Another bank deploys service ‘on wheels’ in Metro Manila

BDO Unibank Inc. followed other banks in making its bank services accessible in select areas in Metro Manila given limited operations amid the enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

The Sy-led bank said it has rolledout roving automated teller machine (ATM) mobile, or “ATM on Wheels,” which it said is available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and accepts local and international cards.

The bank’s “ATM on Wheels” follows two other banks that said they have deployed their respective “Bank on Wheels.”

BDO’S version allows transactions including balance inquiry, cash withdrawal, cash advance, BDO cash card reload, prepaid mobile reload, fund transfer, donation, activation of online banking enrolment and third-party fund transfer and pin change.

BDO recently deployed ATM on Wheels in Anonas in Quezon City, Bagbaguin in Caloocan and Pasig City.

The mobile is set to visit Camarin, Caloocan on April 13 to April 15 and in Novaliches on April 16 to April 18.

BDO said their mobile ATM would be located in areas where BDO branches are closed or in areas where there are no nearby ATMS.

BDO is currently running with skeletal workforce arrangement, limited operations and shortened working hours amid the lock down to minimize the exposure of its employees to the virus.

In line with practice of social distancing, BDO told its customers that bill payments should be accomplished through online banking and ATMS.

Cash pickup of remittances are also suspended at the moment, with bank noting that “only remittances to BDO Unibank accounts are accepted.”

There’s an automatic rollover of investment maturities, the bank added.

The listed bank also warned customers of individuals pretending to be BDO employees to acquire account information.

BDO emphasized that the public should not give their user ID and password and debit or credit card number, among others, to these criminals. “Legitimate BDO employees will never ask for this information,” it added.

Driven by robust core recurring income, the listed bank saw its net profits surge by 35.17 percent to P44.2 billion last year from P32.7 billion in 2018.

BDO shares ended flat at P98.50 apiece on Monday amid the 1.82-percent hike for the main index.

Tyrone Jasper C. Piad