Can I use my BPI debit and credit card abroad: guide for Filipinos

As the first bank in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, BPI provides all sorts of financial services and products, including BPI debit and credit cards for Filipinos. If you’re travelling overseas, you’re also probably wondering, “can I use my BPI debit/credit card¹ abroad?”

We’ll go through that in this article, along with any fees and charges, if you need to call BPI to use the credit card abroad, and address some frequently asked questions. We'll also introduce the Wise card, a handy travel companion to make seamless card payments when you're overseas.

Can I use my BPI debit card abroad?

Yes. You can use your BPI debit card² abroad once you have enabled it. With your BPI debit card, you can transact thru ATM and point-of-sale (POS) terminals outside the Philippines, as well as make online e-commerce transactions.

With your BPI debit card, you can use your card abroad, wherever Mastercard is accepted. You can also withdraw from any BancNet or Mastercard affiliated ATM here and abroad.

Do note that when using your BPI debit card, foreign exchange service fees and charges apply. New issuances of BPI EMV Cirrus Red and BPI EMV Cirrus Gold cards are no longer offered.

Here is a step-by-step guide to get a BPI debit card:

1. Log in to BPI online or app.
2. Select "More".
3. Choose "New debit card" under “Card management”.
4. Choose the account that will be linked to your new BPI debit card.
5. Select the account where the new debit card request fee will be paid from.
6. Choose your preferred BPI branch to pick up the debit card.
7. Review the details provided.
8. Key in the One-Time PIN (OTP).
9. Receive confirmation in-app and via e-mail.

The fee for requesting a new BPI debit card is PHP 200, payable from one of your BPI bank accounts.

BPI debit card overseas activation

Your BPI debit card’s international access is enabled by default. So there’s no need to wonder: Do I need to call BPI to use the debit card abroad?

To double-check that your BPI debit card has been activated for use abroad (or to deactivate it), you can go to More > Card Control on BPI online or the BPI app³. You will also need to key in your One-Time PIN for any changes made.

These Card Controls allow you to customise features such as enabling or disabling your card's e-commerce access, international access, as well as setting sub-limits for e-commerce transactions and more.

Fees and charges when using the BPI debit card abroad

When using your BPI debit card overseas, it is also important to note the fees and charges⁴ when doing so, to avoid getting a surprise when back home in the Philippines. These include foreign exchange conversion fees, overseas ATM withdrawal fees and so on.

When you pay at a store overseas with your BPI debit card, you are subject to a 1.5% service charge for both peso and non-peso currencies. You also pay a Forex mark-up service charge, also known as a foreign exchange markup or foreign transaction fee. This is +1% for the selling rate (when the bank “sells” you the foreign currency), or -1% for buying rate (when the bank “buys” your currency); versus BPI’s published rates.

When you withdraw money from ATMs abroad with your BPI debit card, you pay an international withdrawal service charge of USD 3.50 (about PHP 198) or 1.75% – whichever is higher. Other ATM fees include USD 1 for international balance inquiry, when you check your bank balance while overseas; as well as the above-mentioned Forex mark-up service charges.

For those shopping online with your BPI debit card, international online and e-commerce transactions will be subject to 1.5% of the transaction amount for both peso and non-peso transactions.

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Can I use my BPI credit card abroad?

If you have a BPI credit card⁵, you can also use these to spend with ease when overseas, as well as make overseas ATM withdrawals, and shop online. This is of course subject to overseas charges and fees, which we will cover later.

Here are some popular BPI credit cards:

BPI credit card overseas activation

When you get a new BPI credit card, you will first need to activate it before you can use it for any purchases, including overseas. BPI credit card activation is quick and simple, and can be done via BPI online or SMS.

Existing BPI online account:

1. Log in to your BPI online account
2. Activate your BPI credit card in real-time through BPI Help & Support

Via SMS:

1. For those who do not have a BPI online account
2. Using your registered mobile number, type BPIACT(space)Last 10 digits of the card
3. Send to 22565060
4. Your BPI credit card overseas activation will require two banking days from the date of request

Only BPI credit card principal cardholders can activate their cards, and must also do so for any BPI supplementary cards. The activation process is self-service only, and does not require a call from BPI.

Once done, you can manage your card via BPI online to check that it’s all ready for overseas use.

Fees and charges when using the BPI credit card abroad

When using your BPI credit card abroad, expect to incur charges and fees⁶ for foreign exchange conversion, overseas ATM withdrawal, and so on.

The Foreign Transaction Service Fee is 0.85% plus the Mastercard / Visa assessment fee of 1% (this is the fee imposed by Mastercard/Visa on the merchant for using their payment infrastructure and services). This uses the foreign exchange rate of Mastercard / Visa at the point of time you made the transaction, and also applies to foreign currency transactions converted and billed in Philippine pesos.

When withdrawing money from an overseas ATM, you will also be charged a flat fee of PHP 200 per transaction.

Stretch every peso when you spend abroad at the mid-market rate with the Wise card

With the Wise card, makaka gastos ka ng 40+ currencies sa mid-market rate, kasama ang USD, SGD, GBP at JPY. Kaya, siguradong makakakuha ka ng sulit na deal sa mahigit 150+ countries. Para makapagsimula, gumawa ka lang ng libreng Wise account, mag-order ng card, at mag-top-up ng PHP.

Maaari kang mag-order ng physical card ng Wise sa halagang 369.90 PHP. Kung mayroon kang physical na card, makakagawa ka ng chip and PIN payments, at may 2 libreng ATM withdrawals na aabot sa 12,000 PHP bawat buwan.

Kapag nasa abroad ka, puwede mong piliing gumastos ng direct as PHP at hayaan mag auto-convert, o i-convert sa gusto mong currency gamit ang iyong Wise account. Kahit ano piliin mo, makukuha mo ang rate na nakikita mo sa Google, na may kasamang low, transparent fees mula 0.57%.

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Frequently asked questions

If you still have some questions about using your BPI debit card and BPI credit card abroad, here are some commonly-asked questions we will address.

Do I need to call BPI to use my credit card abroad?

No. There is no need to call BPI to use your BPI credit card abroad. Activation of your BPI credit card is self-service, and BPI will not call to ask for your one-time PIN or other account information.

Can I withdraw money from a BPI ATM abroad?

Yes. You can withdraw money from a BPI ATM abroad with both a BPI debit card or BPI credit card. Do note that you might need to pay fees and charges, such as a cash advance fee, international withdrawal service charge and others.