While opening my BPI payroll account a couple of months ago, I asked the customer service rep how I can enroll to a BPI Express Online account. She replied, “you can do it online through the BPI website.” I was pleasantly surprised because I thought I’d need to fill up another form and then perhaps come back again to the BPI branch a couple days after, which has been my experience dealing with Philippine banks before. To me, this was good news.
Here are 3 simple steps I did to enroll my BPI Express Online account.
Step 1: Go to BPI Express Online website
Go to the BPI Express Online website at http://www.bpiexpressonline.com/. Click the “Enroll Now!” button at the right side of the screen, in between the “personal login” and “business login” buttons. A message will pop up saying “To enroll in Express Online, you must have a BPI, BPI Family Bank or a BPI Direct Deposit Account.” Click the ‘Continue’ button and follow the next steps accordingly.
If you’re in the Philippines, you need to visit any BPI Express Teller ATM within 20 banking days to activate the enrollment. If you’re out of the country, you need to print, sign and mail the enrollment form.
Step 2: Fill up the form, and submit
Fill up the form by entering your Account Number, Joint Account Indicator (JAI) and Type of Account. Your account number is the number at the back of your ATM card. The JAI is a 2-digit no. located at the lower right hand corner of your ATM card right across your name. Lastly, the type of account is either savings or checking.
After submitting the form, it will ask you to create a login name and password. Remember the login name and password you entered because you will use it to access your BPI express online account later on. Once you’re done, you will receive an email confirmation and instructions to activate your enrollment.
Step 3: Go to any BPI ATM machine and activate the enrollment
Go to any BPI ATM machine. Insert your ATM card. Go to Special Services -> Activate Enrollments –> Express Online. The ATM will give you a receipt to confirm the activation of the online enrollment.
You can then log in to your BPI express online account 1-2 days after enrollment activation.
Once you’re able to login to your BPI Express Online account, you will now be able to access your account’s details, check your balance, pay your bills, transfer funds, reload a prepaid phone 24/7, any day of the year, whenever and wherever there is internet connection.
Now, that’s hassle-free banking in 3 simple steps!
Rich Money Habits Notes:
- The last step is certainly better than having to go to the branch and “wait” for quite some time before being able to speak to a customer service rep and activate your enrollment.
- This is also good because it allows the bank to authenticate the enrollment by having the customer insert his ATM card and PIN, and manually confirm the enrollments’ activation through the ATM machine. This may be inconvenient, but I’d rather wait 1 to 2 days to enjoy the benefits of online banking, than worry whether my account is hacked by someone else.
- Perhaps someday BPI can think of a more convenient authentication, like what Maybank did in introducing a new level of additional security by sending a real-time TAC (Transaction Authorization Code?) SMS message to your mobile phone. When that happens, we’d be one step closer to a “pure” online banking system in the Philippines. 🙂
- You may call BPI hotline 89-100 for if you need assistance on how to enroll you account to BPI express online.