BDO Unibank: Finding ways for bank services reachable in select areas

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BDO Unibank continues to find ways for its bank services to be accessible in areas covered by the prevailing enhanced community quarantine. 

With the roving ATM on Wheels, bank clients are still able to perform various transactions like balance inquiry, cash withdrawal, cash advance, BDO cash card reload, prepaid mobile reload, fund transfer, donation, activation of online banking enrollment and 3rd party fund transfer and pin change. 

The ATM on Wheels, which is available from 11am to 6pm, accepts both local and international cards.

The ATM on Wheels recently went to Anonas in Quezon City, Bagbaguin in Caloocan, and Pasig City. 

This week, it will be deployed to Savemore Branch in Camarin, Caloocan from April 13-15, and to Savemore Branch in Novaliches from April 16-18.

“BDO is positioning ATM on Wheels in areas where our branches are closed or in areas where there are no nearby ATMs,” the Bank said.

BDO Unibank finds ways for clients to bank during quarantine

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Amidst the lockdown and enhanced community quarantine prevailing in Luzon,  and ever since the extended community quarantine was implemented to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, banks have been serving their customers in new ways.

BDO Unibank remains open to service the banking needs of clients. BDO Unibank encourages the heightened use of online banking service to protect the public from the spread of the pandemic.

The number of open branches is reduced, banking hours are shortened, and skeletal force is in effect where possible. While the objective is to keep serving the urgent banking needs of clients, the adjustments in operations aim to protect the health and safety of both the customers and the front liners.

In this unprecedented situation, customers’ understanding and openness to adapt to the “new normal” is valuable. BDO Unibank, for instance, is offering alternatives to branch banking, from promoting its online and mobile banking services to keeping its other channels available.

This way, even if the branch near them is not available or handling heavier than usual transactions, their banking activity will not be hampered.

Online and mobile banking

BDO encourages its clients to bank from home via its online and mobile banking services. Using its digital channels, clients can pay bills, send money, load up their prepaid mobile phones, and check account balances.

To sign up for online banking, visit www.bdo.com.ph, click on “Online Banking Login,” then “Enroll Now!” on the login box. After filling out the forms, expect an ATM activation code. Use this code to confirm enrollment at the nearest BDO ATM.

Clients with an activated online account can enjoy the ease and convenience of banking using their mobile devices. They can download the BDO Mobile App and access its features using their registered username and password. A One-Time PIN (OTP) will be sent via SMS to add their device for further security.

To learn more about BDO Online Banking, click here: https://www.bdo.com.ph/personal/ebanking/online-banking

BDO reminds its clients to never give away their personal information to anyone when banking online. Personal information consists of bank account numbers, usernames, passwords, and One-Time PINs (OTPs). The bank will never ask for this information.

Other banking channels

BDO has it wide network of ATMs and Cash Accept Machines available. Here clients can withdraw and deposit money, and even pay bills.

Cash Accept Machines also allow card-less transactions like cash deposits to Peso savings/ check accounts or cash cards. To learn more about its other services, visit: https://www.bdo.com.ph/ebanking/cash-deposit-marchine.

“Over the past few days we have taken steps to ensure, as best we can, continued and uninterrupted service you have grown accustomed to. Given the enhanced quarantine procedures and the limited transportation available, we have taken steps to ensure continuity of service and ease of adjustment on your part during this difficult period,” the bank said in a statement.

Keeping banking channels open. BDO ATMs and Cash Accept Machines are open for clients to withdraw and deposit money, and even pay bills.

BDO, a full-service universal bank which provides a wide range of corporate and retail banking services. 

For more information, please visit www.bdo.com.ph.

BDO Unibank offers a safer way to bank amidst Covid -19

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Amidst the enhanced community quarantine prevailing in Luzon,  banks remain open to service the banking needs of clients. 

BDO Unibank encourages the heightened use of online banking service to protect the public from the spread of the pandemic. 

“We urge our online banking users to share and teach their family and friends how to sign up and use BDO Online Banking so they can bank safely from home,” the Bank said in a statement.

