To send a bank transfer to the Philippines with MAJORITY, pick the Philippines in the app, choose bank transfer, enter the recipient's account, and confirm.
Quick answer
Bank transfer is one of three ways to send money to the Philippines on this destination, alongside mobile wallet deposit to GCash and cash pickup at a partner branch. You open the app, select the Philippines, choose bank transfer, pick the receiving institution from the in-app list, enter the recipient's account number and full legal name, then confirm. The funds arrive in Philippine pesos (PHP) in 30 minutes to 5 business days, depending on the receiving institution and which Philippine payment option it uses to settle.
What you need to know
- Bank transfer is the right choice when your recipient already has a Philippine bank account and wants the money deposited directly rather than picking it up in person or holding it in a mobile wallet.
- The supported Philippine receiving institutions are shown in the app at the point of sending. The in-app list is the authoritative source for which banks are currently available on this destination.
- You will need three pieces of information about your recipient: the bank's name as listed in the app, the Philippine bank account number, and the full legal name as it appears on the account. Most flows also ask for a Philippine mobile number for the arrival notification.
- The funds arrive in Philippine pesos (PHP) at the live USD-to-PHP exchange rate the app quotes before you confirm.
- Bank transfers to the Philippines typically arrive in 30 minutes to 5 business days, depending on the receiving bank and whether the transfer settles through InstaPay (instant) or PesoNet (usually next business day) on the Philippine side.
- With the membership at $5.99 per month, money transfers to supported countries are fee-free at the member tier regardless of delivery method, so there is no per-transfer charge stacked on top of the membership.
What information you need from your recipient
Before you start the transfer in the app, collect these details from your recipient. Confirming them in writing (chat, email, or text) is the easiest way to avoid typos on the receiving side.
- Bank name. The exact Philippine receiving institution that holds their account, as it appears in the in-app list.
- Account number. The full Philippine bank account number as it appears on their statement or in their banking app. Philippine account numbers vary in length by institution, so do not trim leading zeros and do not include dashes or spaces. The Philippines does not use IBAN for domestic accounts, so the receiving institution's own account number is what you need.
- Full legal name. Exactly as it appears on the account. Small mismatches (a missing middle name, a different spelling of a surname) can delay or block the deposit.
- Account type. Whether the account is a regular savings or current account, where the app asks. Most Philippine retail accounts are savings accounts.
- Phone number. A Philippine mobile number so the receiving institution can send an arrival notification when the funds land.
If any of these is wrong, the receiving institution may reject the deposit and the funds will be returned to you, usually within a few business days. The cleanest fix is to confirm the details with your recipient before you confirm the transfer in the app.
Delivery method comparison on the Philippines destination
The same destination offers three delivery methods, each with different speeds and recipient-side requirements. The table below summarizes the differences so you can pick the method that fits your recipient's situation.
| Delivery method | What your recipient needs | Typical speed | When this method fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer to a Philippine bank account | A Philippine bank account at a receiving institution shown in the in-app list, plus the account number and full legal name | 30 minutes to 5 business days, depending on the receiving institution | Recipient already holds an account and wants the funds deposited directly |
| Mobile wallet deposit to GCash | A verified GCash account on the recipient's phone, registered to a Philippine mobile number | Minutes to hours, where available | Recipient uses GCash for everyday payments and wants the funds available on their phone |
| Cash pickup at a partner branch | A valid Philippine government-issued ID at a participating partner location | Same day at most participating locations | Recipient does not hold a Philippine bank account or a GCash wallet |
How to send a bank transfer to the Philippines, step by step
These are the steps from your side as the sender, from the moment you open the app to the moment the funds arrive in your recipient's account.
- Open the app and sign in.
- Tap Send money and select the Philippines as the destination country.
- Enter the amount you want to send in US dollars. The app shows the live USD-to-PHP exchange rate, the PHP amount your recipient will receive, and the estimated delivery time before you confirm.
- Choose Bank transfer as the delivery method.
- Select the receiving Philippine institution from the in-app supported list.
- Enter the Philippine bank account number exactly as your recipient gave it to you, with no spaces or trimmed digits.
- Enter the recipient's full legal name as it appears on the account.
- Add the recipient's Philippine mobile number so the receiving institution can send them an arrival notification.
- Review the summary (exchange rate, PHP amount the recipient will receive, receiving institution, account number, recipient name, and any cost) and confirm.
- Track the status in the app under your wallet or transfers tab. The status moves from Pending to Completed when the funds land in the recipient's account.
How long does a bank transfer to the Philippines take?
A bank transfer to a Philippine bank account typically arrives in 30 minutes to 5 business days, depending on the receiving institution and which domestic Philippine payment option it uses.
The Philippines has two well-known interbank payment delivery methods, both run by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP):
- InstaPay is the instant option, used for smaller-amount transfers. Where the receiving institution routes an inbound international transfer through InstaPay on the Philippine leg, your recipient can see the funds in their account within minutes.
- PesoNet is the batch option, used for higher-amount transfers. PesoNet settles in batches across business days, so funds usually arrive next business day (sometimes same business day if cut-off times are met).
