The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely changed the way the world
works. The need for social distancing and quarantine travel restrictions have
made previously-straightforward tasks such as banking transactions far more
challenging.
So what is the best way to cope? As in many cases, the use of
available technology can make things a lot easier.
Metrobank, one of the country’s top banks, is actively
encouraging all of its clients to transition to mobile banking. While their
staff is ready and fully capable to serve clients face-to-face, online options
have added a layer of safety amid the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Most banking tasks can now be done via your phone or computer,
so you don’t have to go out and line-up to a teller to manage your finances.
Here are just some of them, and their practical applications.
1. Balance monitoring
You don’t have to go to your ATM or
ask a teller to know how much money your accounts have. All you have to do is
fire up your Metrobank Mobile App and you can see your balance in real-time.
You can even monitor your recent activities,
both debit and credit, so you don’t have to guess if you really did or did not
approve of certain transactions.
Apart from aiding financial
discipline, this helps detect and prevent fraud.
2. Fund transfers
Needless to say, the most fundamental transactions can be done online.
Transferring money to another account, same bank or otherwise, can be done with
a few taps or clicks.
In the case of the Metrobank Mobile App, all you have to do is put in the
recipient’s Metrobank account number or their app-registered mobile number, the
amount you need to send, confirm, and you’re done. The transfer is also
reflected in real-time so the recipient won’t have to wait for a day or so
before checking to confirm if they’ve received the funds.
You can also choose to enroll
“Peer” accounts that you regularly send money to so you don’t have to always
input their account number or mobile number. You can even schedule these
transfers to happen automatically in a given period if you choose.
Sending money to other banks is also possible via InstaPay, which credits funds
real-time, or PESONet. Fees for these transactions are waived during the ECQ
when done using the Metrobank Mobile App.
This is especially useful if you’re
looking to send money to help out friends and family, or paying for goods and
services that you procured online.
3. Bills payment
Even though malls and some payment centers are closed during the ECQ, the
Bills Payment utility in the Metrobank Mobile App allows you to pay your bills
directly from your bank account.
After enrolling the most common payable bills to your account (Meralco, PLDT,
Globe, Smart, etc.) and selecting them, all you have to do is to enter the
account details and amount due to complete your payment transaction.
4. Cardless Withdrawal
In a situation wherein you need to
withdraw cash but forgot to bring with you your ATM Card, you will find useful
the Cardless Withdrawal feature in the Metrobank Mobile App.
Cardless withdrawal allows you to
withdraw a certain amount from your account without having to use your ATM card
in any of the 2,300 Metrobank Group ATMs.
To facilitate this feature, open
the Metrobank Mobile App then simply key in the amount you wish to withdraw and
a four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) of your choice. The app will
then provide you with a six-digit PIN that pairs with yours.
Once confirmed, go to the nearest
Metrobank ATM or PSBank ATM, press ENTER in the ATM Keypad, key in the amount
and the PINs, and the machine will dispense the requested amount.
Even before the ECQ, these mobile banking features have been
available, but they are particularly useful during these times. One of the
things that we can take from our current stay-at-home situation is to change
our banking habits and transition into a more convenient and secure digital
banking lifestyle.
To know more about the features of the Metrobank Mobile App,
please visit the Metrobank website at metrobank.com.ph or Metrobank’s Facebook
page at facebook.com/metrobank.
Metrobank is the country’s premier
universal bank and has one of the largest domestic networks with over 950
branches and over 2,300 automated teller machines (ATMs) nationwide, and over
30 foreign branches, subsidiaries and representative offices. For inquiries,
please contact Corporate Communications Department at 8-857-5526, or Investor
Relations Department at 8-857-9783 and investor.relations@metrobank.com.ph. Or
call the Metrobank 24/7 Customer Hotline at 8-870-0700, or log on to www.metrobank.com.ph. For
provincial areas, call toll-free 1-800-1888-5775.