BDO has provided steps to guide its customers on how to sign-up for online banking. These are found on its official website www.bdo.com.ph, official Facebook Page and BDO Youtube channel.

With BDO Online Banking, customers can perform transactions such as Send Money, Pay Bills, Reload and more. 

Apart from online banking, BDO’s network of ATMs and Cash Accept Machines is always available for cash withdrawal, bills payment and deposit. 

Visit the following Links:

BDO Facebook: 

How to Sign Up for BDO Online Banking: https://web.facebook.com/BDOUnibank/posts/2541550816061071?__tn__=-R

BDO Online Banking Features: https://web.facebook.com/BDOUnibank/posts/2541565119392974?__tn__=-R

BDO Website: 

https://www.bdo.com.ph/personal/ebanking/online-banking

BDO Unibank warns clients and general public to combat fraud amidst COVID-19

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Amidst pandemic situation in many countries, BDO warns clients on fraud and scammers.

People all over the world are eagerly searching the internet to learn more about COVID-19. However, as medical experts are still learning about it themselves, there is a shortage of trustworthy information online.

Paying no mind to the global health crisis, cybercriminals are taking full advantage of the situation and exploiting people’s fear and anxiety. They send out fraudulent but highly believable bait messages that trick people into divulging their personal information.

In the US, some scammers call and claim to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They offer a COVID-19 vaccine and to complete the purchase, ask for people’s credit card and Social Security numbers. To date, there is still no cure for the virus. Already, US officials have called out this phishing scheme.

Taking advantage of pandemic in PH

With the recent move by some Philippine banks to extend the payment dues of loans and credit cards by 30 to 60 days, scammers are using the familiar ploy of sending out emails or calling customers and posing as a “legit” bank personnel offering a loan payment extension. The intention here is to get the account details and OTP (one-time password) of the customers so fraudsters can take over the account. 

Because of this, BDO Unibank is reiterating important reminders to clients and the general public to combat fraud: 

1. Do not share personal information.

Personal information consists of bank account numbers, usernames, passwords, or One-Time Pins (OTP). Using this information, scammers can steal identities, access online bank accounts, and steal money.

Personal information can also include birthdays, mother’s maiden name, the street where one grew up in—any unique information about the user can be used by the scammer to unlock online bank accounts.

The bank advises all to be prudent in posting personal info on social media channels. If profile is public, best keep it on private mode for added protection.

2. Do not click on website links.

Fraud attacks can also come as in the form of emails, SMS messages, phone calls, or messages via social media channels. Scammers introduce themselves as officials of a trusted company. Their messages look and sound very convincing and sophisticated. Gone are the days of imperfect grammar and distorted logos. They even include a website link. Hovering on these website links however will -reveal a fake website’s address on the preview.

Do not click on these links. These links will lead to a website identical to a legitimate company’s official site. Here, scammers can harvest personal information.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) says: “Be wary of unverified and unproven COVID-19 websites or applications that require you to give your personal data. These websites and applications might be used by online scammers… Cybercriminals will do anything to obtain personal information, especially your financial and banking details.”

BDO assures clients that it will never include links in its official communications.

3. Do not share OTPs.

Companies send out OTPs via SMS messages as an added layer of protection. For banks, OTPs serve as an account holder’s sign off to proceed with a transaction, like paying for utility bills.

The bank warns clients about scammers pretending to be from BDO. They may offer a 60-day loan payment extension and ask for account details including OTPs, so they can proceed with transferring money to their account.

BDO says that real bank officers will never ask for clients’ personal information, such as OTPs, under any circumstance. When in doubt, report any suspicious communications to ReportPhish@bdo.com.ph.

Be cautious at all times

It’s important to be cautious during this time. “Be wary of fake news. Review and confirm information/sources,” said the DICT.

“Stay tuned in to trusted government and news sites or social media platforms for real and updated information on COVID-19, and do not share unverified information about the situation as not to spread fake news that could incite more panic among the people.

“If you have time to spare, help your friends by verifying the information or sources they share. Contact them directly to clarify whatever falsehood they shared and share with them verified facts about the COVID-19.”

