Cons:
Credit card - cannot pay my telecom bills online
Home Loan - appraisal fee, before they can pre-approve
I am seriously thinking of closing my BDO savings account, and opening an account elsewhere. But I haven't decided what bank yet. I was thinking wherever home loan bank that will approve us instead.
