BPI vs. BDO: Which Credit Card Provider Is Better?

6 min read By eCompareMo on March 20, 2018

As two of the biggest and most popular banks in the Philippines, BPI and BDO are constantly innovated to deliver quality services to their customers.

In this article, we brought these two financial institutions to a face-off in terms of the different features they offer as credit card providers.

Note: We’re outlining the details between BDO and BPI in terms of the four leading credit cards they offer.

How do BPI and BDO differ in terms of assets and market value?

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) was established in 1851 and is the oldest bank in the Philippines. As of September 30, 2017, BPI ranked third (3^rd) on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) list of largest banks in the Philippines in terms of total assets.

Banco De Oro (BDO), on the other hand, is part of the SM Group, and is the largest bank in the Philippines, having landed the top spot in terms of total assets from the same BSP ranking.

Both banks have the largest number of branches and networks in the country. BPI currently has 831 branches all over the Philippines and is considered to have the largest network among banks in the country.

BDO has over 1000 branches in the country alone, with branches in Hong Kong and representative offices in Asia, Middle East, Europe, and North America.

How many BDO and BPI credit cards are available?

BDO offers almost three times more the number of credit cards than BPI. BDO cards are not limited to Visa and MasterCard, they ensure customer convenience by offering American Express and JCB.

Though BPI offers fewer credit cards variants,  they offer more market-specific credit cards in partnership with Ayala Mall, Petron, and Delta Air Lines

• BPI Amore Visa
• BPI Amore Visa Platinum
• Petron – BPI Mastercard
• BPI Skymiles Mastercard
• BPI Skymiles Platinum Mastercard

They also have the specialized BPI eCredit as a free extension or companion card for any BPI MasterCard. The eCredit card offers a more secure online shopping experience as it provides a different credit card number and has a lower credit limit.

BDO also provides a more secure online shopping experience through their Secure Virtual Card, with a different card number and credit line.

Interest Rates and Features

Customers always look for interest rates when comparing credit cards. While it’s only right to look at how much you’re going to be charged straight up, it’s far from being the only deciding factor. You must also know how interest rates are calculated, and the charges and fees that come with your very own credit card.

(Read: A Credit Card First-Timer’s Guide To Basic Credit Card Management)

Let’s take a look at two credit cards each from BDO and BPI:

Rewards and Features

After looking at interest rates, the next thing to compare is the much-coveted rewards of credit card providers. Think of it as the banks’ way of giving back to their loyal customers, and a reward for cardholders for maintaining good credit score.

Credit limit

The card limit will usually depend on the client’s credit record. Below amounts shown are only the minimum credit card limit and may change without prior notice.

Ease of transaction

Both banks have free and easy-to-use mobile banking apps which makes it convenient to monitor transactions and pay credit card bills.

Both banks also have a lot of branches in the country. You will see BDO and BPI at cities and provinces, even in some remote towns.

BDO is open on weekends in some branches. If you have urgent concerns, you can go to the nearest BDO branch even on the weekend.

Whatever type of credit card you prefer, make it a habit to compare credit cards so you find one that best suits your needs and lifestyle. Make sure to compare higher rewards earn rate, balance transfer deals, points conversion, and all the other privileges offered. After all, a credit card is only as good as how you manage it.