How to Open BPI Trade Account

BPI Trade is an online stock trading service offered by BPI. It allows you to buy and sell online using your BPI savings account to buy shares of companies. To me, its really convenient. I tried opening an account and here's my experience.

Steps to Open an Account

1. Fill Up Application Form
2. Print the Application form
3. Go to your nearest BPI Branch and bring 2 valid IDs. Have the IDs photocopied.
4. Wait for the email confirmation from BPI Trade.

Review

The application process is quite simple. Fill up some forms and give it to your bank. Very easy. But I think BPI Trade fell short on customer service. It took 3 weeks for my application to be processed. With me constantly nagging BPI about the update of my account application. When I finally gave up to speed up the process, they emailed me and said that it will take them 3 more days to process the application.

That's great news. I think. But after the 3rd day, I received my application confirmation email. With no clue what was my username and password in the email. It was like "Congratulations, on your BPI Trade account blah blah blah deposit money blah blah." I said to myself, "great now to login! wait... What's my username again?" I've forgotten! While reading the email again 2 inch closer to the monitor. I realized my username is not there! It has been 3 weeks since I applied and me with the attention span of a cockroach, I've forgotten my username and password. I tried logging in with what I think was my username and password and had it locked. :) I tried emailing them, but no one is replying.

So I tried calling them. Nada. All lines are busy. I waited to call at midnight. Maybe the lines will open. And it did. I talked to a customer rep. 5 minutes waiting for the customer rep to answer and have me wait 10 minutes listening to Christmas song in the background after checking if my account is in their database. She returned and told me to call again after 30 minutes because there's no one to process my request to reset the account.

I called back after 40 minutes. All lines are again busy. I spent 500 pesos worth of load and didn't even get to hear a real person on the other end for the most part of it.

P.S. This is actually my 2nd time applying for BPI trade. The first one was really frustrating and it involves customer rep again. 

P.S.S. I'm actually worried if problems arises with the account in the future. With the kind of customer service they have, I would imagine serious problems with the account will be a nightmare to deal with.