“Can I withdraw cash from ATM’s here in (name your country of work) using my Philippine bank’s ATM card?
This has been asked by some of my OFW readers in the past but I have not found time to answer until now.
So, is it really possible for an OFW to withdraw money abroad using his Philippine ATM card? Here’s the answer. (Sencia na, pa-bitin effect lang.)
Yes, you can withdraw from a foreign bank’s automated teller machines in your country of work using your Philippine ATM card.
So if you have an ATM card from Philippine banks like BDO, Metrobank, BPI, RCBC, PNB, etc. with you in your wallet that bears the MasterCard or Visa logo then you can withdraw cash abroad in times of emergency.
How Much Is The Withdrawal Fee?
I tried withdrawing cash myself using my BDO ATM card from a Saudi Arabian bank in Al Khobar called Saudi British Bank (SABB), which is actually HSBC.
Singit Trivia: Foreign commercial banks do not carry their original international names for their branches in Saudi Arabia (except in Riyadh head office operations). The bank name has to show that it has a solid partnership with Saudi Arabia or its local financial firms.
Okay, back to your question. How much is the withdrawal fee being charged by the foreign bank when you withdraw from their ATM?
Here’s a screenshot of my BDO account statement after I pulled out SAR500 or equivalent to Php6,091.85. The service charge debit is 159.92, or roughly 2.6% to 3% of the amount withdrawn.
Please take note of the withdrawal limits of your Philippine bank and the foreign bank where you are withdrawing money from.
When I visited Dubai recently, I was also able to withdraw from a a Dubai Islamic Bank ATM using my BDO ATM card.
Is It Safe To Withdraw Money Abroad Using PH ATM Card?
Whether it’s in the Philippines or abroad, your safety depends on your vigilance and awareness. You’ve heard horrifying stories of people getting robbed or even murdered after or during withdrawal of cash from the ATM in the Philippines.
That seldom happens in the Middle East (but it happens as well, sometimes). But with solid police presence, the Middle Eastern authorities can easily scare away bad elements of their cities. I will be more concerned on the scammers using ATM’s to victimize people. You can check out anti-fraud sites or the FBI for the types of ATM schemes that may happening in your area.
Also, the inconvenience of coordinating with your Philippine bank and the foreign bank where you withdrew your money from in case when your ATM card has been “eaten” by the machine. Sobrang hassle nyan. Even if the foreign bank has a tie-up with your Philippine bank, this may take some time before any issues like this is resolved.
So use your Philippine ATM cards abroad during emergency situations only. In our case, we also keep some of our emergency funds in our Philippine bank accounts.
Also, please be reminded to check with your Philippine bank first as to whether your ATM cards can be used for withdrawal in your current country of work or residence before even trying it out by yourself. Your ATM card may need to be registered or enrolled first for overseas withdrawals so call your bank’s international hotline soon. It’s still best to be safe and sure, than sorry.
Keep on saving. Keep on investing.
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I have a Metrobank debit card but why i can’t, use it here in America?? Do I have to register for international use?? Can you help me how I am gonna do it or what Web site of Metrobank? ?
Hi Jane, if your Metrobank debit card has a Cirrus or Mastercard logo then you should be able to use it in the US. You may also try to call the toll-free international number of Metrobank indicated in the back of your card for assistance.
On its recent announcement, Metrobank advises all its accountholders especially those who are ATM/Debit/Prepaid Cardholders that the international use of Metrobank ATM, Debit, and Prepaid cards shall be available only upon request.
If you are a Metrobank accountholder and you expect to use your card internationally or are planning on travelling abroad soon, please contact your branch of account to activate this feature. The purpose for this is for additional security.
Please don’t forget to bring your valid id upon requesting for activation.
For urgent concerns, call the Metrobank 24/7 Customer Hotline at 8700-700. For provincial areas, call toll-free 1-800-1888-5775.
Hi, I am here in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. I am going still to the bank or I can just use the ATM (machine) my card is metrobank and it has MAster Card Logo
thanks!
pwdi poh bng dto wedruhin sa taiwan yong perang ihuhulog sa account q bdokabayan saving poh gamit q at mag kno poh ang limit
Can i withdraw my metrobank debit card here in dubai?
