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9 Different Ways to Pay for Your Credit Card Bill

This article was originally published on June 21, 2018 and was updated on October 16, 2019.

The key to managing your credit card successfully—and avoiding missed payments—is planning where and when to pay for your monthly bill.

Banks provide a wide range of credit card payment methods for their customers’ convenience. With many options available nowadays, it has become easier for cardholders to pay for their credit card bills on time.

Here are the different methods to pay for your credit card bill in the Philippines.

4 Traditional Credit Card Payment Methods in the Philippines

1. Over-the-Counter Bank Payment

Photo by John Martinez Pavliga via Flickr, Creative Commons

Payment modes accepted: Cash, check, and direct debit from the cardholder’s bank account

Over-the-counter transactions are among the traditional credit card payment methods in the Philippines. You can pay with cash or check at any branch of your credit card provider. Cash payments are posted within 24 hours or the next banking day, while check payments take one to three banking days to post.

You may also make an over-the-counter payment in one of your credit card provider’s partner banks. For example, BDO branches accept payments for HSBC credit cards (1). Security Bank branches accept Metrobank credit card payments (2) and vice versa. Payments made at another bank are posted after one to three banking days.

Pros:

• Same-day or next-day posting when paying in cash at a branch of the issuing bank
• Cash and check payments accepted

Cons:

• Time-consuming due to travel time to and from the bank and long lines at the branch
• Available only during banking hours (typically Mondays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

How to Make a Credit Card Payment in a Bank Branch

To pay at a bank counter, simply get your queue number, fill out a payment slip, wait for your turn, and hand the slip and your payment to the teller.

When paying via check, make it payable to your issuing bank and write your name, credit card account number (or the customer number found on your billing statement), and contact number at the back of the check.

Tips for Credit Card Bill Payment in the Bank

• If you’re too busy to visit the bank, you can assign a trusted representative to pay on your behalf. Just make sure to provide your authorized representative with your correct account number/customer number.
• For check payment, do it at least four banking days before your due date to allow for check clearing and avoid late posting of your payment.
• Make sure your checking account has sufficient funds before paying your credit card bill via check.
• No need to bring your credit card billing statement, as long as you provide your correct account number on the payment slip.

2. Over-the-Counter Payment in Bills Payment Centers

Instagram photo by @smcitybacolod

Payment mode accepted: Cash only

For credit cardholders who aren’t tech-savvy, one of the sensible credit card payment methods to try is an over-the-counter transaction at the bank’s bills payment partner. Payment posting takes one to three banking days.

Pros:

• Accessible locations (malls, pawnshops, remittance centers, convenience stores, etc.)
• One-stop shop service: aside from paying for credit card bill, you can also make payments to other types of billers, remit money, or buy mobile load
• Convenience for shoppers and those who pay other bills
• 24/7 availability of some bills payment centers

Cons: 

• Some bills payment centers operate only on weekdays during office hours
• Long lines during peak periods

Credit Card Payments in Bills Payment Centers

Here are the major bills payment centers in the Philippines and the credit card payments they accept:

• Bayad Center: BPI, Equicom, Metrobank, RCBC, and UnionBank
• Cebuana Lhuillier: BPI and Metrobank
• ECPay Partner Outlets: AUB, BPI, Metrobank, and Robinsons Bank
• SM Bills Payment Counters: AUB, BDO, BPI, Citibank, EastWest Bank, HSBC, Metrobank, PNB, RCBC, Security Bank, UnionBank, etc.
• Robinsons Business Center: BPI, Citibank, Equicom, Metrobank, and RCBC
• TrueMoney: AUB, BPI, and Metrobank

How to Make a Credit Card Payment in a Bills Payment Center

Simply present your billing statement and payment. If you don’t have the credit card statement of your account, you can still pay by filling out a transaction form. Wait for the cashier to give you your machine-validated transaction slip that serves as your proof of payment.

3. Auto-Debit Arrangement (ADA)

Payment mode accepted: Direct debit from the cardholder’s bank account

Too busy to settle your credit card bills? Enroll in an auto-debit arrangement with your credit card provider. This facility automatically transfers funds from your deposit account to pay for your credit card bill on every due date. You’ll never have to worry about missing a credit card payment as long as you have enough money in your bank account.

All major banks offer this credit card payment method to their customers. To enroll for ADA, you have to call your bank or visit its branch. You can choose to pay your credit card account with either your total outstanding balance or minimum amount due every due date. Ensure that the bank account you enrolled for ADA is funded at least two banking days before the due date.

Pros:

• One of the easiest and fastest credit card payment methods in the Philippines
• Never miss a credit card payment
• No need to wait in long lines
• Ideal for busy people

Cons: You must fund the source bank account at least two days before the payment due date.

