Tips in choosing the right Bank for Your Savings Account

A smart way to keep your finances in check is to choose the right bank for your savings account. While all banks have great benefits for their clients, it is up to you to see which bank can give you the best service for your needs. Those are up to you, but this list can help you zero in on the perfect bank for your needs.

Goal for Your Savings Account: What exactly do you want to achieve when you open a savings account? Your goal will affect your choices for your savings account.

Think very well. Are you saving up for a car, for further studies, or for a vacation of a lifetime? Will this be one of your many active savings accounts? When you find out what you want for your savings account, you might have an easier time focusing on a bank that can help you maximize your money.

Type of Savings Account: Generally, there are two kinds of savings accounts: an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) account and a Passbook savings account. An ATM account allows you to withdraw money with a card through an ATM. A passbook savings account, on the other hand, comes with a booklet that records your bank transactions.

The ATM savings account has more flexibility than a passbook account, but the latter is better for those who prefer traditional banking than having an ATM card with them. ATM accounts are best if you’re just starting out in your financial journey and you don’t have enough money for a high maintaining balance, because to maintain a passbook account, you need to have a maintaining balance of P10,000.

Initial Deposit: To open a savings account, you need to give your initial deposit. Again, it depends from bank to bank, and from savings account to savings account. Some banks require you to give an initial deposit of P100 in order to open a basic savings account. When you’re more financially stable, you can open a bigger savings account with an additional deposit of P500.

Interest Rates: In the Philippines, banks have interest rates for savings account holders. Interest rates do vary from bank to bank; some banks give higher interest rates than others. As most experienced investors would say, the higher the interest rate, the better.

Even if your money is safe in your account, the interest rate enables your money to grow. Depending on your bank and savings account type, you’re required to have a certain amount to earn interest. It’s best to call up the bank or banks you prefer to know how much your savings invest every year, and how much the interest rates are.

Maintaining Balance: There are reasons why some savings accounts have maintaining balance, while others don’t. Some account types have minimal maintaining balance, around P500, and it’s good for people who regularly withdraw money. If you don’t maintain your balance within 30 days, your savings account may close and you cannot withdraw the remaining money in that account.

Access to Bank: There are many banks today that have 24/7 ATM services all across Metro Manila and major cities across the country, so it shouldn’t be so hard for you to check your balance through an ATM. Many commercial banks now offer mobile and internet banking, so if you’re in Hong Kong and you want to know if your client has given your commission for a piece of work you’ve done for them, you can check any time of the day.

Passbook account holders cannot use an ATM, unless they also have an ATM card, but they can check their account through the internet as well.

ATM Transaction Fees: As much as possible, transact with your bank. When you use another ATM for your card (ex. You have one ATM card that you’re using through another bank’s ATM), you could get a minimum charge for using that machine. Some ATMs charge cards from the same bank service charge, while some don’t. It also depends on the type of ATM savings account you have, and what kind of transaction you do.

Customer Service: Some banks excel in serving their clients both online and in the branch. You’ll notice that they use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to talk to you and tend to your needs. If you’re looking for fast lines and compassionate tellers, make sure you try out two to three banks before finally choosing one you want to trust your savings with.

To be financially healthy means you have to make the right choices so that you won’t add any more expenses. Your banking experience should be easy and fruitful. When you choose the right bank for your savings account, you’ll have more peace of mind.

CORPORATE AGENT PARTNERS

  • ACTION.ABLE, INC.
  • ALL ACCESS GATEWAY INC.
  • ANTRECCO (AGUSAN DEL NORTE TEACHERS, RETIREES, EMPLOYEES & COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE)
  • ACM VIP
  • ALL CASH
  • AGRILIFE/ AGRIVET
  • ASENSO PINOY STORE, INC. (EASY DAY SHOP)
  • AVICOM ENTERPRISES
  • AYALA ALABANG VILLAGE ASSOCIATION
  • BAUG CARP MULTI PURPOSE COOPERATIVE
  • BAGUIO BENGUET COOP
  • CARD BANK INC
  • CARD MRI RIZAL BANK INC
  • CARD SME BANK
  • CARITAS BANCO NG MASA, INC.
  • CEBU PEOPLE’S MULTIPURPOSE COOPERATIVE
  • CIS BAYAD CENTER, INC
  • COOPERATIVE BANK OF BOHOL, INC
  • COUNTRY BUILDERS BANK
  • CREDENCE FINANCING, INC.
  • CURAMED PHARMACY
  • DALTON PAWNSHOP AND JEWELRY INC.
  • DANIELA PAWNSHOP
  • DIRECT AGENT 5 (DA 5)
  • DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILS.
  • EXPRESSPAY INC.
  • EVRIJEM FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND MONEY REMITTANCE
  • FILHAI MULTI PURPOSE COOPERATIVE
  • GLOBAL PINOY REMITTANCE AND SERVICES (GPRS)
  • GEMARY PAWNSHOP AND JEWELRY (CORP.)

