The good news is that, since 2008, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) has required bank customers to present only one (1) valid or government ID when opening a new bank account. A BSP circular issued on June 2008 relaxed the bank’s requirement on the number and type of IDs accepted when a customer tries to open a new account.
The move is meant to “promote access of Filipinos to services offered by formal financial institutions,” as well as to “encourage and facilitate remittances of OFWs through the banking system,” according to the BSP memo.
The bad news, however, is that some banks still require two (2) valid IDs when opening a bank account. Why the BSP cannot forcefully implement its own circular eludes us. It is difficult to argue with banks to accept just one ID, of course, since they are the ones approving your bank account application.
But if you want to know which identification cards can be validly used to open a bank account in the Philippines, continue reading below.
List of Valid IDs you can show when opening a bank account
The BSP has approved the following IDs as valid to be presented to banks when opening a new savings account:
- Passport
- Driver’s License
- Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
- Police Clearance
- Postal ID
- Voter’s ID
- Barangay Certification
- Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) e-Card
- Social Security System (SSS) Card
- Senior Citizen Card
- Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID
- OFW ID
- Seaman’s Book
- Alien Certificate of Registration / Immigrant Certificate of Registration
- Government Office and GOCC ID / Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ID / Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) ID
- 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
- Company IDs issued by private entities or institutions registered with or supervised or regulated either by the BSP, SEC, or Insurance Commission
Students who are beneficiaries of OFW remittances and are not yet of voting age can still open an account by presenting the original photo-bearing school ID duly signed by the principal or head of school and submitting a clear copy of that ID.
UPDATE: We’ve received feedback from our readers that some banks still do not accept Postal ID or Voter’s ID or even an official Company ID. The BSP itself has reaffirmed the validity of these IDs, so try to politely request to see a BSP circular that disallows the following. Unfortunately, though, in the end, the decision whether we can open an account lies with the bank. Since we’re the ones availing of the service, they can choose not to approve our application.
See also: How to open a bank account in the Philippines (for foreigners and Filipinos)
sabi ng opismate ko, “sa wakas magkaka bank account na ko! woohoo!” lols.
this is good news
I hope this also means that the credit card requirements will follow as well.
Only for banks? Western Union not included? coz Google Adsense Cashout->Western Union. hehe.
Hi,
Great news! Can you tell me what’s the minimum age in opening a bank account or atm?
Regards,
Robert
Hay salamat, Metrobank Concepcion Marikina requires 3 valid ID kaya no choice ako, sa kabilang Bank na lang ako nag open (sana sumunod na sila sa BSP) hehe.
is BDO following this? WHich banks do?
BPI requires at least 2 valid ID’s. Sad to say that. Nakakainis lang at nawawala yung voter’s ID ng father ko, di na pati na issue ng voter’s ID replacement. San naman kaya kami maghahanap ng ID -_-
Thank goodness! Kaya maraming na-hahassle gumawa ng bank account eh.
unionbank still requires 2 ids…grr
Tama lang yun! Yang mga bangkong yan pahirap magopen ng account! ?
Waah, baket BDO 3 ID’s pa din ang hinihingi, mg-open sna ako ng BDO account eh.
open an account at Chinabank…pwede khit isa lng
buti sayo pinayagan ka.. d2 smen e karamihan ng malalakas na ID e hnd tintanggap like NBI ! naka inis nga at d mo na malaman kng ano pang pd mong gamitin kasi halos lahat nd nila kino-consider as ID..
Ung bank code kaya ng BDO is the same with
Smartmoney?
I might be coming to PI from the USA for about a two months visit. Is it possible for an American to open a bank account for such a short period of time? Also is it possible to obtain a debit Master Card or debit VISA card for use in pesos?
Thank you.
Rich Hill
@Rich Hill, please refer to our article on How to open a bank account in the Philippines. Inquire with the bank if you can get a debit Master or Visa card. It’s easy for a citizen or resident alien to get one. I’m not sure about non-resident foreigners.
nakakainis yung ibang bank 2 ids pa hinihingi eh 1 lang id ko… haayy! saan po ba bank na pwede isand id lang?! thanks
hahhah uu nga eh
tae bat ung NBI Id nde tintanggap, hirap hirap kumuha nun eh
badtrip ako sa bpi ngtanong ako through online kng pwede isang id lng tpos birthcertificate nlang i add ko oo dw padting ko dun di nman daw pwd kainis syang pamashe,,,,laki pa nman tiwala ko s bpi,,,buti pa bdo or iband bank
Valid ID naman pala ang postal ID bat after ko magwait ng more than an hour sa metrobank los banos hindi prinocess yung application ko na magopen ng deposit account dahil di daw valid id ang postal id. She should have said so when I asked her about the requirements. Bastos pa nung naghahandle ng new accounts nila.
Same with eastwest bank..
true. nagbigay kame ng nanay ko ng postal at voters id! d daw yun valid! nakanaks! naasar lng ako. tsk! 4 na balik ko na kaya! tsk! sa bdo na lng kame. grabe nakakaasar ang bpi. nakaka bt sia!
I agree, kakagaling ko lang din sa BPI Visayas Ave. branch para sana mag-open din ng acct. nagtanong ako sa customer service nila and tinuro lang yung nakasulat sa harap niya na ayun daw yung mga requirements…sa mga ID’s wala naman nakalagay na di pala nila tinatanggap yung Voter’s and company ID, so bumalik ako sa bahay kasi sa mga requirements na nakasulat yung proof of billing lang wala ako… after mga 1 hour balik ako sa BPI then saka lang niya inexplain yung about sa ID’s, kabadtrip lang si ate customer service na di marunong mag assist ng client.
Also in eastwest bank. Very hard to open an account even with endorsement letter from a company na..
And yes, they do not honor postal ID!
Bakit ganun sakin may company ID ako and Voter’s ID hindi pa din pwede
ps bank dont honor company ID. tsk tsk
Yung AUB ba 2ID’s din ung required?
maganda s BDO NBI at philhealth ID lng okay n kaso hhnpan k ng company ID kung employee ka, ang kaso pag na zero mo ung maintaining balance mo s ATM Debit account automatic ka mcclose, pero pwede mo i open after six month pa on that branch k kung saan k ng apply, pero u can open other account s other branch ang sabi…
hayst sana mag try aq, ngmit ko kc ung savings ko s emergency kkainis automatic close n agad
Hi zel good morning! Ask ko lang..what if walang company id kaya sa pag apply sa BDO? kaka resign ko lang kase and nasurrender ko na ung company id ko..and we have the same id.. NBI and philhealth lang merun ako..
i asked for the requirements in bpi kelangan pa proof of billing? pag walang proof of billing need mo ng barangay clearance na doon ka 4alaga nakatira. hello…alangan naman mameke ka pa ng address sa pag oopen ng account eh pera mo din nakasalalay don. ang dami2 kaartehan ng bpi sana naman wag naman masyadong higpitan sa requirements kz gusto lang din nmn namin magsave ng pera sa bangko nuh
maganda
maganda
Hindi inaacept voters I’d at barangay certification ko sa bpi kalentong