On a personal note, and based on the recommendation of friends, overall, it appears it is worth having a BDO credit card for two main reasons: great promos and an easy-to-use BDO mobile app (BDO Pay).
And to add, it makes sense to choose or keep an AMEX card among the other card options. Here’s why:
1. For other BDO cards, you need to spend P1000 to earn peso points (their version of reward points). As for the AMEX cards?
PHP45 = 1 point for AMEX Blue
PHP30 = 1 point for AMEX Explorer
2. The rewards for AMEX Blue and AMEX Explorer are decent and doable to score for yourself.
There’s a choice of either vouchers, gift passes, air miles, or hotel loyalty points.
Just note that if you choose AMEX Blue, to avail of air miles or hotel loyalty points, you need to pay the Annual Frequent Travel Option (FTO) Fee of P800. This is Complimentary for the AMEX Explorer.
Find out more about the AMEX Rewards Program and access the Reward Catalogues here.
3. AMEX Explorer also offers the following:
= Unlimited Complimentary Airport Lounge Access
= Up to ₱10 Million FREE Family Travel Insurance
For more info about all the BDO Amex cards and their benefits, just go here.
A note on COMMON Complaint re using BDO cards in the Philippines: There is a common complaint that it is very hard to use AMEX cards in the Philippines. This has not been our experience at all. Using the cards to do groceries not only worked at SM (understandably so) but also at Robinsons. We have not faced any issues in using it at all in establishments, including our travels in Bohol, Cebu, or Metro Manila, in the last 2 years.
And before we end, just in case you will find this helpful:
Saving Tip: If you prefer to pay less for card fees, note that the monthly basic membership fee for AMEX Blue is P150/month (1800 per year) while AMEX Explorer is P4,000 per year. You can also try to ask for a waiver of the fees when it becomes due. Just call BDO. At times, they also automatically waive the fee for you after a certain spend.
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