Sources:

• https://www.verge.com/2020/3/19/21186098/phone-scam-cdc-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-reservation-police 

• https://time.com/5806518/covid-19-scams/ 

• https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/19/20/beware-of-online-scams-during-covid-19-lockdown-philippines-urges-public

BDO offers 60-day payment extension for loans

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BDO Unibank offers what the bank consider as their humble assistance, in this difficult time, due to COVIT -19 : a 60-day payment extension for qualified Credit Card, Auto, Home, SME and Personal Loan customers with due dates of up to April 15, 2020.

BDO has earier activated its Business Continuity Plan (BCP) as well as implemented precautionary workplace measures to provide uninterrupted service to its customers and at the same time safeguard employee well-being.

The bank’s BCP has backup sites for critical functions such as client servicing, trading and treasury, operations and information technology, while key personnel have also been identified to man both critical and non-critical units to ensure banking operations continue even in the event of a severe business disruption.

For more updates, you may follow BDO’s official FB fan page: https://www.facebook.com/BDOUnibank/

Buy, sell, or hold? Trading Tactics Will Guide Your Stock Picks

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Opportunities are present whether the stock market is bullish or bearish, but how to strategize to accumulate the best return on investments requires some expert advice. 

This is what online trading platform BDO Nomura Securities, the joint venture company between BDO Unibank and Nomura Holdings of Japan, recently did via the launch of “Trading Tactics,” a session featuring market intel straight from industry movers. Said event was shown live on Facebook as well. 

Straight from the experts. BDO Nomura Securities launches “Trading Tactics,” a series of sessions featuring market intel straight from the industry movers. In the photo (from left to right) are Bernhard Tsai, chief operating officer of BDO Securities; John Nai Peng Ong, chief finance officer of SM Prime Holdings; Koichi Katakawa, president of BDO Nomura; Timothy Daniels, head of investor relations of SM Investments Corp.; Alexander Escucha, senior vice president and head of investor and corporate relations group of Chinabank; Richard Tan, first vice president of investor relations and corporate planning of BDO; and Walter Yap, assistant vice president and head of retail sales of BDO Nomura.

“While stocks are perceived by many as risky investments, they are still considered as a better performer vis-à-vis any other type of security over time. With Trading Tactics, we will be able to create options for our clients to position their portfolio of investments,” said Koichi Katakawa, president of BDO Nomura. 

Trading Tactics. Koichi Katakawa, president of BDO Nomura, opens the first session of “Trading Tactics,” which features the SM Group, one of the country’s diversified conglomerates. Shown live on BDO Unibank’s Facebook page, the video has been played nearly 300,000 times since its October 19 airing.

The first Trading Tactics featured the SM Group, one of the country’s diversified conglomerates. 

SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) head of investor relations Timothy Daniels said growth prospects are still abundant for the group, whose core businesses are retail, integrated property development and banking. 

For first-timers or investors looking for stocks to put in their investment basket, he said the following attributes of the SM group can serve as a guidance: 

• It is a leading proxy for the Philippine growth story;

• SM is among the best regarded companies in the world;

• It looks after its stakeholders—as an incubator of business, catalyst for developing communities and an enabler for vendors, tenants, and other MSMEs;

• It is a top employer with international recognition; and

• It is recognized as being responsible and sustainable, as measured against global standards.

“Despite having achieved the scale we have today, you might be surprised to hear that we think we are still quite small. Because in all of our business, in each of the sectors we participate in, the potential for growth is still huge,” said Daniels. 

In retail for instance, less than a third of food today is sold in a modern format. In the propertysector, on the other hand, the country still needs over 5 million new homes and even more in the future. Meanwhile in banking, only about five percent of Filipinos have a mortgage or a credit card today, and about 60% of Filipino adults don’t even have bank accounts. 

“The biggest opportunities are in the many provinces where incomes are rising fastest and the growing population is not yet served very well—especially in Visayas and Mindanao and also in Northern Luzon,” noted Daniels. 

Called by market experts as a growth stock, the SM Group has rewarded investors over the last 10 years with an average share price increase of 25% a year. 

