How to use Bank Swift Codes in the Philippines? What is a SWIFT Code? How does it work? Is it safe? Learn these answers and much more from our experts.
SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a global financial messaging network linking nearly 11,000 banking institutions in 200 countries. The system allows banks to send payments across borders within seconds.
SWIFT code is a unique number assigned to each bank account holder. This number is usually printed on the back of ATM cards or debit/credit card receipts.
Receiving or transferring money has been completely easy nowadays, thanks to innovation and technology, our lives are now more simplified. Below is the full list of bank swift codes (BIC) in the Philippines.
When you make an international money transfer, it’s required to enter your bank code. If you’ll use Paypal or other methods, bank swift codes and essential. We’ll walk you through and explain everything, why you need them, where to find your code, and how to use BRSTN or bank codes for Philippine banks.
Swift codes are used for international money transfers between banks. They allow you to send or receive funds from any location in the world without having to go through an intermediary like Western Union or MoneyGram..
What’s A Swift Code?
A SWIFT code (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a standard BIC format or code to help identify business parties—specifically banks—and financial transactions worldwide. It ensures your funds are transferred securely and faster to a specific bank.
This is also a distinctive way for banks to communicate and exchange messages.
Business Identifier Code (BIC), SWIFT ID, SWIFT-BIC, or BIC-code are several names we can identify with a Bank SWIFt code. This code consist of 8 – 11 characters that traditionally comes with this format:
AAAA BB CC DDD
- 4 characters = your bank code
- 2 character = country code
- 2 character = location code
- 3 character = optional bank identifier
Here’s an example of BPI Swift code:
BOPIPHMM
- BOPI – the bank code: Bank of The Philippine Islands
- PH – country location: Philippines
- MM – Location code: Metro Manila
Where To Use It?
If you’re a Filipino citizen, swift code is referred to as BRSTN or Bank Routing Symbol Transit Numbers. Various payment systems like PayPal use this code or identifier to wire funds to your registered bank for optimum security and faster transactions.
- One of BIC or bank codes’ primary uses is when you withdraw your funds from your Paypal account going to your local bank account.
How To Find Your Bank’s Swift Code Online
If you’ll be transferring funds from your PayPal account to your local bank, here’s a quick tutorial on how you can easily find your bank’s BRSTN or swift code.
For most freelancers and businesses that wired funds from PayPal, here’s a quick way to do it.
- Log-into your account
- Click “WALLET” from the desktop or top menu.
- Under the tab “BANK ACCOUNTS,” push the “LINK A BANK ACCOUNT.”
- Then click the “ADD BUTTON.”
- After that, you must click on PayPal’s “LIST OF BANK CODES” and link next to your BANK Code tab/field.
Note: Finding your local bank’s BRSTN code can be challenging.
- To avoid the hassle, you can also check the organized list we’ve prepared for your convenience.
Complete List Of Bank Swift Codes In The Philippines
Save your effort and time, we’ve compiled this complete list of BRSTN or SWIFT codes for major Philippine banks:
Philippine Bank Swift Codes to Transfer your money
When sending money to local banks, you should never send cash. It’s too easy to get ripped off, and even though you’re paying a premium fee to transfer money locally, it still costs less than sending cash.
However, if you’re going to pay a premium fee to send money overseas, you want to make sure you’re getting the best rates possible.
That means knowing exactly what kind of fees you’re paying, and being able to identify the exact code that you need to use.
Here’s an overview of the different local local wire transfers codesand how to choose the right one to send money.