The actual option used on your transfer depends on the receiving institution's settings, the transfer amount, and the time of day you send. Larger Philippine commercial banks tend to post inbound international transfers toward the faster end of the 30-minute-to-5-day range; smaller institutions can take longer because of slower internal settlement cycles or batch schedules.
For context, the other Philippines delivery methods on this destination have different timing:
- Mobile wallet deposit to GCash is typically available within minutes to hours.
- Cash pickup at a participating partner branch is typically available the same day.
If your recipient holds a Philippine bank account and is not in a rush, bank transfer is usually the simplest option. If they need the funds within minutes and already use GCash, mobile wallet can be faster. If they do not hold a Philippine bank account at all, cash pickup is the right method.
What ID does my recipient need on the receiving side?
A bank transfer is deposited directly into the account, so your recipient does not need to present an ID at a counter to receive the funds. Their identity is already verified by the receiving institution that holds the account.
If they want to withdraw the cash later from an ATM or in branch, the standard Philippine ID types apply:
- PhilSys ID (the Philippine national ID, sometimes shown as the PhilID)
- Passport for Philippine citizens
- Driver's license issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO)
- UMID (Unified Multi-Purpose ID) for SSS, GSIS, PhilHealth, or Pag-IBIG members
- Voter's ID issued by the Commission on Elections
Their receiving institution's own ID requirements take precedence at the point of withdrawal, so confirm with them which ID their bank usually asks for.
What ID you need on the US side to send
To send the transfer from the US, you need an active account in the app. When you opened that account, you provided a government-issued ID (a passport, a driver's license, a matrícula consular, or another accepted ID) and completed identity verification. No additional documentation is needed on the day you send a bank transfer to the Philippines, beyond signing into the app with your usual credentials and confirming the transfer.
If your account asks for additional verification on a particular transfer (for example, an unusually large amount), the app will prompt you in-flow. Following those prompts is the fastest way to clear the transfer.
What to do next
- Confirm with your recipient which Philippine institution holds their account and whether the account is a savings or current account.
- Ask them for the full Philippine bank account number, their full legal name as it appears on the account, and a Philippine mobile number.
- Open the app, select the Philippines, choose bank transfer, and enter the details.
- Review the PHP amount your recipient will receive and the estimated delivery time before you confirm.
- Track the status in the app and stay reachable in case the receiving institution requests anything from your recipient.
How MAJORITY can help
MAJORITY is a financial membership for migrants and newcomers in the US, and the Philippines is one of the more than 30 supported money-transfer routes. The Philippines destination supports bank transfer to a Philippine bank account, mobile wallet deposit to GCash, and cash pickup at participating partner branches. The membership is $5.99 per month and includes money transfers at the member tier in supported countries, with the PHP amount the recipient will receive shown in the app before each transfer is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I send a bank transfer to the Philippines from the US?
Open the app, tap Send money, select the Philippines, choose bank transfer, pick the receiving institution from the in-app list, enter the account number, full legal name, and Philippine mobile number, and confirm. The funds arrive in Philippine pesos at the exchange rate the app quoted before you confirmed.
Which Philippine banks are supported for bank transfers?
The supported list of Philippine receiving institutions is shown in the app at the point of sending, since institutions are added over time. Pick your recipient's bank from the list, then enter their Philippine bank account number and full legal name. If their institution is not visible, ask whether they hold an account elsewhere or use the mobile wallet (GCash) or cash pickup delivery method instead.
How long does an international bank transfer to the Philippines take?
A bank transfer to a Philippine bank account typically arrives in 30 minutes to 5 business days, depending on the receiving institution and whether the transfer settles through InstaPay (instant) or PesoNet (next-business-day) on the Philippine side. Larger commercial banks usually post inbound international transfers toward the faster end of that range.
What information do I need from my recipient in the Philippines?
You need the bank name as it appears in the in-app list, the full Philippine bank account number (with no spaces or trimmed digits), the recipient's full legal name exactly as it appears on the account, and a Philippine mobile number for the arrival notification. The Philippines does not use IBAN for domestic accounts, so the receiving institution's own account number is what the deposit needs.
Do I need a SWIFT code or IBAN to send money to a Philippine bank account?
For a bank transfer sent through the Philippines destination in the app, you pick the receiving Philippine institution from the in-app list and enter the local account number. You do not enter a SWIFT code or an IBAN; the Philippines does not use IBAN for domestic accounts, and SWIFT routing is handled inside this destination rather than by you as the sender.
What does an international bank transfer to the Philippines cost?
With the membership at $5.99 per month, money transfers to supported countries are fee-free at the member tier, regardless of delivery method. The exchange rate applied to the USD-to-PHP conversion, along with any applicable cost, is shown in the app before you confirm the transfer.
Disclosures
The MAJORITY app facilitates banking services through Axiom Bank, N.A. ("Axiom"), Member FDIC. The funds deposited in the account held at Axiom, Member FDIC, are FDIC-insured on a pass-through basis up to $250,000 per depositor in the event Axiom fails and subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. Non-deposit products or services such as money transfers and telecom services are not FDIC-insured.
MAJORITY Visa® Debit Card is issued by Axiom Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.