Opening a bank account in the Philippines

lookng to do the same thing.  I know Citibank is possible, but there are no Citibank ATM in Baguio only Manila, where you can transfer free from citybank to citybank, also withdraw free. Ron Aussie.

I've since found out that PNB has branches in the states (NY) and Phils. I'm not sure if they have a branch in Bagio...

FYI, I am from San Diego, and have checked on banking. At least here in Diego, the PNB and BPI branches are for remitance only. If i wanted to open an account here in the state I could do so in the Los Angeles main branch. I opened an account here with citibank and on our last visit to the PI (prior to our move in December) we went to the local Citibank branch. We could not open an account there until acctual residence is established and were told that once we deposited money there there would be a 3 month hold on the funds before we could start using checking etc.(antifraud measures) I got the distinct feeling that this waiting period was flexible and might even be waived by the branch manager. hope this helps

scotth you are exactly right!

Dennis52 and for everybody who would like to transfer there funds here in the philippines. please be careful to yoour money we are alot of foriegners who is victim for banking. branch manager will takecare really-good of your money. alot of foriegners who put there 5 million but verry sad to hear from the 5 million they put they cannot take-out even one peso.
carefull your money if you are in the philippines.
if you tranfer by little money not much hurt you if somebody will still it from you! but if you tranfer all your funds everything, like a lightning hit you down one branch manager will trick you good.
vic

scotth wrote:

FYI, I am from San Diego, and have checked on banking. At least here in Diego, the PNB and BPI branches are for remitance only. If i wanted to open an account here in the state I could do so in the Los Angeles main branch. I opened an account here with citibank and on our last visit to the PI (prior to our move in December) we went to the local Citibank branch. We could not open an account there until acctual residence is established and were told that once we deposited money there there would be a 3 month hold on the funds before we could start using checking etc.(antifraud measures) I got the distinct feeling that this waiting period was flexible and might even be waived by the branch manager. hope this helps

try to ask the branch manager if there is any fee in shortening the waiting period. I experienced this before and I asked the bank manager how to shorten the waiting period. And she told me that there is a fee for that. They don't usually offer it unless you ask about it.

Dennis  I'll retiring the in the phillipines in a couple of years also.  Came across some banking info that might be of interest

Look into INGDirect. Has a lot of online capabilities. I'll also planning on using Metro bank  which has a lot of offices through out the philipines. I plan on listing Metro as a secondary bank with ING  to transfer mony as I need ( Online/secure ofcoarse)

I think banco de oro (BDO) can help you. (happy fiesta here in our community, just bought some gifts at deltatribe.com)

hi Al

have been using BDO  for the family there, must say they're good to use also

Any tid bits on income taxes returns for retirement plans (iras & ssn) that are paid out from inside the US  while being retired there????