Security Guards Philippines

Bank Security Guard Philippines

Security Guards Are Everywhere!

When I first arrived in the Philippines I departed the plane at the international airport in Manila.

A friend met me at the airport and drove me to his family home. His family served a snack and soda. We ate on their front porch. 

I asked about good low cost places to stay. They referred me to an apartelle. It was the first place I stayed in the Philippines.

After resting up after 3 flights and a total of almost 24 hours of air travel I went across the street to the local SM Mall. It was there I first began to see armed guards. They were at the entrance to the mall. 

Armed Guards At Mall Entrances

They poked a stick into the sling bag I was carrying and searched it. There were guards at the entrances to many shops and stores inside the mall. At the bank branches, drugstores. At the cinema.

During the next five years in the Philippines I have ridden jeepneys and taxis into and out of the main business districts of Manila and several other cities. I have been walking on sidewalks near banks when the armored trucks arrived. When the driver stops in front of a bank guards get out and join the two or more bank guards. They are armed with pistols, shotguns and even automatic weapons (Armalites). Guards facing all directions around the truck. Probably not a good idea to stick around when the armored car pulls up.

Gated subdivisions have guardhouses and armed guards at their entrances. I was looking for a house to purchase and visited a subdivision that had guards at the entrance and even had guard towers around the perimeter wall. I was told that several armed guards patrol the subdivision day and night.

At first it is somewhat disconcerting to see armed guards everywhere but one gets accustomed to it.

In fact I got so comfortable with living in the Philippines that eventually we rented an apartment in a subdivision which had no security other than the local police force. We never saw them in our neighborhood until once, when we had only a short time left on our lease, I called them to complain about our landlord who started remodeling while we were still living there.
It seems he had hired a couple of guys to start knocking a hole in the wall adjacent to us so that he could create an archway in order to combine our unit with the one next door. He thought one larger would bring him more money than two smaller units.  The workers accidentally knocked a hole all the way through our wall and debris fell on our sofa. Well I deemed that an invasion of privacy. 

The police jeep pulled up in front of our unit. The officer in charge got out with several of his troops formed a circle around him and me. Dressed in black uniforms they had rifles and shotguns at the ready. Apparently routine procedure in this rural area. 

Magalang City Hall

The officer advised me that, if I wanted to, I could go to the police station at the city hall and file a formal complaint and have the landlord "blottered." Which I did. Not long after the incident our lease was about to expire, and we moved out.

If you move to the Philippines, I am sure you will get used to the presence of armed guards. In fact, you may soon appreciate a feeling of security you may not have known in your own country.

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This post will be expanded. Check back for more information about uniformed and armed security guards in the Philippines. Posted December 15, 2016. Last updated June 3, 2022.

Money and Banking in the Philippines.

Banks in the Philippines

Money and Banking in the Philippines

Visitors to the Philippines - check out Currency Regulations in the Philippines before leaving home.

Use this handy International Currency Converter to find current exchange rates. This is not a warranty of its accuracy, but I have found it to be quite accurate. 

BPI 

Which bank to use in the Philippines? My favorite bank is the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI). Banks in shopping malls often have many people waiting to be served. Some have seating for those waiting, some do not. For example, Banco de Oro (BDO) has long lines and few seats, and it is common to stand in line for up to 45 minutes before being called to a teller. On the other hand, BPI has chairs or padded benches to relax on while you are waiting to be called. BPI has a ticket system where you enter information about your transaction (deposit or withdrawal, etc.) The machine will issue you a ticket with a number on it. Your number will be called when you are next to be served. If you need to see a bank officer your wait will be shorter.

Another difference between BDO and BPI:  the last I knew BDO charges a fee to deposit and a fee to withdraw money. BPI does not charge such fees. If you discover that they now charge fees, please notify me by commenting below.

Some of the largest banks in the Philippines:

1. Banco de Oro Universal Bank (BDO Unibank)
2. Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company
3. Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
4. Land Bank of the Philippines
5. Philippine National Bank
6. Development Bank of the Philippines
7. China Banking Corporation (Chinabank)

The banks most commonly found in shopping malls are:

Banco de Oro (BDO), Bank of the Philippine Islands

(BPI), and China Banking Corporation (Chinabank.)

A more complete list of major banks in the Philippines.

If you are selecting a bank, ask the bank manager if there are safe deposit boxes available. I have read that you must be a regular customer and must have large deposits in the bank. I just discovered online that Philippine National Bank (PNB) offers safe deposit boxes and has the fees posted (call the bank to confirm.)

If you are in the USA or another country and want to open an account with a Philippine bank. You may want to use PNB which has many offices in the USA and other countries.

Warning: I tried to cash Travelers Checks at Western Union in Manila and discovered that they do not accept them. Almost nobody accepts them. Do some research online before purchasing them. I have read that some banks, hotels and restaurants will accept them.

