Open a BDO Basic Account Through the BDO Pay App

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What Readers Should Know

BDO lets eligible users apply for a Basic Account through the BDO Pay app using a driver’s license or passport, with no required initial deposit or maintaining balance. Applicants scan their ID, take a selfie, and submit their details for verification and approval. The account supports everyday payments through BDO Pay, including QR Ph purchases, transfers, and bill payments. A referral promotion running until…

Key Takeaways

A BDO Basic Account requires no initial deposit or maintaining balance.
Applications are completed through the BDO Pay app, subject to approval.
Applicants can use a driver’s license or passport for verification.
BDO Pay supports QR Ph payments, money transfers, bill payments, and shared-expense features.
The referral promo runs until January 31, 2027, with rewards subject to qualifying conditions.

Opening a first bank account can now begin on a smartphone. BDO’s Basic Account, available through the BDO Pay app, requires no initial deposit and no maintaining balance, giving users a way to start banking without setting aside an opening amount.

Applicants can use a driver’s license or passport for identity verification. The application takes place digitally, with users scanning their ID, taking a selfie, and submitting their details for approval.

BDO’s official account page states that applicants must be Filipino citizens aged 18 or older with an address in the Philippines.

To apply through BDO Pay:

Download the BDO Pay app and tap “Open a Basic Account.”
Prepare your driver’s license or passport for identity verification.
Scan your ID and take a selfie as instructed.
Enter your details and submit your application. Once approved, the account is ready to use.

BDO describes the process as taking minutes, although account access remains subject to verification and approval.

Once linked to BDO Pay, the Basic Account can support everyday transactions such as cashless purchases, money transfers, and bill payments.

Users can scan QR Ph codes to pay directly from their linked account. According to BDO’s announcement, the app also allows transfers to other banks and e-wallets for free and payments to more than 2,200 billers without fees.

Other features include requesting money and splitting bills with friends, allowing users to manage shared expenses within the app. BDO Pay also carries deals and rewards for eligible users.

Account holders may request a physical card for withdrawals at BDO ATMs. The announcement identifies withdrawals at those machines as free; this should not be confused with a promise that requesting the card itself has no charge.

BDO says its nationwide network includes more than 5,000 ATMs and Cash Deposit Machines, providing physical access alongside the app’s digital services.

The bank is also promoting its BDO Pay Refer-a-Friend offer, which runs until January 31, 2027.

Under the announced promotion, existing users can earn ₱100 in cash credits for each successful referral, while the referred friend receives ₱50 in cash credits when signing up through the referral code and meeting the promo requirements.

Users can earn up to ₱1,000 in referral incentives during the promo period, subject to the applicable terms.

To find a referral code, open BDO Pay, tap More, and select Refer a Friend. The code can then be shared with eligible friends or family members.

For account information and current terms, visit the BDO Basic Account page or review the details in the BDO Pay app.

Reader Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I open a BDO Basic Account?

Download BDO Pay, select “Open a Basic Account,” scan your accepted ID, take a selfie, and submit your details for approval.

Is an initial deposit or maintaining balance required?

No. BDO states that the Basic Account requires neither an initial deposit nor a maintaining balance.

Which IDs are mentioned for the application?

BDO’s announcement identifies a driver’s license or passport as accepted options.

What can I do with the account through BDO Pay?

You can make QR Ph payments, transfer money, pay bills, request money, and split bills, subject to applicable service terms.

What are the referral rewards?

The announced promo offers ₱100 per successful referral and ₱50 for eligible referred users, with up to ₱1,000 in referral incentives during the promo period ending January 31, 2027.