Hi Irene, pwede pero hindi sa lahat ng ATMs. Subukan mo sa NBD at Islamic bank.
hi sir na try ko po sa islamic bank and invalid transaction . i ask the officer in charge sa loob sabi nya kng na activate ko daw ung atm ko for international use kasi need pa po daw un thank you
On its recent announcement, Metrobank advises all its accountholders especially those who are ATM/Debit/Prepaid Cardholders that the international use of Metrobank ATM, Debit, and Prepaid cards shall be available only upon request.
If you are a Metrobank accountholder and you expect to use your card internationally or are planning on travelling abroad soon, please contact your branch of account to activate this feature. The purpose for this is for additional security.
Please don’t forget to bring your valid id upon requesting for activation.
For urgent concerns, call the Metrobank 24/7 Customer Hotline at 8700-700. For provincial areas, call toll-free 1-800-1888-5775.
Read more: http://www.affordablecebu.com/load/banking/how_to_activate_metrobank_atm_card_for_international_use_abroad/13-1-0-27939#ixzz4hVTj6nFq
Hi po dto po ako sa Virginia USA pwede po ba ako mka widrow dto using bdo debit card my logo po sya master card ask ko lng po saan po b pwede mag widrow ATM machine dto
bsta my visa or mastercard ung atm pwedeng pwede yan.. mga 13 to 14riyals or dirhams charge nyan…
Hello poh, may Kabayan saving ATM poh aqoh andito aqoh saudi Bakit hnd poh aqoh maka withdraw pls reply my email pls Lang poh.
gud day
May bdo kabayan po ako pwd po b akong mgwidraw dto kuwait
Hi po dito po ako hongkong pwede po ba akong mag withdraw gamit ang bdo kabayan savings dito?
Hi po may bdo debit card ako pede kya ako maka withdraw d2 sa uae at magkno po kaya anh charge
I am here in malaysia i have debit atm card ng development bank of the philippines(dbp) sb ng dbp ok mgwithdraw provided member ng bancnet may logo ng visa dbp kso lging invalid transaction ntwgn na din dbp sb nla ok bkit d aq mkwithdraw via atm?
Hi po.. Share ko lang, andito ako sa dubai, at meron akong metrobank cirrus mastercard debit card. Pina-activate ko siya ng international bago ako mag abroad para magamit ko sa savings ko, at ng mabasa ko tong website na to nag try ako mag widraw.. incase of emergency, Nagamit ko siya sa NBD. Salamat sa site na to nag ka idea ko. 😊 Mabuhay po satin mga OFW!
Hello po ask KO lang if pwd KO ba gamitin ang PNB ATM KO dito sa hongkong para maka withdraw ?
Hello po. Just wnt to ask po…my rcbc atm po ang husband ko and it happen n nadala nia abroad(saudi) pde po b xa mkawidraw dun? Bancnet po kc un atm nia…ndi master/visa card…pls help,thank u
Hi! Karaniwan ng RCBC ATM cards ay may Cirrus symbol sa likuran. Kung meron nito, pwede sya maka-withdraw sa select ATM’s sa Saudi. Pwedeng nyang subukan sa SABB o Riyadbank ATMs.
Hello! Pano kung bancnet lng tlga ung logo pero EMV chip na sya? Chinabank atm.. dito po ako sa Dubai.. pwede bang gamitin?
Inquire mo muna sa Chinabank baka kailangan i-activate muna ang foreign withdrawals.
Hello, can i withdraw my Bdo kabayan savings in India?
Kelangan ko poh ang help nyo. I tried to withdraw using my bdo kabayan savings atm Pero ndi nagfunction at ung atm ko nsa loob p rin ng atm machine ng Emirates NBD. Please need your help.
Jesamine, tawagan mo ang ang Emirates NBD sa +971 600 54 00 00 at ireport mo agad ang nangyare. Mag-report ka din agad sa BDO dito sa Pilipinas +800-0630-0021.