Warning: if you wire funds to a bank in the Philippines there will be a wait of about 10 days before the funds will be available to you. The money arrives at the bank within hours or a day or two but for some reason the money cannot be withdrawn fast. If you write a check on a U.S. bank it will take 30 days to clear.

If you are planning on staying for an extended length of time in the Philippines, it is a good idea to open a Peso account and a Dollar account (or an account in your home currency.) Everything is priced on Pesos. And, with a Dollar and Peso account you can wait until the exchange rate is more favorable before exchanging your currency for Philippine Pesos. Another reason is so that you can exchange Dollars for Pesos at the "onshore rate." It will cost you considerably less than exchanging in your country.

If you send money via Western Union tell them you want the money to arrive in the Philippines as US Dollars. If you send it as Pesos you will lose when your dollars are converted to Pesos by Western Union.

There are money changers with small sidewalk offices, but it is much safer to change your money in a mall. Often there is someone looking over your shoulder while changing on the sidewalk.

If you exchange a large amount of money at a mall you can ask a bank guard to request a mall security guard to take you to your car. If you do not have a car then exercise extreme caution. Be aware of who may be watching you exchange, be aware of anyone who may be following you. Take precautions. Maybe take a family member, relative, or a trusted Filipino friend with you to the bank.

Banks and bank branches usually have at least two armed security guards. One outside and one or two inside.
They are armed with pistols and shotguns, are very professional, happy to answer questions.

Armored truck personnel are more heavily armed.

Need to hire someone to work for you? See information and charts about how much money do Filipinos earn?

Check out foods to avoid in the Philippines.

Discover Filipino Foods Americans Like.

You will find many American restaurants in the Philippines.

There are grocery stores where you may buy American and European foods.

Malls in the Philippines are World Class! And they feature world class cinemas and restaurants chains from all over the world.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back to read more about money and banking in the Philippines. This page last updated July 18, 2022.

Currency Converter Calculator - International Money Changer

Currency Converter

International Currency Converter or Money Changer

Use the XE Converter you can get at Google Play Store to discover international exchange rates.

Select the currency of your nation and select the currency you will be exchanging it for.

Locations of Money Changers

In the Philippines there are "money changers" everywhere.

Some require you to fill out forms with a lot information about you.

Some require no information. I prefer the latter, it's a lot less hassle.

In or near most malls there will be money changer stores.

The rates you get at banks will usually be lower than rates from money changers in malls or in small shops on the street.

Ask at your hotel concierge or at information booths in malls, "Where is the nearest money changer?"

Check the rates online then compare to the rates offered by various money changers.

Map to Marquee Mall, Angeles City.

At Marquee Mall in Angeles City there are three money changers. One on ground level at the front of the mall with a outside door, one on the third floor and another inside of Metro Department Store. From time to time their rates differ. Usually the difference will be small but it may be worth the walk to check their rates before exchanging your money. The first two usually had the best rates.

On Fields Avenue in Angeles City there are a couple of money changer booths in store fronts at the sidewalk. Just ask, any security guard, by any business, where they are. If you use them just be aware of who is around you and hide your wallet as you put the money in it. Then keep your hand on it.

Don't be surprised if a beggar has been watching you the whole time and approaches you to ask for money. You may want to give them 5 or 10 pesos. Beware of pick pockets. I have changed money at those locations and also in malls and banks. The banks and malls are the most secure places to change money. But, even then, keep an eye out for who might be watching or following you (even in the malls) and evade them. And I have read stories about how bank employees or even security guards may use cell phones to tell partners on the outside to be on the lookout for you. Never carry large sums of cash. You may request a security guard to accompany you to your car.

Probably the best bank for foreigners is Bank of the Philippine Island (BPI).
I have had an account at Banco de Oro (BDO). The problem there is that they charge a fee to deposit money and another fee to withdraw money. Imagine that and the fact that you must stand in line for up to 45 minutes to make a transaction (that is the case at the branch in SM City Clark in Angeles City and at other branches).

There is a BPI bank at Marquee Mall close to the front entrance. There one may sit on a cushioned bench while waiting to see a teller or a bank officer. And there are no deposit or withdrawal fees.

Banks can change your currency or you may use one of the money changers in Marquee Mall. Just ask any security guard where the money changers are located. In 2012 there was a Western Union outside on the ground floor near the BPI bank and there was a money changer located on the 3rd floor.

Find a BPI branch near you by using this branch locator.

Interesting fact: SM malls house BDO and China Bank.
Ayala Malls house BPI and a couple of other banks.

Read more about money and banks in the Philippines.

Meet Filipinas

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This article will be expanded. Please check back for more information about money changers or currency exchange in the Philippines. This page last updated July 18, 2022.