“Though we can never guarantee to always deliver that kind of financial return, especially as we grow larger over time, we do guarantee to keep growing responsibly and sustainably; to stay close to our customers and doing what we do well; and to bring our stakeholders, including our investors, with us on that journey,” Daniels promised. 

Apart from Daniels, other speakers include John Nai Peng Ong, chief finance officer of SM Prime Holdings; Richard Tan, first vice president of investor relations and corporate planning of BDO; Alexander Escucha, senior vice president and head of investor and corporate relations group of Chinabank; and, Bernhard Tsai, chief operating officer of BDO Securities.

About BDO Unibank, Inc.

BDO is a full-service universal bank which provides a wide range of corporate and retail banking services. These services include traditional loan and deposit products, as well as treasury, trust and investments, investment banking, private banking, rural banking, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, insurance, retail cash cards, credit card services, and stock brokerage services.

BDO has one of the largest distribution networks, with more than 1,300 operating branches and over 4,400 ATMs nationwide. It also has full-service branches in Hong Kong and Singapore as well as 21 overseas remittance and representative offices in Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East.

BDO ranked as the largest bank in terms of total assets, loans, deposits, and trust funds under management based on published statements of condition as of June 30, 2019. 

For more information, please visit www.bdo.com.ph.

BDO reaps numerous honors at the 2019 Asian Banking and Finance Awards

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BDO Unibank, Inc., its subsidiaries BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and BDO Nomura Securities, and corporate social responsibility arm (CSR) BDO Foundation were among over a hundred awardees from 37 countries honored at the Asian Banking and Finance’s 2019 Wholesale Banking Awards, Retail Banking Awards and Corporate and Investment Banking Awards held in Singapore.

BDO bagged the Philippine Domestic Cash Management Bank of the Year at the Wholesale Banking Awards, which recognizes the most outstanding practices and innovative strategies in Asia's wholesale banking sector. This is the 5th time that BDO won in the Cash Management Category and its second consecutive win. Other categories in the Wholesale Banking Awards include Trade Finance, Project\, Finance, Technology & Operations, and Foreign Exchange.

Banking and Finance Excellence. Representing BDO during the award ceremonies on July 18 were BernhardG. Tsai (left), first vice president and chief operating officer of BDO Securities Corporation and Edwin G. Reyes, executive vice president and head of transaction banking group of BDO Unibank, Inc.

In winning the Cash Management Category, BDO was lauded for its wide branch and ATM network, which to date total over 1,100 and 4,000, respectively. Through this vast network, the Bank is able to provide innovative end-to-end financial solutions to corporate clients.

In the Retail Banking Awards, BDO Nomura won for the first time the Online Securities Platform of the Year (Philippines). BDO Nomura, a subsidiary of the Bank, provides investors in-depth market research, quick execution time and competitive rates. Its platform offers ease of use through simple and paperless online application and fund transfers through its customer’s BDO Deposit Accounts. As a bonus, BDO Rewards Points will be earned for all transactions made. These Rewards Points can be redeemed for products available in SM affiliated stores.

Now on its 14th year, the Retail Banking Awards honors outstanding banks that have introduced groundbreaking products and services that successfully adapted with the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Still in Retail Banking, BDO’s CSR arm BDO Foundation won the CSR of the Year - Gold Award for the third consecutive year. BDO Foundation bagged the award for partnering with the Department of Education and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in bringing financial education to public schools, particularly in the K-12 curriculum, teaching and non-teaching personnel. Last year, it was recognized for its efforts to empower people with disabilities (PWDs) through the development of a community for disabled individuals. 

Meanwhile, in the Corporate and Investment Banking Awards, BDO Capital won Corporate and Investment Bank of the Year (Philippines), its second consecutive win, for being a “one-stop investment house covering extensive aspects of deals from origination, structuring, and execution funding through its affiliates, secondary market trading, and insurance services.” 

BDO wins Award of Excellence in 17th Philippine Quill Awards

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BDO Unibank was bestowed the Award of Excellence for a TV documentary that tackled its “We Find Ways” philosophy and how it transformed the lives of Filipinos and contributed to nation-building, among others, at the recently held 17th Philippine Quill Awards of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines.

