BPI Debit Card for use with Paypal?

James Ryan Jonas

Very few local debit and credit cards can be used with Paypal. For those without credit cards, the UnionBank EON debit card is a usual option. For those with a BPI Mastercard, however, there now is an alternative “credit card” that can be used with Paypal: the BPI e-Credit card.

I visited BPI earlier and a staff introduced me to it. The e-Credit card is similar to a supplementary card, which means it is attached to the regular BPI Mastercard.

BPI markets the e-Credit card as the “card for online transactions.” Its account number is different from the regular credit card number which means online, your regular credit card number won’t appear.

How am I protected with the e-Credit card?

The e-Credit card is pre-assigned at 50% of your regular credit limit or P50,000 whichever is lower. This means with the e-Credit card, you have a lower exposure when you use it online.

Is there an annual fee for the e-Credit card?

None, it’s free with the BPI Mastercard.

Will I get a separate card for my e-Credit Card?

Yes, but it’s not really a “credit card” but more of a reference card. It does not contain any chip, magnetic stripe, signature or embossing which means it cannot be used to swipe in offline transactions. What it has is your account number, account name, expiration date, and the card validation number — the same information you need to make an online transaction.

What if my e-Credit card is lost or stolen?

Report it to BPI Express Phone at 89-100 (891-0000). You can also request for a new card with a new account number.

Must read these other related, useful articles:

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.