Metrobank unveils new OFW service

The Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank) is offering bills payment remittances service to overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs).

"Filipinos working or living abroad can now pay their bills directly to the local biller companies as if they were paying them here in the Philippines," Metrobank Remittance division head Jovencio R. Capulong said. "If they wish to pay their bills, all they need to do is go to the Metrobank foreign office and pay. It is as simple as paying over the counter. They just have to mention the utility company and the amount they wish to pay to the remittance officer."

Some of the major utility companies that OFWs can pay through Metrobank’s offices for this service are the Phiulippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), Metrobank Card Corp., Home Cable, Smart Communications, Citibank credit card, Insular Life Assurance Co., and Philam Plans.

With this new service, Metrobank hopes to provide more convenience to OFWs who do not want to burden their families with bills payments.

To date, Metrobank corners a major share of the total remittance business owing to its remittance offices and partners abroad.

Metrobank is the Philippines’ largest bank with consolidated assets of P586.5 billion as of year-end 2005. The bank enjoys an extensive local distribution of more than 560 branches, as well as a global presence in Asia Pacific (Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Shanghai), Europe (London, Rome, Milan, Bologna, Madrid, Barcelona, and Vienna), and the United States.