BPI Customer Service — International

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), founded in 1851, maintains dedicated customer-service processes for international clients: overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), multinational corporations, and non-resident account holders. International customer care covers inbound/outbound remittances, foreign-currency accounts, SWIFT payments, correspondent-banking relationships and remote account opening and servicing through BPI Online and BPI Mobile. This guide presents practical, up-to-date operational details, workflow steps and cost ranges you can act on immediately.

Information below focuses on concrete actions, exact identifiers and realistic fee/time expectations. Before making a transfer, opening an account, or updating compliance data, always confirm the latest phone numbers, cut-off times and fees at the official site (www.bpi.com.ph) because rates and contact points can change between regulatory updates and product launches.

Primary contact channels and operational hours

BPI publishes a central Contact Centre for general and international queries; the Contact Centre number listed on the public site is (02) 8891-0000 for calls within the Philippines. When calling from overseas you can prefix with +63 2 8891-0000. For secure bank instructions (blocking cards, reporting fraud) use the phone channel first, then confirm in writing through BPI Online Message Center or secure email as directed by the bank’s adviser.

Operational hours differ by service line: general contact centre support is typically 24/7 for lost-stolen card reporting and ATM issues, while specialized departments (remittance, corporate treasury, private banking) operate during Manila business hours, Monday–Friday roughly 8:00–17:00 PHT. For country-specific or currency-specific services (e.g., USD wire processing, EUR payouts) ask for the International Banking or Treasury team to confirm cut-off times and same-day payment windows.

Receiving international transfers (practical mechanics)

To receive a SWIFT/MT103 payment to a BPI account you must give the remitter these core details: beneficiary name (exact bank-account name), full BPI account number, beneficiary branch name or branch code if requested, and BPI’s SWIFT/BIC code BOPIPHMM. The Philippines does not use IBANs — the SWIFT code plus the numeric account is the standard routing information.

• Essential incoming-wire fields: BOPIPHMM (BPI SWIFT), beneficiary full name, beneficiary numeric account, beneficiary branch (if available), purpose of payment (some senders require this), and remitter bank details.
• Time and cost expectations: typical credit time is 1–3 business days from major correspondent banks. BPI may charge an inward remittance handling fee (commonly PHP 150–300), and correspondent/intermediary banks often deduct 3–30 USD or equivalent as their fee before final credit.

Practical tip: instruct the sender to mark the currency (USD/EUR/GBP/JPY) clearly and to include your account number in the payment details. If the sender’s bank requires an intermediary, ask the remitter to use a large global correspondent (e.g., Citibank, HSBC) to reduce routing delays; your BPI relationship manager can provide preferred intermediary bank names for particular corridors.

Sending money abroad and remittance pricing

Outbound international transfers from BPI follow SWIFT standards. You can initiate transfers through a branch, BPI Online (for account holders with online access), or via the Corporate Treasury for high-value corporate flows. Cut-off times for FX conversion and same-day dispatch commonly fall mid-afternoon Manila time (ask your channel for the exact hour on the day of the transfer).

Fee structure is usually: a BPI commissioning fee (example range PHP 400–800 for standard retail outward wires), the foreign-exchange spread when converting PHP to a foreign currency (typical spread 0.2%–2.0% depending on amount and currency), and potential intermediary bank fees (variable). For frequent or high-value remittances negotiate a corporate treasury arrangement or use BPI’s specialized OFW/remittance partner products to lower per-transfer costs.

Opening and managing accounts from overseas

BPI allows non-residents and OFWs to open certain account types remotely, but requirements and processes depend on the account (Savings, Checking, Foreign Currency Deposit Unit — FCDU, or Wealth accounts). Expect standard KYC: valid passport, secondary ID, proof of overseas address (utility bill or government document), proof of employment/income (contract or payslip), and Tax Identification Number (TIN) or FATCA documentation for U.S. citizens. Many processes now start online but require document notarization and consular legalization or apostille depending on the issuing country.

• Typical document pack: original or certified passport copy, one secondary ID, proof of overseas address (dated within 3 months), employment certificate or contract, signed bank forms and initial deposit (initial deposit ranges from PHP 2,000–10,000 depending on product).

If you are a high-net-worth or corporate client, request a dedicated relationship manager who will coordinate document collection, compliance screening and FX/treasury needs. Expect onboarding timelines of 5–20 business days once all certified documents are received; delays most often occur when notarization or apostille steps are incomplete.

Security, compliance and practical tips for international customers

BPI enforces AML/CFT and global tax-compliance frameworks (FATCA, CRS). As an international customer you should be prepared to provide source-of-funds evidence (sale agreements, salary slips, remittance statements) for unusually large inbound or outbound flows. Use BPI Online’s secure channels for transaction confirmations and avoid sending sensitive credentials by email or non-secure messaging.

For emergency situations (lost card, suspected fraud), call the Contact Centre first (see above) to block instruments immediately, then follow with a written dispute/claim form. Keep transaction reference numbers (SWIFT MT103 or transaction trace number) for any international inquiries — these accelerate dispute resolution and reconciliation with correspondent banks.

Addresses and official resources

BPI’s publicly listed corporate headquarters is on Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Philippines; for exact branch addresses, business hours and contact numbers consult the official online branch locator at www.bpi.com.ph. The SWIFT/BIC for all BPI wire routing is BOPIPHMM. For up-to-date product terms, fees and official contact channels always rely on the bank’s published notices and your assigned relationship manager.

Summary action items: verify the SWIFT code and account number before instructing a remitter; confirm cut-off times for same-day value with the exact service line you will use; collect notarized KYC documents if opening remotely; and obtain MT103/tracking numbers for international transfers so you can trace funds quickly if something is delayed or deducted by an intermediary bank.

What is the international hotline for BPI preferred?

For inquiries and comments, please send us a message or call our 24-hour BPI Contact Center at (+632) 889-10000. BPI Preferred and BPI Gold clients may contact the dedicated line (+632) 7791-0077, or email [email protected].

How do I activate international access to BPI?

1. Log in to BPI online or app.
2. Select “More”.
3. Click “Card Control” to see your activated BPI Debit Mastercard.
4. Choose the debit card you wish to adjust.
5. Go to “International access”. Turn your access on or off.
6. Key in your One-Time PIN.

How do I call BPI from USA?

Please feel free to call us at the following numbers, in case you need more information

1. 212-753-6100 / 646-720-0407.
2. Asst. Vice President (Operations): 646-720-0398.
3. Toll Free No: 1-800-232-2828.

How do I call BPI from abroad?

+63 + 2 + 88910000
Is there a hotline I can call? Our Preferred hotline only takes local inbound calls. If you are out of the country, you may call the international toll-free hotline by dialing International Access Code +63 + 2 + 88910000.

How to change BPI mobile number abroad?

You can update your registered mobile number on the BPI app or via web browser if you’re in the Philippines and have a BPI debit card. If you don’t have a debit card, bring a valid government ID to the nearest BPI branch. If you’re abroad, call us through our toll-free BPI Contact Center.

Does BPI work internationally?

Yes. You can use your BPI debit card² abroad once you have enabled it. With your BPI debit card, you can transact thru ATM and point-of-sale (POS) terminals outside the Philippines, as well as make online e-commerce transactions. With your BPI debit card, you can use your card abroad, wherever Mastercard is accepted.