Tumwag n poh ako s Emirates NBD Ang sbi po tumwag ako s bangko ng BDO. After that nkausap ko po ang isa s customer representative ng BDO n better dw poh naiblock n lng to be safe at d mgamit ng iba Kya this morning pinablock ko n lng ung atm. Ano p.o. assurance ko n blocked n ung atm ko at safe ung money ko in BDO after 4 months p ko mkauwi ng Pinas.
Hi po share ko lng po sana.. about po sa bpi atm ko po.. activated nmn po sya for international kya lng po d ko po magamit dito sa brunei.. maraming salmt po
Hi poh gusto sana mag widraw sa Metro bank dibit , pera na try ko nlng ng Bangko ditto Saudi , actives internal naman atm ko , anung poh pwd eh select if mag widraw , kc naka Lagay saving or dibit , sama na help poh ninyo ako
Thanks
Baka pwede sa Riyadbank or SABB
Tanong ko po. Nababawasan ba savings ko sa atm ko. Kasi december naglagay ako sa savings ko jan to march hindi ko n hulugan.meron ba penalty?2k po maintaining balance.
Kung hindi bumaba sa maintaining balance ang savings mo, hindi sya dapat mabawasan sa loob ng 3 months. Iwasan lang na hindi madepositohan sa loob ng isang taon para sigurado hindi maging dormant ang account.
Hello po, ask ko lang po may BPI Debit Card po ako dito ako Abu Dhabi pwede kailangan pa po ba i-activate para magamit sa pagwithdraw? May Cirrus logo po ito EPS at Bancnet sa likuran. Please po I need your help.
Hi Ann, kailangan i-activate muna ang card mo. Ito yung details sa website ng BPI:
When Traveling Abroad
Activate International Access and enjoy the convenience of withdrawing your money abroad using your BPI Debit card. This provides you access to over 1 million Cirrus affiliated ATMs in over 210 countries worldwide and allows you to withdraw money in the currency of the country you are in.*
*Transactions done via Cirrus ATMs outside of the Philippines will incur convenience fees. Please click here for more details.>https://www.bpiexpressonline.com/p/1/691/account-maintenance-and-transaction-fees
How to Activate International Access
To activate International Access for your BPI Debit card, please call 89-100 for Metro Manila or 1-800-188-89100 for domestic toll-free calls (where available). You may also check our international toll-free numbers if you are abroad. For calls where the domestic or international toll-free numbers are unavailable, you may dial +63-2-8910000.
Alternatively, you may visit your nearest branch or email expressonline@bpi.com.ph for assistance.
nag open account po ako before umalis nung 2015 tapos iniwan ko kay mama ko ang atm card para cia nlng widraw tapos 2018 hndi na po lumabas yung pera nung magwidraw ang sab nmn sa banko dapat daw ako mismo magwidraw at need nang i update ang account ko … pano ko cia update niyan ???
Hi guys, I need some help. I am going to Vietnam and I will be bringing my Landbank ATM card with Visa logo in front. Pwede ba kong makawithdaw when I get there?
Hi Angelai, if the ATM card works as a debit card also then most probably pwede sya gamitin abroad.
“The LANDBANK Visa Debit Card is LANDBANK’s newest card product that allows you to shop online, pay bills, and purchase over the phone and via the mail. The card can be used in millions of retail outlets and at more than 1.9 million ATMs worldwide where the Visa Logo is displayed.”
https://www.landbank.com/landbank-visa-debit-card
Hi..po paano activate ng BDO atm dto po aq sa Al qassem saudi arabia.
Kabayan savings account po ba yan?
nagopen po.ako
Hi po asked ko lng po kung paano mag withdraw sa kabayan atm card riyal po ba lalabas n pera kahit ph money ang laman…qatar po kc ako need ko po kc mag withdraw
Yes, riyals ang lalabas based sa exchange rate ng bank mo for Peso to Riyal. Plus may charge ang ATM dyan sa Qatar na around 20 riyals siguro.