The bank was likewise among the top five finalists for the Communication Skills division, joining ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., Jollibee Foods Corp., Ripple 8, and Manila Electric Co.

The bank received the prestigious accolades for its institutional video titled "Finding Ways, Forging Futures: Promoting National Development Through Financial Inclusion" produced in partnership with CNN Philippines.

The video features anecdotes from BDO's senior officers and some of the bank's top corporate clients on how BDO is finding ways to expand its network and make its services more accessible, especially to the unserved and underserved markets.

Roughly a third of the country's cities and municipalities still do not have a banking presence, and about 70% of Filipinos still do not have bank accounts.

"We need to get where the money is, and channel it to where it's needed. And BDO plays its role in the economy by having a wide market coverage to reach out where the funding is coming from and to be able to make the right assessments to that it is channeled to the right projects and the right priorities,"BDO president and chief executive officer Nestor V. Tan said in the video.

The Philippine Quill is the country’s most prestigious awards program in the field of business communication, bestowing the seal of approval to the most reputable organizations and corporations in the nation for almost two decades, emphasizing the use of excellent communication to achieve business goals, and to make a difference in society.

Award in Excellence. The BDO Corporate Communications team, led by its chief, Senior Assistant Vice President Honey M. Reyes(second from left) and composed of (left to right) Ana Marie M. Tanglao, Carlo Leo C. Manuel, and Lionel Albert D. Lopez-Dee,receives the Award in Excellence trophy on behalf of BDO Unibank during the 17th Philippine Quill Awards held last August 30 at Manila Marriott Hotel.

About BDO Unibank, Inc.

BDO is a full-service universal bank which provides a wide range of corporate and retail banking services. These services include traditional loan and deposit products, as well as treasury, trust banking, investment banking, private banking, rural banking, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, insurance, retail cash cards, credit card services, and stock brokerage services.

BDO has one of the largest distribution networks, with more than 1,300 operating branches and over 4,000 ATMs nationwide. It also has a full-service branches in Hong Kong and Singapore as well as 23 overseas remittance and representative offices in Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East.

BDO ranked as the largest bank in terms of total assets, loans, deposits, and trust funds under management based on published statements of condition as of March 31, 2019. For more information, please visit www.bdo.com.ph.

David Medalla's Cloud Canyons No. 31, home at BDO Corporate Center Ortigas

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BDO Unibank, Inc. presents the work of Filipino artist David Medalla, Cloud Canyons No. 31, at its Corporate Center in Ortigas (CCO). Permanently installed at its lobby, the Bank welcomes everyone to visit the sculpture.

Cloud Canyons No. 31 was first exhibited in 2016 when Medalla was one of the shortlisted artists for the inaugural Hepworth Wakefield Prize for Sculpture. Made of plexiglas tubes, wood, fibreglass, water, soap, and oxygenators, it is part of a series often referred to as the "bubble machines."

The first of these was produced in 1961 and inspired by Medalla's memories of a dying Japanese soldier's frothing mouth, clouds during tropical sunsets in Manila, the bubbling ginataan (coconut milk) of his mother's cooking, a brewery in Edinburgh, Scotland, and the Skyline of New York. It was initially exhibited in 1964 at the Signals Gallery in London.

Other Cloud Canyons can be found in the collections of Tate Modern and National Gallery Singapore. The series is considered one of Medalla's seminal artworks

Medalla is increasingly recognized as an important figure in contemporary art, and his contributions to sculpture and performance art have inspired many. His Cloud Canyons No. 31 is a rare sight but is a very historically important work of art-and it gives BDO great pleasure to be able to show it-permanently-for all to see.

David Medalla is a Filipino artist who has practiced abroad for most of his life. His work ranges from sculpture to kinetic art to painting, installation and performance art. He currently lives in Manila.

Medalla is recognized as a key figure in the development of installation, kinetic and participatory art. His practice challenges the idea of sculpture as solid, timeliness and monumental by producing objects and situations that never be repeated and are continually changing form and matter.

