Expat Community > Philippines

bickerstonehall
Joined 2015
Posts: 22

Banks, the NBI, and problems to live in the Philippines!

8 years ago

Thanks to all who sent information when I wanted help and advice about opening a bank account. Today I was told by an Immigration official that bank accounts are almost impossible to get if you are not a pensioner or have work in the Philippines.
I can not get aa ACR card as I am not a pensioner and my work is outside of the philippines. So I can not stay here for 8 weeks without flying off to work. In the SM mall where I was today the Immigtaion officer told us to look at all the foreigners, and with the exception of one they were all well past retirement age. So I was told to contact the NBI who could give a certificate, in effect to say that I was of good character and never in trouble, the NBI told I could then open a bank account. I received that certificate today in Cebu. Went to the bank where I wanted to open an account, and then three more after, all tell, NBI wrong. No ACR card, no bank account. It then gets worse. We thought to open an account in the name of my future wife. SHe has a postal id card and will soon have an International Passport, but this will not serve to open a bank account for her, a native Philippino. No job, no proof of regular income, no utility bills, all this equals no bank account. Between us we can not have any king of banking in the Philippines. This makes like not easy as we have plans to transfer and save money for a house purchase next year and all you do require a bank account, a Philippines bank account, not one of my foreign bank account. Are we the only people in the forum of working age and with these problems. If others had these problems, How did you overcome them? Thank You again.

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