Asia United Bank Corporation (AUB) | AUBKPHMM |
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited | ANZBPHMX |
Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited, Manila Branch | BKKBPHMM |
Bank of Commerce | PABIPHMM |
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) | BOPIPHMM |
BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) | BNORPHMM |
BNP Paribas, Manila Offshore Branch | BNPAPHMM |
BPI Direct | BPDIPHM1 |
BPI Family Savings Bank | BPFSPHM1 |
BPI Globe Banko Inc. | BPGOPHM1 |
Cathay United Bank Co., LTD. Manila Branch | UWCBPHMM |
China Banking Corporation (China Bank) | CHBKPHMM |
China Bank Savings, Inc. | CHSVPHM1 |
Citibank, N.A. – Makati Branch | CITIPHMX |
Citibank, N.A. – Manila Branch | CITIPHMXTSU |
Citibank, N.A. – Cebu Branch | CITIPHMXCBU |
CTBC Bank (Philippines) Corp. | CTCBPHMM |
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) | DBPHPHMM |
East West Banking Corporation (EastWest Bank) | EWBCPHMM |
First Commercial Bank, Ltd., Manila Branch | FCBKPHMM |
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd – Philippine Branch (HSBC Philippines) | HSBCPHMM |
HSBC Savings Bank (Philippines) Inc. | HBPHPHMM |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Manila Branch | CHASPHMM |
Land Bank of the Philippines | TLBPPHMM |
Maybank Philippines, Inc. | MBBEPHMM |
Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank) | MBTCPHMM |
MUFG Bank, Ltd., Manila Branch (formerly Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ) | BOTKPHMM |
Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCOM) | CPHIPHMM |
Philippine Business Bank | PPBUPHMM |
Philippine National Bank (PNB) | PNBMPHMM |
Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) | PHSBPHMM |
Philippine Veterans Bank | PHVBPHMM |
Philtrust Bank (Philippine Trust Company) | PHTBPHMM |
Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) | RCBCPHMM |
Robinsons Bank Corporation | ROBPPHMQ |
Security Bank Corporation | SETCPHMM |
Standard Chartered Bank – Makati Branch | SCBLPHMM |
Standard Chartered Bank – Manila Branch | SCBLPHMMEQI |
Sterling Bank of Asia Inc. | STLAPH22 |
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Manila Branch | SMBCPHMM |
Union Bank of the Philippines | UBPHPHMM |
United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) | UCPBPHMM |
United Overseas Bank Limited – Manila Branch | UOVBPHMM |
*Note: Top banks are highlighted as they are the most searched and in-demand for this information.
If you’re having a tough time searching for your bank code, you may want to call your bank asap to verify your code, or you check for assistance.
Problems with your Swift code? Contact your local bank
Problems with your Swift code? Contact your local bank and ask them to help you.
BANK | Metrobank |
WEBSITE | http://www.metrobankcard.com |
CUSTOMER SERVICE | +632 8700 700; (02) 870-0900 |
DOMESTIC TOLL FREE | 1-800-1888-5775 |
INTERNATIONAL TOLL FREE | Not Available at the moment. We will keep you posted. |
EMAIL ADDRESS | [email protected] |
BANK | BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) |
WEBSITE | https://www.bpiexpressonline.com |
CUSTOMER SERVICE | 89-100 |
DOMESTIC TOLL FREE | 1-800-188-89100 |
INTERNATIONAL TOLL FREE | 63 + 2 + 89-10000 |
EMAIL ADDRESS | [email protected] |
BANK | BDO Unibank (Banco De Oro) |
WEBSITE | https://www.bdo.com.ph/ |
CUSTOMER SERVICE | 631-8000 |
DOMESTIC TOLL FREE | 1-800-10-631-8000 (PLDT) 1-800-3-631-8000 (Digitel) 1-800-5-631-8000 (Bayantel) 1-800-8-631-8000 (Globelines) |
INTERNATIONAL TOLL FREE | (IAC) + 800-8-631-8000 |
EMAIL ADDRESS | [email protected] |
BANK | PNB (Philippine National Bank) |
WEBSITE | http://www.pnb.com.ph |
CUSTOMER SERVICE | (632) 573-8888 |
DOMESTIC TOLL FREE | 1-800-481-2885 |
INTERNATIONAL TOLL FREE | N/A |
EMAIL ADDRESS | [email protected] |
BANK | RCBC (Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation) |
WEBSITE | https://www.rcbc.com/ |
CUSTOMER SERVICE | 632 877 RCBC (877-7222) |
DOMESTIC TOLL FREE | 1 800 10000 RCBC (1-800-10000-7222) |
INTERNATIONAL TOLL FREE | (IAC) + 800 – 8888 – 7222 |
EMAIL ADDRESS | [email protected] |
BANK | UCPB (United Coconut Planters Bank) |
WEBSITE | https://www.rcbc.com/ |
CUSTOMER SERVICE | (02) 811-9111 |
DOMESTIC TOLL FREE | 1-800-1-888-9777 |
INTERNATIONAL TOLL FREE | N/A |
EMAIL ADDRESS | [email protected] |
BANK | Unionbank of the Philippines |
WEBSITE | www.unionbankph.com |
CUSTOMER SERVICE | (+632) 8841-8600 |
DOMESTIC TOLL FREE | 1-800-1888-2277 |
INTERNATIONAL TOLL FREE | (IAC) + 800-8277-2273 |
EMAIL ADDRESS | [email protected] |
In conclusion, using proper bank swift codes is essential to ensuring that your transactions are processed quickly and efficiently. However, if you aren’t careful, you could end up sending your money away from you rather than towards you. So make sure that you know exactly which code to use for each type of transaction you want to make, and that you keep track of the codes you send and receive.
This way, you won’t have to worry about missing out on any potential opportunities because you didn’t pay attention to the details.