The artist moved to London in 1960, and was included in some of the more important exhibitions during the 1960s and 70s that defined minimal and conceptual practice in Europe and the US.

BDO bags 4 awards at the 9th Asian Excellence Awards

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BDO Unibank, Inc. was again honored at the recently held Asian Excellence Awards, bagging highly-coveted titles such as Asia’s Best CEO, Best Investor Relations Company, and Best Corporate Communications.

BDO Hong Kong branch head Nancy Estrada receives the award from Corporate Governance Asia founder, managing director and publisher Aldrin Monsod.

BDO’s chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson and president and CEO Nestor V. Tan were chosen as Asia’s Best CEOs (Investor Relations) for their superior leadership and excellence in driving the overall management and growth of the Bank.

Meanwhile, BDO executive vice president and head of Investor Relations & Corporate Planning Luis S. Reyes Jr. was awarded Best Investor Relations Professional (Philippines). The Best Investor Relations Professional is given to those who excelled in keeping investors well-informed about the developments in their company. Investor relations is critical to generating shareholder value for investors.

Spearheaded by Corporate Governance Asia, the 9th Asian Excellence Awards is a highly-coveted recognition for corporates that have adopted the highest standards of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in the way they operate and grow their businesses.

Winners for this year were picked from several countries across the region, including China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines

Strategically linked to its corporate vision and core values, corporate governance is an integral part of BDO’s operations. From mere compliance, the country’s largest bank* has successfully put in place a framework, policies, committees, and initiatives that not only strengthened its financial position but also enhanced its reputation among its shareholders and foreign investors.

BDO’s corporate governance philosophy–empowerment with accountability–“gives its leaders the freedom to move the business forward without undue restraint but are expected to act with due care, responsibility, and accountability,” the bank told to Corporate Governance Asia. As such, BDO is able to deliver its commitment to its shareholders: sustainable corporate growth and long-term value creation.

“When we set out on our mission to honor Asia’s finest executives and corporates, we embark on a journey to enhance their standards of corporate governance, and through this advocacy to institutionalize the best practices across the region, we recognize that they key to long-term sustainability and success of companies us having a solid reputation in the market and exemplary business models, and how they are applied and conducted in accordance with the highest principles of corporate governance,” Mr. Aldrin Monsod, founder, managing director and publisher of Corporate Governance Asia said in honoring this year’s winners.

BDO earns P20.2Bn in 1H 2019

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BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) sustained its momentum as it delivered P20.2 billion in earnings for the first six months of the year on strong recurring earnings from its core businesses, solid growth in fee income, and normalization of trading and forex gains.

Net interest income increased by 24% to P56.9 billion as net interest margins (NIMs) improved to 3.99% from 3.50% last year. Gross customer loans grew by 7% to P2.0 trillion, as the country’s largest bank* continued to generate double-digit growth in the consumer and middle market segments.

Meanwhile, total deposits went up by 3% to P2.4 trillion, reflective of customers’ shift to higher-yielding fixed income investments, primarily bank-issued bonds. The Bank's CASA ratio, however, was maintained at 70%.

Non-interest income was up 29% to P29.5 billion as fee-based income and insurance premiums posted double-digit growth. Further, trading and forex gains normalized to P3.6 billion on favorable capital market conditions.

Operating expenses grew by 21% in line with the Bank's continuing expansion, with 53 domestic branches and offices opened in the 1H 2019, as well as higher volume-related expenses. Taxes and licenses and policy reserves at BDO life increased by 51%. Excluding volume-related expenses, opex growth would have risen by 14% in line with the Bank's investment in branches and business development offices nationwide.

Provisions amounted to P3.0 billion as the Bank maintained its conservative credit and provisioning policies. Gross non-performing loan (NPL) ratio was steady at 1.2% while NPL cover remained high at 163.2%.

Total capital grew to P350.8 billion, with Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) and Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio at 14.2% and 12.6%, respectively, higher quarter-on-quarter and remaining comfortably above regulatory requirements.

With expectations of better economic prospects going forward, BDO will continue to build on its business franchise and extensive distribution network to tap new growth areas and underserved markets.