OVER 600 BILLER PARTNERS NATIONWIDE

  • 123 FINANCE CORPORATION
  • 123 LENDING CORPORATION
  • 2C2P
  • 8AMC (VIA ECPAY)
  • ABEJO WATERS CORP.
  • ABRA
  • ACOM CONSUMER FINANCE CORPORATION
  • ACTIVE REALTY & DEVELOPMENT CORP.
  • ADA MANUFACTURING CORPORATION (VIA ECPAY)
  • AEON CREDIT SERVICE
  • AETERNITAS CHAPELS AND COLUMBARIUM (VIA ECPAY)
  • AFC SME FINANCE INC
  • AFTERWEST MICROLOANS INC
  • AGODA – DRAGONPAY
  • AGRIBANK
  • AGRO-INDUSTRIAL FOUNDATION COLLEGE OF THE PHILS.
  • AGUSAN DEL NORTE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
  • AIR YOU GO TRAVELS PHILIPPINES CO.
  • AKLAN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
  • ALAMINOS CITY WATER DISTRICT (VIA ECPAY)
  • ALLIANZ PNB LIFE INSURANCE INC.
  • ALPHA FUND SAVINGS & CREDIT COOPERATIVE (VIA ECPAY)
  • AMADEO WATER DISTRICT (VIA ECPAY)
  • AMYA POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, INC. AND FINANCING CORPORATION (LENDPINOY)
  • ANGAT WATER DISTRICT (VIA ECPAY)
  • ANGELES ELECTRIC COMPANY ANGELICUM SCHOOL , INC. ILOILO CITY (VIA ECPAY)
  • ANJELMAN REAL ESTATE LEASING
  • ANTIQUE ELECTRIC COOP, INC ANTRECCO (BILLS PAYMENT)

OVER 600 BILLER PARTNERS NATIONWIDE

  • 123 FINANCE CORPORATION
  • 123 LENDING CORPORATION
  • 2C2P
  • 8AMC (VIA ECPAY)
  • ABEJO WATERS CORP.
  • ABRA
  • ACOM CONSUMER FINANCE CORPORATION
  • ACTIVE REALTY & DEVELOPMENT CORP.
  • ADA MANUFACTURING CORPORATION (VIA ECPAY)
  • CREDIT SERVICE
  • AETERNITAS CHAPELS AND COLUMBARIUM (via ECPAY)
  • AFC SME FINANCE INC
  • AFTERWEST MICROLOANS INC
  • AGODA – DRAGONPAY
  • AGRIBANK
  • AGRO-INDUSTRIAL FOUNDATION COLLEGE OF THE PHILS.
  • AGUSAN DEL NORTE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
  • AIR YOU GO TRAVELS PHILIPPINES CO.
  • AKLAN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
  • ALAMINOS CITY WATER DISTRICT (via ECPAY)
  • CREDENCE FINANCING, INC.
  • CURAMED PHARMACY
  • DALTON PAWNSHOP AND JEWELRY INC.
  • DANIELA PAWNSHOP
  • DIRECT AGENT 5 (DA 5)
  • DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILS.
  • EXPRESSPAY INC.
  • EVRIJEM FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND MONEY REMITTANCE
  • FILHAI MULTI PURPOSE COOPERATIVE
  • GLOBAL PINOY REMITTANCE AND SERVICES (GPRS)
  • GEMARY PAWNSHOP AND JEWELRY (CORP.)

List of Accepted Government/ Valid IDs

  • Passport
  • Driver’s License
  • Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID
  • National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
  • Police Clearance
  • Postal ID
  • Voter’s ID
  • Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) ID
  • Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) e-Card
  • Social Security System (SSS) ID
  • Senior Citizen’s ID
  • Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID
  • OFW ID
  • Seaman’s Book
  • Alien Certification of Registration (ACR)
  • Barangay Certificate or ID (with picture and signature)
  • Birth Certificate (applicable to minors only)
  • Firearm License
  • Immigrant Certificate of Registration
  • Marriage License
  • National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons
  • New TIN ID
  • OWWA ID
  • Student ID
  • Alien Certification of Registration (ACR) / Immigrant Certificate of Registration
  • Government Office or Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) ID (e.g. AFP ID, HDMF (Pag-ibig Fund) ID, etc.
  • Certification from the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP)
  • Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Certification
  • Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID (IBP)
  • Company IDs issued by private entities or institutions registered with or supervised or regulated either by the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas), SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) or IC (Insurance Commission)

IDs Accepted

As required by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), clients who engage in a financial transaction with covered institutions for the first time shall be required to present the original and submit a clear copy of at least ONE (1) valid photo-bearing identification document issued by an official authority. For our clients’ convenience, Cebuana no longer requires submission of the photocopied ID. IDs are captured using a webcam in all branches. Clients are also required to submit an updated photo and other relevant information whenever the need for it arises.

Forms of identification accepted are the following;

Pawn Accepted IDs
1. Passport
2. Driver’s License
3. Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID
4. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
5. Police Clearance
6. Postal ID
7. Voter’s ID
8. Philippine Identification (PhilID) card
9. Social Security System (SSS) Card / Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID)
10. Barangay Certification
11. Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) e-Card
12. Senior Citizen Card
13. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID
14. OFW ID
15. Seaman’s Book
16. Alien Certification of Registration/Immigrant Certificate of Registration (for foreigners)
17. Government Office and GOCC ID, e.g., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP ID)
18. Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF ID)
19. Certification from the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP)
20. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Certification
21. Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID
22. Company IDs issued by private entities or institutions registered with or supervised or regulated either by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission or Insurance Commission
23. ID issued by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA)