BPI Express Online: Detailed transaction history

James Ryan Jonas

Earlier this month, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) announced that users of its online banking facility will soon be able to see additional details of their transactions in their account history.

Today I logged in to my Express Online account and saw that BPI has already started implementing this. I’ve long waited for this one and even sent them last year a suggestion regarding this, so I’m glad they have finally adopted this.

BPI Express Online (EOL) now shows details of one’s transactions, such as account name and account number of recipients/senders of online fund transfers, branch where a deposit to your account was made, and BPI branch where an ATM withdrawal was made, among others.

These details are very handy for BPI account holders to double-check transactions in their account. I for instance do a lot of online fund transfers and I don’t always remember to whom and when I made a transaction.

Previously EOL’s transaction history barely provide any help, because only the date and transaction amount were shown. Now that account names and account numbers of funds transfer recipients are provided, I don’t have to guess anymore whether funds were sent to Mr. Benedict or to Ms. Lucia.

On its site, BPI also announced that details of one’s BPI auto and housing loan — including principal balance, remaining payment terms, last payment date, etc. — will soon be in EOL.

All I can say is kudos to BPI for these improvements in their online banking facility!

There still are some things, though, that I look forward to in BPI Express Online:

  • Ability to make fund transfers to another BPI account without having to pre-register that account in a BPI branch;
  • Easily send funds to accounts in other banks;
  • On-time delivery of email notice of activation/expiry of time deposits (Can you believe these email notices always arrive late, almost a month after the transaction was made?)

I’ve already sent them these suggestions before and I hope they will soon implement these new functions in their online banking website.

James Ryan Jonas teaches business management, investments, and entrepreneurship at the University of the Philippines (UP). He is also the Executive Director of UP Provident Fund Inc., managing and investing P3.2 Billion ($56.4 Million) worth of retirement funds on behalf of thousands of UP employees.