4. Phone Banking

Instagram photo by @presidentraphi

Payment mode accepted: Direct debit from the cardholder’s bank account

Phone banking may not be as popular as other credit card payment methods in the Philippines. But it can be useful when you can’t go to a bank or an ATM and can’t access your online banking account.

You need to enroll first with your bank’s phone banking facility before you can use it to access your bank account and pay for your credit card bill.

Pros:

• Useful when there’s no internet connection
• Available 24/7: pay for credit card bills anytime and anywhere
• No need to wait in long lines
• One of the easiest and fastest credit card payment methods in the Philippines

Cons: It may take a while to complete a transaction when lines are busy.

Banks That Accept Credit Card Payments Through Phone Banking

Here are the numbers of banks with a phone banking facility that you can call to pay your bill:

• BDO: 8631-8000
• BPI: 889-10000
• Metrobank: 5-8000 or 1800-1-888-5800
• Security Bank: 8887-9188

How to Make a Credit Card Payment via Phone Banking

Paying for your credit card bill via phone banking simply involves using a touch-tone phone to call the bank and following the instructions of the voice prompt. Payments are usually posted on the next banking day.

5 Electronic Credit Card Payment Methods in the Philippines

1. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)

Payment mode accepted: Direct debit from the cardholder’s bank account

You can pay anytime at an ATM of your credit card provider, its partner bank, or a BancNet or Megalink-member bank. When you withdraw cash or perform any transaction at an ATM, you can pay for your credit card bill as well.

Settling your credit card bill via this electronic payment channel is no different from any ATM transaction. The bank may require a one-time enrollment before you can use its ATM to pay for your bill.

Credit card payments via ATM of the issuing bank are posted on the same day or next banking day. Posting of payments made through ATMs of other banks is completed within three banking days.

Pros:

• Same-day or next-day posting when paying via an ATM of the issuing bank
• Available 24/7 (except when an ATM is offline) at accessible locations

Cons: 

• Long lines at the ATM during peak periods (payday, after-office hours, etc.)
• Risk of skimming and other banking scams

How to Make a Credit Card Payment Through an ATM

1. Insert your ATM or debit card.
2. Key in your PIN.
3. Choose Bills Payment > Credit Cards.
4. Choose your issuing bank.
5. Enter your account number.
6. Choose between Savings Account and Current Account.
7. Enter the amount to pay and confirm it.
8. Wait for your transaction slip.

2. Online Banking

Payment mode accepted: Direct debit from the cardholder’s bank account

The electronic banking facility of your provider or its partner bank is one of the convenient credit card payment methods available.

You need to have a deposit account with the bank and be enrolled for an online banking account before you can pay through this e-banking channel. Alternatively, you can pay through another bank’s e-banking facility. For example, if you have a BPI or UnionBank online banking account, you can use it to make a payment for your Citibank or Security Bank credit card.

Credit card payment via online banking gets posted on the next banking day.

Pros:

• Pay for your credit card bill anywhere in the world
• Available 24/7 (except during system maintenance and upgrade)
• No need to wait in long lines
• One of the easiest and fastest credit card payment methods in the Philippines

Cons: Security risks such as unauthorized transactions

How to Make a Credit Card Payment via Online Banking

1. Visit the bank’s e-banking site and enter your username and password.
2. Click on Bills Payment.
3. Choose your bank account where you’ll source the payment from.
4. Choose the biller or credit card issuer.
5. Enter your account number and the amount to pay.
6. Click on Confirm or Submit to proceed with the payment. You may be asked to enter your password.

Tips for Credit Card Bill Payment Through Online Banking

• You can schedule your credit card payment so it will get automatically credited every month and you won’t miss your due date.
• Watch out for announcements from the bank regarding any impending system maintenance or upgrade. Perform your transactions (like credit card payment) before the downtime, so you won’t miss your deadline.

3. Mobile Banking

Payment mode accepted: Direct debit from the cardholder’s bank account

Mobile banking is pretty much similar to online banking when it comes to credit card payment procedures and posting speed. The only difference is the tool used for transactions. With online banking, you access the e-banking facility on a browser using a laptop or desktop. Mobile banking is a bit more convenient because you pay your credit card bill through the bank’s mobile app, which you can download on your smartphone.

Pros:

• One of the easiest and fastest credit card payment methods in the Philippines
• Pay for your credit card bill anywhere in the world
• Available 24/7 (except during system maintenance and upgrade)
• No need to wait in long lines

Cons: Using a bank’s mobile app comes with certain risks such as unauthorized transactions. Here’s how to protect yourself against mobile banking security threats.

4. Mobile Wallet Apps

Payment mode accepted: Direct debit from the cardholder’s mobile wallet

Did you know that you can use a third-party mobile payment app to settle your credit card bills? Coins.ph (3) and GCash are two of the mobile wallets or digital payment platforms in the Philippines that support credit card payments. Payments via mobile wallets are posted within three business days.

