Question 1

What is BDO Unibank?

Accepted Answer

BDO Unibank, formally known as Banco de Oro Unibank, Inc., is the largest full-service universal bank in the Philippines. The bank operates a representative office in the United Arab Emirates, established to serve the substantial Filipino expatriate community in the GCC region. BDO is a member of the SM Group, one of the Philippines' largest conglomerates, and offers comprehensive banking services through its international network.

As a Philippine-based institution, the UAE representative office functions primarily as an extension of BDO's home operations, providing specialized support for remittance services and account management for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Filipino residents in the Middle East.

Question 2

When was BDO Unibank founded?

Accepted Answer

BDO Unibank was originally founded on January 2, 1968 as Acme Savings Bank, a modest thrift bank with just two branches in Manila. In November 1976, the SM Group, led by retail magnate Henry Sy, acquired Acme and renamed it Banco de Oro Savings and Mortgage Bank.

The bank underwent significant transformations: it became a commercial bank in December 1994 as Banco de Oro Commercial Bank, and then achieved universal bank status in September 1996, adopting the name Banco de Oro Universal Bank (BDO Unibank). The bank's most pivotal moment came in 2007 when BDO merged with Equitable PCI Bank, solidifying its position as the Philippines' largest bank. In 2010, the bank simplified its name to BDO Unibank, Inc.

Question 3

Where is BDO Unibank headquartered?

Accepted Answer

BDO Unibank's headquarters are located in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. The bank also maintains major corporate centers in key Philippine business districts including Makati, Ortigas Center (spanning Pasig and Mandaluyong), and Taguig.

For its UAE operations specifically, the representative office is situated at the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), one of the Middle East's largest financial hubs. The physical office is located at Dutco House, Building No. 44, Al Ittihad Street, Port Saeed, Deira, Dubai.

Question 4

Where does BDO Unibank operate?

Accepted Answer

Within the United Arab Emirates, BDO operates its representative office in Dubai, serving as a central hub for Filipino banking clients across the entire GCC region. The office is strategically positioned in Deira, near the Dubai Creek and just minutes from DCC Metro Station, making it accessible to the large Filipino community working in Dubai.

While the physical presence is limited to Dubai, the representative office serves Overseas Filipino Workers throughout the UAE, including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, and other emirates. The office's mandate extends to supporting the broader Middle East Filipino community, including expatriates in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan through partnerships with regional money transfer services.

Question 5

What services does BDO Unibank offer?

Accepted Answer

BDO Unibank's UAE representative office specializes in services tailored for Overseas Filipino Workers and expatriates. Primary offerings include account opening services for Philippine-based BDO accounts, remittance processing through the BDO Remit network, and customer support for existing account holders.

Filipino expatriates can open BDO Kabayan Savings accounts with minimal documentation—typically just a passport copy and one photo, with an initial deposit of AED 100. The accounts are Philippine-based, meaning they function as standard BDO accounts in the Philippines rather than UAE-specific accounts. Digital services include online banking enrollment support and mobile app guidance.

The office also facilitates partnerships with UAE-based remittance providers including Emirates NBD, UAE Exchange, Al Ansari Exchange, and Al Ghurair Exchange to ensure seamless money transfer services to the Philippines.

Question 6

What makes BDO Unibank unique?

Accepted Answer

BDO Unibank holds the distinction of being the first Filipino bank to establish a presence in the GCC region when it opened its Dubai International Financial Center representative office in 2015. This strategic expansion directly addresses the banking needs of one of the world's largest expatriate communities—approximately 700,000 Filipinos work in the UAE alone, with over 1.2 million in Saudi Arabia and more than 200,000 in Qatar.

The bank's UAE office operates with extended hours (Monday-Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday 12pm-7pm) to accommodate working clients' schedules. A particularly distinctive feature is the seamless integration with Philippine operations: accounts opened in Dubai are true Philippine accounts, and ATM cards are issued from the Philippines, requiring activation at any Philippine ATM before use in the UAE.

BDO's parent institution was recognized by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (the Central Bank of the Philippines) as the "Commercial Bank that Generated the Largest Overseas Filipino Remittances" for multiple years, reflecting its market leadership in serving expatriate banking needs.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is BDO Unibank?

Accepted Answer

BDO Unibank operates as a representative office in the United Arab Emirates. In banking terminology, a representative office is a limited banking presence that cannot conduct full banking operations such as accepting deposits from UAE residents or extending credit within the UAE market. Instead, it serves as a liaison office facilitating services between the home country bank and its expatriate customers.

The representative office structure allows BDO to provide account opening services, remittance facilitation, and customer support for Philippine-based accounts without requiring a full banking license from the UAE Central Bank. This model is specifically designed for serving expatriate communities rather than the general UAE banking market.

In its home market of the Philippines, BDO Unibank functions as a universal bank—the highest classification of Philippine banking institutions—offering comprehensive retail, commercial, investment, and wealth management services. The UAE representative office represents an extension of these capabilities focused on cross-border financial services for the Filipino diaspora.

BDO Unibank

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About BDO Unibank in the United Arab Emirates