METROBANK HAS OFFICE IN NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES
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i GOT SCREWED BY B OF A ....GAVE ME A VISA CARD WOULD NOT WORK HERE AFTER I TOLD THEM THAT WAS WHAT I NEEDED........THEN MY DISSAPEARED.....NO THANKS..........HEARD GOOD THING ABOUT WELLS FARGO BUT DO NOT KNOW THEIR ABILITY TO THE PHILLYS

 

Dustin, have a read up on PNB there are branches in the States. Their Internet banking is Good, I have been with them 8 years, Started in London Branch then when I moved here Transferred the Account. no problems so Far, All pensions are paid into this account and rates are Good. Bank Charges are free in many circumstances as long as an account is in the set balance.

Home - Philippine National Bank

JP

 

Fidelity International Usage Agreement

You might look into Fidelity. I'm not in the Philippines yet, but my on-line research and reading so far indicated three US institutions as being able to provide the best low-cost rates and service for internet banking and transfers.

1. USAA

2. Charles Schwab

3. Fidelity

I do not know if you need to be physically present or not in the USA to open an initial account. Having a US mailing address MIGHT be an a factor in this.

nwlivewire

 

check out CAPITAL ONE. i haven't used my MC for awhile but last time i used it there was NO foreign transaction fee. i also opened my acct online with the guidance of a customer service rep cuz my USA drivers license had been expired for 6 years.

if you go with Charles Schwab, make sure to give them a stateside address. they also have a NO foreign transaction fee for cards.

norm : ))~

 

I also have a Cap One (formerly ING) debit card and there are no foreign transaction fees, just the p200 of the local bank per transaction which adds up. Have not done wire transactions with them, I use xoom for that. I would be very careful about telling these US banks you are residing overseas, Fidelity in particular takes a hard line on that.

 

Hello Jack , Could you advise me on how to go about a few things regarding banking? I get direct deposit here in the States and was wondering how easy is it to transfer that money or a portion I choose each month to a bank in the Philippines? Or is it easier to either Xoom or Western Union it electronically to myself when I need to? What bank is best to use to open both a peso and dollar account in the Philippines. Are safety deposit boxes used in the Philippines and are they safe and insured and if so for how much? Lots of questions I need answered and if yourself or any other fine member here can assist and advise me it would be greatly appreciated. Open a Philippine account on line here in the states beforehand or wait till feet are on the ground there? Debit card and or credit cards attached to Banks there recommended and which again are best. Sorry for all the questions but it is very stressful getting ready to pack up and make the permanent move back to the Philippines and not knowing as much as I thought I did.

 

PB all I can do is share what I have done. 3 of my 4 UK pensions are paid direct by BACS system from the Central Clearing bank for my pensions monthly. so you can choose what you have sent to where.
It is sent Pounds Sterling on 2 of them and $ on the Small one. The bank then Converts to peso and I have to Admit the exchange rate is pretty good, now you are from the US but I don't see how that should make a difference. I have put a Link up for PNB it is a wide ranging Site but you should get the results you need.

Home - Philippine National Bank

Some here use BDO or BPI but I don't know much about them no Doubt others will chip in
All I can say is that before I retired I used to do the Exchange thing and sending via companies and it all got a bit labour Intensive with Time Differences and such and losing some more on the exchange, for me anyway
I found I was dipping out on Rates due to the time zones. As to the Opening of an Account there or here it is all in the Web Pages. As to the Insurance I think it stands at 500.00 peso but this has never worried me as I never have that much in the bank anymore LOL safety boxes I don't know about but I am told PNB does have them.

Banking here can be a nightmare but for me I am keeping it Simple. Like most things though better with Boots on the Ground. If you open a bank account Today, you are using it tomorrow, If you have large Funds the C/C can be arranged other wise it could be 6 months. Best you hang on to at least one US bank until you have settled then you can progress, like most of us have. As I said I am sure one of the other US members can point you maybe better on this as of Course, I am a Brit and things can and sometimes do get treated a little differently.

Best of Luck, Hope you will keep us all informed of your Progress as we are here rooting for you

JP

 

Thanks once again jack! You seem to be a lifesaver and a wealth of accurate information that is trustworthy to me. I will surely have hundreds if not thousands of additional questions in preparation to this life changing journey back to my wife's homeland along with my daughter who was born there but left before the age of 2. Ain't gonna be easy but it's surely well worth it and better than the rat race going on here in the states. Thanks again my friend and I'll surely keep you posted on the progress.