Even before the pandemic, many freelancers have already been working with foreign clients all over the world.
Then, coronavirus came into the picture.
More employers have shifted into work-from-home arrangements, and more international clients have been seeking remote workers.
This means clients pay remote workers using international currency and in various ways. However, there are times that the bank or wire transfer process is not that smooth. Most of the time, it will require you to create an account using other unconventional banking methods.
The most common examples are PayPal and Payoneer.
Now, say you have a ready PayPal account with funds from your client. The issue now is how you can utilize the funds in the Philippines, where PayPal is not that so recognized?
Despite this, the good thing is that PayPal funds can be transferred into your local bank account. But to do so, you need to know the right bank code corresponding to your bank.
So, yes! Here’s a complete list of PayPal Bank Codes and SWIFT Codes for the top Philippine banks.
Specifically, you will learn the following:
Table of Contents
- What is a Bank Code?
- Where is a Bank Code used?
- Complete List of Bank Codes (BRSTN) in the Philippines
- Banks Without Equivalent Paypal Bank Codes
- What is a SWIFT Code?
- When to use a SWIFT Code
- List of SWIFT Codes (or BIC) of Philippine Banks
- How to Find Your Bank’s Swift Code (or BIC) Online
What is a bank code?
For starters, a bank code is an identifier used to identify banks in any financial transaction. It is also called the Bank Routing Symbol Transit Number (BRSTN) and usually comprises a nine-digit code.
This unique code is assigned to a bank for identifying its name, city, and country in financial transactions. You can compare it to a ZIP code, but instead of representing a place, it is used to identify the specific bank.
Where is a bank code used?
In the Philippines, a bank code is more often referred to as the BRSTN. It is often used in transactions involving PayPal and other payment systems.
Through this, one can send the funds to any registered bank in the Philippines from any destination.
Complete List of Bank Codes (BRSTN) in the Philippines
Now, enough for the technicalities.
Here is now the list of the bank codes or BRSTN that you should know.
Bank Name | Bank Code |
ALLIED BANKING CORP | 010320013 |
AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND (ANZ) BANK | 010700015 |
ASIA UNITED BANK | 011020011 |
BANCO DE ORO (BDO) | 010530667 |
BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS | 010030015 |
BANGKOK BANK | 010670019 |
BANK OF AMERICA | 010120019 |
BANK OF CHINA | 011140014 |
BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS (BPI) | 010040018 |
BANK OF TOKYO | 010460012 |
BANK OF COMMERCE | 010440016 |
CHINA BANKING CORP (CHINABANK) | 010100013 |
CHINA TRUST COMMERCIAL BANK | 010690015 |
CIMB BANK | 018010011 |
CITIBANK PHILIPPINES N.A. | 010070017 |
CTBC BANK (PHILIPPINES) CORP. | 010690015 |
DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES (DBP) | 010590018 |
DEUTSCHE BANK | 010650013 |
EASTWEST BANK | 010620014 |
EQUICOM SAVINGS BANK, INC. | 010960017 |
EXPORT & INDUSTRY BANK | 010860010 |
GLOBE XCHANGE, INC. (GCASH) | 018040010 |
FIRST CONSOLIDATED BANK | 020780012 |
FUJI BANK | 010640010 |
HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK (HSBC) | 010060014 |
INDUSTRIAL BANK OF KOREA | 011310019 |
ING BANK N.V. | 010660029 |
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA | 010560019 |
INTL EXCHANGE BANK | 010680012 |
JP MORGAN CHASE BANK | 010720011 |
KEB HANA BANK | 010710018 |
KOREA EXCHANGE BANK | 010710018 |
INTERNATIONAL NEDERLAND BANK | 010660016 |
LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES (LANDBANK) | 010350025 |
MAYBANK | 010220016 |
MEGA INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK CO., LTD. | 010560019 |
METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST CO. (METROBANK) | 010269996 |
MIZUHO BANK, LTD. | 010640010 |
MUFG BANK, LTD., MANILA BRANCH (FORMERLY BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ) | 010460012 |
PHILIPPINE BANK OF COMMUNICATION (PBCOM) | 010110016 |
PHIL TRUST COMPANY (PHILTRUST) | 010090039 |
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK (PNB) | 010080010 |
PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK (PSBANK) | 010269996 |
PRUDENTIAL BANK | 010150018 |
PHILIPPINE VETERANS BANK (VETERANS BANK) | 010330016 |
PHILIPPINE TRUST COMPANY | 010090039 |
RIZAL COMMERCIAL BANKING CORP (RCBC) | 010280014 |
ROBINSONS BANK CORPORATION | 011070016 |
SHINHAN BANK | 011300016 |
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK | 010050011 |
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION | 011280013 |
SECURITY BANK | 010140015 |
TONIK DIGITAL BANK | 011570011 |
UNION BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES (UBP) | 010419995 |
UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK (UCPB) | 010299995 |
UNITED OVERSEAS BANK | 010270189 |
YUANTA SAVINGS BANK (FORMERLY TONG YANG SAVINGS BANK) | 011130011 |
Banks Without Equivalent Paypal Bank Codes
While there is a long list of banks requiring bank codes, some do not need this like the following:
One Network Bank (ONB – BDO)
City Savings Bank (CSB – UnionBank)
Robinsons Bank
But, what if you cannot find your bank on the list?
