CIRCULAR NO. 608 from the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas: Only 1 (one) ID needed to open an account

Yes, that's right the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas issued a circular last May this year amending the number of (and expanding the type of ) valid identification cards needed by a person to open a bank account. Supposedly, fifteen days after the date of issuance, banks should be following this new regulation.

Sadly, I have yet to find a bank which follows this order from Bank Sentral ng Pilipinas. Honestly though, I don't have any idea what the functions of the BSP are and so I did some research. The official website of the BSP is a bit disappointing, it set out very vague responsibilities of the BSP. I did find that central banks (in general) have regulation and supervision powers over the banking industry and thus it brings me to question, are banks required to follow what the BSP says?

The difficulty of opening a bank account is frustrating and could be costing the country quite a lot. What should have been stored in the vault of a bank (earning interest and preventing people from over consuming) is just lying around in their house (sleeping) and vulnerable to spending.

I had a really bad experience with these ID requirements, making a simple act such as opening a bank account very difficult in the past and when I read about this new order from BSP (in PinoyMoneyTalk), I found myself rejoicing. Immediately, I went to BDO (SM North EDSA branch) to check if this news was indeed true. I was disappointed when the bank lady told me to present two valid IDs (the usual primary IDs) plus a landline number. So not only were they not following the order from BSP, they have just made the process a whole lot more difficult. Arrrgghh!!!

The contents of CIRCULAR NO. 608 are the following:

Date Issued: 05.20.2008

Number: 608

CIRCULAR NO. 608Series of 2008 Subject : Valid Identification Cards (IDs) for Financial Transactions Pursuant to Monetary Board Resolution No. 553 dated 8 May 2008, the provisions of Circular No. 564 dated 3 April 2007 on the guidelines governing the acceptance of valid identification cards for all types of financial transactions by banks and non-banks financial institutions under BSP supervision, including financial transactions involving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), in order to promote access of Filipinos to services offered by formal financial institutions, particularly those residing in the remote areas, as well as to encourage and facilitate remittances of OFWs through the banking system, are hereby amended to read as follows: a) Clients who engage in a financial transaction with covered institutions for the first time shall be required to present the original and submit a CLEAR copy of at least ONE (1) valid photo-bearing identification document issued by an official authority. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE TERM “OFFICIAL AUTHORITY” SHALL REFER TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: (i) GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES; (ii) ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS AND INSTRUMENTALITIES; (iii) GOVERNMENT-OWNED AND/OR CONTROLLED CORPORATIONS (GOCCs); AND (iv) PRIVATE ENTITIES OR INSTITUTIONS REGISTERED WITH OR SUPERVISED OR REGULATED EITHER BY THE BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS (BSP) OR SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC) OR INSURANCE COMMISSION (IC). Valid IDs include the following: Passport Driver’s License Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance Police Clearance Postal ID Voter’s ID Barangay Certification Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) e-Card Social Security System (SSS) Card Senior Citizen Card Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID OFW ID Seaman’s Book Alien Certification of Registration/Immigrant Certificate of Registration Government Office and GOCC ID, e.g. Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP ID), Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF ID) Certification from the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Certification INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES ID COMPANY IDs ISSUED BY PRIVATE ENTITIES OR INSTITUTIONS REGISTERED WITH OR SUPERVISED OR REGULATED EITHER BY THE BSP, SEC OR IC b) Students who are beneficiaries of REMITTANCES/FUND TRANSFERS who are not yet of voting age may be allowed to present THE ORIGINAL AND SUBMIT A CLEAR COPY OF ONE (1) VALID photo-bearing school ID duly signed by the principal or head of the school. c) Banks and non-bank financial institutions under BSP supervision shall require their clients to submit clear copy of the ONE (1) valid ID on a one-time basis only, or at the commencement of a business relationship. They shall require their clients to submit an updated photo and other relevant information whenever the need for it arises. THE FOREGOING SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO THE CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER RULE 9.1.C OF THE REVISED IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS (RIRRS) OF R.A. NO. 9160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING ACT OF 2001”, AS AMENDED. For purposes of this Circular, financial transactions may include remittances, among others, as falling under the definition of transaction. Under the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, as amended, a financial transaction is “any act establishing any right or obligation or giving rise to any contractual or legal relationship between the parties thereto. It also includes any movement of funds by any means with a covered institution.” This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph/regulations/regulations.asp?type=1&id=2059