Hi, can anyone tell me where to begin to open a joint bank account in ph? is it best for my fiance to deal with this, just wondering as i am in UK and how i sign forms etc, how does this work, thanks in advance David
Good question, it is my understanding having tried to get an account over there and failed that the only way a foreigner will get his or her name on an account is if they are resident and have an ACR card (alien registration card). The only other way I have heard being successful is to be friends with a local bank manager. I may well be wrong and if I am I would be delighted to have someone tell me how to do it.
Mabuhay! My husband and I inquired about this, too, as we also are planning to have our BDO Kabayan account converted into a joint account. I spoke with my bank's Branch Manager and she told me that my husband, being British, should present not only his passport but also a valid Philippine ID like a driver's license. In lieu of that, he needs to acquire an ACR from the Philippine Immigration Office. We researched more on how he can obtain one. We learned that any foreigner who wishes to stay here for 60 days (or could it be 90 days?) or over, it's mandatory to get one. Unfortunately, since my husband has a regular job in UK and is allowed just 14 days vacation holiday, he can't stay that long. Then, we also found out that for those who are staying shorter than the specified time has the option to get an ACR (meaning, it's not mandatory but he can apply for one). There is an "express service" to fast track the process, by paying an express-service fee. All you have to do, David, is to go to the Philippine Immiigration Office nearest to your fiancee's place, present your British passport and other required documents, and apply for an ACR. I hope this helps. Mrs. M. Haddon hils:
If you want a (joint) bank account into which you can deposit Pesos - or other currencies in cash form - then your husbands will require Permanent Residents' ACR Cards. The 'cheap and cheerful' tourist version of the ACR Card is not sufficient. ACR Cards, of either type, take around 2 - 3 weeks if applied for at BI Intramuros but the further away from Manila you are, the longer they take. The current cost is the Peso equivalent of US$50 plus Php500 "Express Lane" fee - there is no such actual service but you pay for it anyway! The Tourist ACR card is valid for 12 months whilst the Permanent one lasts 5 years. If you're happy not to have 'full-service' banking (ie without the ability to deposit Pesos such your salary check, or foreign currency as cash) then I'd suggest using a Philippine Drivers' License as your ID. Provided your husbands hold full British Driver Licenses, they can apply for Philippine Licences without the need for proof of Drivers' Ed or test. They will, however, need to pass the medical requirements including the mandatory drugs test. In most LTOs you can leave with your shiny new licence within 3 or 4 hours. They will need both the paper licence and the pink card - which together comprise a UK licence. They should not need International Licences unless their UK License was issued to an address in Wales in which case an International Licence is a wise precaution.
I'v got a PNB joint account over eight years which I have wired money over from the UK to PNB. I don't have an ACR card, or any other visa card. Times must have changed. Its that long ago I forgot how we opened it, You must have a Philippine permanent Address, we used her mothers Address.
I have never had any issue opening a BPI account without showing my acr card.. I just opened another BPI account..Joint with my British sister who was over on a short visit. She used her passport as ID and I used my R.P driving licence. The quickest way is to pop into a BPI Express counter.
I opened a savings account with ATM card at HSBC in Makati 7 years ago, all they wanted for ID was my passport and my existing UK HSBC credit card, plus a landline number and address in Philippines (used Elsa's auntie in Quezon for that).
Agree on knowing the people from the local brach of your bank. Maybe the ladies can befriend or be valued clients of the bank so it won't be hard to have a joint account. My husband and I have a joint account and he has a ATM account with Chinabank. Although I must admit that we are valued clients of the said branch so they had some leniency with regard our situation. My husband didn't even have to go to the branch and I just brought home all our forms to be signed.
The wife and me opened a joint PNB accounrt in Tacloban last year I think. We just took some ID, I used a passport. Its a basic card account so we cant get anything on finance on it or anything but we can use it in shops etc. I wire money into it using PNB Europe.
^ If that's a regular ATM account, foreigners can open it anytime as long as he can provide ID's and a passport. It is a checking account that is hard to get unless you have connections.
Markham.. 6 years ago we opened an HSBC account in Manila and it went pretty much as you described... ACR requirements etc.. About a year ago,we walked into a BPI express counter..Filled in the forms for a joint account and it was opened the next day.. My ID on that occasion was my Filipino driving licence. I have no idea if this result can be achieved via their website as I have never tried.. Might be worth a look though. http://www.bpiexpressonline.com/