It is very simple - PayPal does not authorize withdrawals to your bank.
Hence, the best option is to consider using another bank account or opening a new one.
What is a SWIFT Code?
Another thing that you need to know is the SWIFT code.
But, what is it?
Also known as Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, SWIFT is another valid code used by banks.
It is a network that is based in La Hulpe, Belgium, that manages SWIFT codes.
Compared to BRSTN with nine digits, SWIFT is made up of either 8 or 11 characters that include numbers and letters.
Others also call a SWIFT code as Bank Identifier Code (BIC). It is key information needed when sending money to overseas banks.
When to use a SWIFT code?
The BIC tells banks and remittance companies where to send the money. That is why it is essential in any international fund transfer transaction.
If you are the sender, you still need the recipient’s bank SWIFT code before you can make the transfer.
Moreover, if you are the receiver, you need to provide your bank’s BIC code in the Philippines to the sender to make the transaction successful.
In a nutshell, the SWIFT code transfers money, specifically if the payment is from international banks.
Banks must know the SWIFT code of the receiving bank to wire funds successfully. Otherwise, it will be impossible to complete the transaction.
It is like the secret language code that unlocks the barrier between two different banks.
Here is the format used by most SWIFT codes in designating a bank’s code:
- Institution Code or bank code = Four letters
- Country Code = Two letters
- Location Code = Two letters or two digits
- Local Branch Code = Last three characters
Here is an example.
Say your client needs to send money from an international account to your Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) account with the branch located in Makati.
The designated SWIFT code for this branch is BOPIPHMM, where:
- BOPI - stands for the Bank of the Philippine Islands’ bank code
- PH - as the country code
- MM - for the location, which stands for Metro Manila.
Complete List of SWIFT Codes (or BIC) of Philippine Banks
Here is the list of the SWIFT Codes or BIC of most Philippine banks that you should know.
Bank Name | SWIFT Code |
ASIA UNITED BANK CORPORATION | AUBKPHMM |
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND (ANZ) BANKING GROUP LIMITED | ANZBPHMX |
BANGKOK BANK PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED, MANILA BRANCH | BKKBPHMM |
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. MANILA | BOFAPH2X |
BANK OF CHINA, MANILA BRANCH | BKCHPHMM |
BANK OF COMMERCE | PABIPHMM |
BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS (BPI) | BOPIPHMM |
BANCO DE ORO (BDO) UNIBANK | BNORPHMM |
BNP PARIBAS, MANILA OFFSHORE BRANCH | BNPAPHMM |
BPI DIRECT | BPDIPHM1 |
BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK | BPFSPHM1 |
BPI GLOBE BANKO INC. | BPGOPHM1 |
CHINA BANKING CORPORATION (CHINABANK) | CHBKPHMM |
CHINATRUST (PHILS.) COMMERCIAL BANK MANILA | CTCBPHMM |
CIMB BANK PHILIPPINES, INC. | CIPHPHMM |
CITIBANK N.A. (CEBU BRANCH) | CITIPHMXCBU |
CITIBANK, N.A. - MAKATI BRANCH | CITIPHMX |
CITIBANK N.A. (MANILA HEAD OFFICE) | CITIPHMXV |
CITIBANK SAVINGS INC. | CITIPH2X |
CTBC BANK (PHILIPPINES) CORP. | CTCBPHMM |
DEUTSCHE BANK AG | DEUTPHMM |
DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES (DBP) | DBPHPHMM |
EASTWEST BANKING CORPORATION | EWBCPHMM |
EQUICOM SAVINGS BANK, INC. | EQSNPHM1 |
FIRST COMMERCIAL BANK, LTD., MANILA BRANCH | FCBKPHMM |
GLOBE TELECOM, INC. (GCASH) | GLTEPHMT |
HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORP. (HSBC) CEBU BRANCH | HSBCPHMMCEB |
HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORP. (HSBC) MANILA HEAD OFFICE | HSBCPHMM |
HSBC SAVINGS BANK (PHILIPPINES) INC. | HBPHPHMM |
HUA NAN COMMERCIAL BANK, LTD., MANILA BRANCH | HNBKPHMM |
INDUSTRIAL BANK OF KOREA, MANILA BRANCH | IBKOPHMM |
ING BANK N.V. | INGBPHMM |
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., MANILA BRANCH | CHASPHMM |
KEB HANA BANK | KOEXPHMM |
LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES | TLBPPHMM |
MAYBANK PHILIPPINES INC | MBBEPHMM |
MEGA INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK CO., LTD., MANILA BRANCH | ICBCPHMM |
MUFG BANK, LTD., MANILA BRANCH (FORMERLY BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ) | BOTKPHMM |
METROPOLITAN BANK AND TRUST CO. (METROBANK) | MBTCPHMM |
MIZUHO BANK, LTD., MANILA BRANCH | MHCBPHMM |
PHILIPPINE BANK OF COMMUNICATIONS (PBCOM) | CPHIPHMM |
PHILIPPINE BUSINESS BANK (PBB) | PPBUPHMM |
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK (PNB) | PNBMPHMM |
PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK (PS BANK) | PHSBPHMM |
PHILIPPINE VETERANS BANK | PHVBPHMM |
PHILTRUST BANK (PHILIPPINE TRUST COMPANY) | PHTBPHMM |
RIZAL COMMERCIAL BANKING CORPORATION (RCBC) | RCBCPHMM |
ROBINSONS BANK CORPORATION | ROBPPHMQ |
SECURITY BANK CORPORATION | SETCPHMM |
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK | SCBLPHMM |
STERLING BANK OF ASIA INC. | STLAPH22 |
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION MANILA BRANCH | SMBCPHMM |
TONIK DIGITAL BANK, INC. | TODGPHM2 |
TAIWAN COOPERATIVE BANK MANILA OFFSHORE BANKING BRANCH | TACBPHMM |
UNION BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES | UBPHPHMM |
UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK (UCPB) | UCPBPHMM |
UNITED OVERSEAS BANK LIMITED – MANILA BRANCH | UOVBPHMM |
YUANTA SAVINGS BANK (FORMERLY TONG YANG SAVINGS BANK) | TYBKPHMM |
How to find a bank’s SWIFT Code online?
Do you need to transfer money internationally but do not have an idea about the SWIFT code? Well, here are the steps to easily determine your bank’s swift code.
1. Visit the Swift website.
It is the global provider of secure financial messaging services, and this online BIC Search service is free for use.
2. Enter the bank name. In this example, I entered Tonik Digital Bank. You also need to enter the captcha then hit send.
3. After hitting search, you should be able to see the SWIFT code now.
4. Click on the code to check more details about the bank.
Key Takeaways
In a nutshell, bank and SWIFT codes are essential in every bank transaction. Having enough knowledge about them and their uses helps you do a transaction efficiently.
While there is a way to verify your needed code online, there are times that it may not work for you.
Hence, if you cannot find your SWIFT code or bank code or have an error completing a transaction, it is best to call your bank immediately to verify the code and ask for assistance.
Source: Grit.ph
Ultimate Guide to Franchising
Avoiding Scams, Making Smart Investments, and Better Decisions
The franchise industry is booming, and entrepreneurs are wondering about how this sector works. This ebook aims to help aspiring franchisees achieve their business goals.
Learn moreDisclaimer: Franchise Market Philippines strives to provide relevant and accurate information in all its articles. However, some information in our articles may differ or might be outdated from what you can see or read directly from the establishments' or businesses’ websites. Please get in touch with us directly for any discrepancies.