Smart Padala: A Guide To Mobile Remittance

5 min read By eCompareMo on May 7, 2020

Online fund transfer systems have been at the forefront of transactions during the enhanced community quarantine, especially to families who were separated by the lockdown. Due to the closure of establishments and travel restrictions, people have resorted to online banking and bank transfer to remittance centers. Others, however, rely on a mobile remittance such as Smart Padala because the outlets can be found in the neighborhood.

New to this service? Let this article serve as your guide to Smart Padala. Understand how this mobile remittance can be a convenient option for urgent transactions.

What is Smart Padala?

Smart Padala is a type of remittance that uses mobile for money transfer. It is a brand of financial service under PayMaya Philippines. Aside from domestic and overseas remittance, it also offers services like bills payment and load purchases.

The PayMaya-powered Smart Padala has 27,000 outlets all over the country and is considered one of the largest local remittance brands in the Philippines. This also helps the Filipinos in the remote areas to get remittance services even without having traditional bank products.

List of Smart Padala services

Through this option, you can avail of these services:

1. Local remittance around the Philippines. Through Smart Padala Agents, you can claim and/or send money all over the country without much hassle.
2. International remittance in seven countries. Smart Padala also enables you to send money from abroad through its overseas remittance partners in Canada, Europe, and Asia (see the international partners below).
3. Bills payment. This service allows you to pay your bills via Smart Padala outlets.
4. Additional source of income. Smart Padala Agents are micro-business owners with a physical store. It can be a cellphone repair station, school supplies store, RTW clothing shop, or sari-sari store. So, if you have an establishment where you transact with people, you can apply to be an agent. The average earning can reach an estimate of ₱50,000 every month from remittance, bills payment, and reloading services.

Smart Padala rates for local remittance

Here is the table of Padala service fees:

International partners

For overseas remittance to the Philippines, these are Smart Padala’s international partners with whom you can process your money transfer:

How to send money through a Smart Padala agent

To send remittance, here are the things you need to do:

1. The sender should for any accredited Smart Padala Agent near you. You can also check the locations of the available agents through the webpage: www.smartpadala.ph/find-a-smart-padala-agent/
2. Before going to the agent who will process your money transfer, you must know first the 16-digit reference number of the agent from whom the recipients will claim the money.
3. Fill out the transaction slip with the necessary details (names of the sender and recipient, mobile numbers of the sender and recipient, remittance amount, and 16-digit reference number of the receiving agent).
4. Give the transaction slip and the amount of money to be transferred (plus the corresponding service fee) to the agent. You may be also asked to present one valid ID.
5. Double-check the details and sign the transaction slip. Don’t forget to take note of the tracking number that the recipients need in claiming the money.
6. You and the recipients should receive a confirmation message on your registered mobile phone number.

How to claim money through an agent

Claiming money from a Smart Padala agent comes with these easy steps:

1. Look for any accredited Smart Padala Agent near you.
2. Fill out the transaction slip and write the tracking number you received from the sender or Smart Padala message.
3. Present your ID and claim the money. No need to pay any fee.

How to send money through Smart Padala from abroad

To overseas senders, here are the steps to send money via its international remittance service:

1. Find its nearest international partner abroad. You may refer to the table of remittance partners abroad below.
2. Fill out the Send Form and present one valid ID.
3. Give the fund to be transferred and pay the corresponding service fee.
4. Keep the receipt.
5. Once your transaction successfully went through, give the reference number to the recipient along with the details.

How to claim money from abroad

For recipients in the Philippines, you can claim the money from Smart Padala International through these steps:

1. Fill out the transaction slip and write the reference number you received from the sender or confirmation message.
2. Present your valid ID.
3. Sign the transaction slip and receive the remitted amount.

How to pay bills using Smart Padala

To pay bills, simply present your billing statement to any Padala outlet near you and give the payment for them to process.

The table below shows the billers that Smart Padala can process payments for.

How to apply as a Smart Padala agent

To become an agent, you should have a Smart SIM card and a mobile phone—a basic unit is enough. There’s no processing or franchise fee to pay you must pay to start the mobile remittance, but you need to have capital of ₱5,000 to ₱10,000.

Documents needed for the application

Here are the documentary requirements for Smart Padala agent application according to how your business is registered.

1. For businesses not registered to DTI or SEC (sari-sari store)

• Barangay Business Permit
• Store photo (with the store name and owner)
• Valid ID of the authorized signatory
• For money changers and pawnshops: Remittance Agent license

2. Sole proprietors

• Business or Mayor’s Permit
• Certificate of Business Name Registration from DTI
• Certificate of Registration or BIR Form 2303
• Valid ID of the authorized signatory
• For money changers and pawnshops: Remittance Agent license

3. Corporation or partnership

• Valid ID of authorized signatory
• Business or Mayor’s Permit
• Certificate of Registration or BIR Form 2303
• SEC Registration
• SEC General Information Sheet
• Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
• Secretary’s Certificate or Board Resolution on authorized signatories
• Financial Statement
• For money changers and pawnshops: Remittance Agent license

Steps in applying as a Smart Padala Agent

1. Go to the application page: www.smartpadala.ph/mimo-application-form/
2. Accomplish the online enrollment form.
3. Upload the documentary requirements (scanned or images).
4. The system will assess your application and you will receive the feedback within five business days.
5. If you are approved, you will receive a starter kit and activation certificate. An account officer will also train you before you operate.

Have you tried sending money through this mobile remittance? Do you think it’s an easier option to transfer and claim money amid travel restrictions?