Best Debit Card in the Philippines - A guide on eligibility, fees, and more
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Maya1 is a really helpful service for Filipinos looking to send payments, pay bills, invest and shop. To get even more out of your Maya account you might be wondering how to order a Maya Card2 for in person spending.
This guide looks at how to get a Maya Card, whether you want the Maya virtual card or the physical Maya Visa card, plus how to activate your Maya Card once you have it. Let’s get stuck in. We’ll also share more about the Wise card, a handy way to spend in 150+ countries.
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The Maya Card is a physical or virtual debit card which you can use to spend and make cash withdrawals here and when you travel.
How to use a Maya Card is pretty straightforward. It works pretty much like any other debit card you might have in your wallet or in your phone. The only likely difference is that if you’re asked is your Maya Card connected to wallet or savings you simply need to tell the store attendant it’s linked to savings.
This guide looks at how to order a Maya card, how to activate it and how to start using it.
Maya offers several different card options, including the Maya Landers Cashback Everywhere credit card3.
However, this guide focuses on the Maya debit card options - which include a physical Maya debit card and a virtual Maya card for online use.
The way you apply for a Maya credit card, as well as the ways you can use it, are different to the debit card options - so do take a closer look at the Maya website if you’re interested in the credit option instead of the debit cards.
The Maya physical and virtual Visa card can be used to spend and make withdrawals here and overseas. You can also use your cards when you shop online or in apps. This makes the Maya debit card options very convenient - you just need to make sure you have enough balance in your Maya wallet before you transact, and your purchase will go through instantly.
You can use your Maya Card in an ATM in the Philippines or overseas4. That means it’s easy to get the cash you need, when you need it. You’ll just need to check you have enough money in your account to cover the withdrawal, and know your card PIN.
The Maya Card withdrawal fee is set by the ATM operator. Not all ATMs will charge fees for use, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for where to withdraw with a Maya Card without fees in your neighborhood. If you can’t find a completely free place to use your Maya Visa card, try a Landbank ATM which costs just 10 PHP. Other ATMs in the Philippines usually charge 15 PHP to 18 PHP.
Your Maya card will draw funds from your Maya wallet when you make a purchase or withdrawal. If you're in the Philippines, the amount you spend is deducted directly from your balance - you'll be able to log into the Maya app to see the account and transaction history at any time.
If you’re overseas it works a little differently. You’ll still use your Maya card as usual to make a purchase or a withdrawal, but the amount you spend is then converted back to PHP from the foreign currency, using the Visa exchange rate. You’ll need to take a look in the app to see what your purchase cost you.
Let's walk through who can get a Maya card, and what you have to do to order it and get it ready for use.
Before you order your Maya Card you’ll need to check you have completed the account verification process. This is pretty easy to do - just upload a photo of the required documents, and record a video selfie. During your video selfie you’ll be instructed to make some specific gestures to show it’s a live video.
You can choose from a broad selection of documents for verification - either one primary document, or 2 secondary documents. Primary documents for Filipinos include your passport, ID card, Drivers license or other government issued documents.
If you can’t provide one of the primary documents you can use 2 secondary IDs which can include your PhilHealth ID, a Voter's ID or your OFW e-Card5.
Foreign adults can apply with their passport, and there’s a different document list for children.
Once you’ve completed the verification checks your account should be verified in about 24 hours. You can then order your Maya card.
To get your Maya virtual card you’ll need to be fully verified and also have a balance in your Maya wallet of at least 100 PHP. For the physical card you’ll need to be verified and have a balance of enough to cover the costs of your card.
The easiest way to order a physical Maya Card is using the Maya app6:
Your Maya card should arrive in 4 working days if you live in Metro Manila and 8-10 working days if you live elsewhere.
Here’s how to activate your Maya virtual card7:
Once your virtual card is ready you can view the card details in the app, in the Maya Card Carousel.
Here’s how to activate your Maya physical card before first use8:
The Wise card is the perfect partner for overseas travel, offering simple spending and withdrawals which use the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees.
Create your free Wise account and order your Wise card for a one time fee, with no ongoing costs or minimum balance needed. Then add money in PHP conveniently from your bank, to spend in 150+ countries when you travel, or when you shop online and in apps with overseas retailers.
You can also make ATM withdrawals to get cash when you need it, with 2 withdrawals of up to 12,000 PHP a month for free before any ATM fees apply. Wise currency conversion uses the rate you see on Google with no foreign transaction fee or hidden fees. You can top-up pesos and then either convert to the currency you need in the app, or just let the card convert for you when you tap to pay.
Enjoy seamless overseas spending and save as you spend with the Wise card.
Do check respective bank websites for the latest information and promotions
Wise Pilipinas is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. For any questions or concerns, check out our Help Centre, or log into your account to talk to us by phone, email or chat.
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*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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