Pros:

• One of the easiest and fastest credit card payment methods in the Philippines
• Pay for your credit card bill anywhere in the world
• Available 24/7
• Allows setting weekly or monthly bill reminders
• No need to wait in long lines

Cons: Filipinos need more familiarity and experience in using mobile payment apps, as the fintech industry is still emerging in the Philippines (4).

Credit Card Payments via Coins.ph

• AUB
• BDO
• BPI
• Citibank
• EastWest Bank
• Equicom
• HSBC
• Metrobank
• Maybank
• PNB
• PSBank
• RCBC Bankard
• Security Bank Diners Club and Mastercard
• Standard Chartered Visa and Mastercard
• UnionBank MasterCard and Visa

How to Make a Credit Card Payment Through Coins.ph

1. Sign up for a Coins.ph account.
2. Add funds to your Coins.ph wallet by cashing in through 7-Eleven, Cebuana Lhuillier, GCash, etc.
3. Open the Coins.ph app on your smartphone and log into your account.
4. Tap the Pay Bills icon.
5. Select “Credit Card.”
6. Choose the biller (your credit card provider).
7. Enter the amount to pay.
8. Slide to pay.

Read more: Coins.ph App: A Quick Guide to Using the Mobile Payment Platform

Credit Card Payments via GCash

• BDO
• Citibank
• Metrobank
• RCBC Bankard Mastercard, Visa, and JCB

How to Make a Credit Card Payment Through GCash

1. Register for a GCash account.
2. Cash in funds to your GCash mobile wallet through Globe Stores, Bayad Center, 7-Eleven, SM Business Centers, etc.
3. Open the GCash app and sign in to your account.
4. Tap the Pay Bills icon.
5. Choose your credit card biller.
6. Enter the amount to pay.
7. Confirm your payment.

Read more: Using GCash: A Handy Guide for New GCash App Users

5. Self-Service Electronic Payment Machines

Photo from TouchPay Philippines Facebook page

Payment mode accepted: Cash only

Also known as automated payment machines (APMs), self-service e-payment machines provide a more efficient alternative to the conventional bills payment centers. These two credit card payment methods work quite similarly, except that APM transactions are completed using a touchscreen kiosk.

Two companies currently operate APMs in the Philippines: TouchPay and ECPay. TouchPay enables fully automated credit card payment transactions, without the need for transacting with a cashier. ECPay’s self-service machines, available in 7-Eleven stores nationwide, allow only for partial automation, as you still need to complete your payment with a cashier.

Pros:

• Accessible locations (convenience stores, office buildings, malls, gas stations, etc.)
• Available 24/7
• One-stop-shop service: aside from paying for credit card bill, you can also make payments to other types of billers, book flights, remit money, or buy mobile load
• Secure payment due to data encryption
• Instant payment posting

Cons:

• TouchPay has a transaction limit of PHP 10,000. If your credit card bill is higher than that, you need to make multiple transactions on the machine until the remaining balance is fully paid.
• Exact amount required when paying via a TouchPay APM (Any change or excess payment can be used on your next payment.)
• Credit card payment through a CLiQQ machine at 7-Eleven still requires lining up to pay to the cashier

Credit Card Payment via Self-Service Payment Machines

Here are the types of credit card payments you can make using an APM:

• TouchPay: AUB, BPI, and Metrobank
• ECPay (via 7-Eleven CLiQQ kiosks): AUB, BPI, Metrobank, Robinsons Bank, and Security Bank

How to Make a Credit Card Payment Through TouchPay APM

1. Look for a TouchPay terminal.
2. Select your credit card provider.
3. Enter the required information such as your credit card account number.
4. Insert your cash payment below the touchscreen.
5. Tap the Pay button.
6. Get your receipt.

How to Make a Credit Card Payment Through ECPay at 7-11

1. Go to the nearest 7-Eleven branch.
2. On the CLiQQ machine, select “Bills Payment” > “Collection Services.”
3. Choose your credit card provider.
4. Enter the required data (account name, credit card number or account number, and amount to pay).
5. Tap “Next.”
6. Get the payment slip from the machine.
7. Approach the payment counter and present your payment slip and cash payment to the cashier.
8. Wait for your transaction slip before leaving the counter.

Final Thoughts

When choosing from among the available credit card payment methods for you, consider how long it can take to process your payment. Ideally, pay your credit card bill at least four days before the due date to avoid penalty fees for late payment.

Sources:

• (1) HSBC Frequently Asked Questions
• (2) Metrobank Payment Options
• (3) Coins.ph Bills Payment
• (4) Fintech Philippines Startup Report and Infographic 2017 (Fintechnews Singapore, 2017)