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Juggling your finances while away from home was once a tough act to do. To move even the slightest amount around needed extra effort (and sometimes guts). These days however, expat banking is as easy as a point and click maneuver. That, plus you have a number of credible people helping you with your finance management even though you are seas apart with your current finances.

To get the best value out of expat banking transactions, you might want to take a look at some considerations first.

First up, find a good bank that can give you the best value out of your expat banking transactions. Local currency accounts usually fit in well for expats because they can serve as an offshore account wherein your savings can accumulate in the long run. Also, get the opinion of a local tax adviser to make sure that the new accounts you generate are well covered.

Check terms first. For instance, while European Union Banks may offer versatile money transfer transactions, some banks may require a minimum credit rate first. Sometimes too, other financial requirements may get involved depending on the bank and the transaction needed. So to make sure that you and your finances are well protected, make sure that every requirement is well understood and well satisfied.

The easiest course to approach these concerns is to go for an open account in an offshore bank. They not only give you comfort and convenience by offering online (via internet or phone) services such as an online registration, they also provide you with the necessary tools such as check books, a pin card and a transaction chip.

Just remember to look for banks with the optimum online accessibility. With the latest online tools, you can monitor and move your finances around whenever and wherever you may be, with a simple click. From that you get the best of both security and reliability.

Recommended Local Banks With Online Facilities

There are also some good reasons for getting an account from a local bank. Sometimes it is even more important especially if you will be staying in the Philippines for a long time. Business transactions done locally almost always require the currency to be in Philippine Peso.

With this in mind, here are some recommended local bank to help you with your local bank transactions:

1. Bank of the Philippine Island
   • they have kiosks or offices within the malls all over the Philippines.
   • an ATM account can be had in a few minutes with minimal initial deposit
   • has very convenient Web facilities that you can use to monitor your account, pay the bills and transfer funds
   • Mobile and Phone Banking available
2. Banco de Oro
   • One of the largest banks with many branches scattered around the Philippines.
   • Part of SM Group
   • Online Banking Feature
   • With remittance partners in many parts of the world

Other banks to consider with convenient online facilities:

• Metrobank
• Union Bank
• China Bank

Please check them out personally. Or, better yet, get a recommendation from a friend before finally deciding which bank to use.

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Expat Banking is written by Randolph Reserva.

Have you ever felt the need of connecting or calling your with your friends at home while you are abroad? At some point, every expat has that feeling. And they know how important it is to maintain a phone number that serves as an important link to their friends and families abroad. For expats on a business mission, it is a top priority.

Enter: Voice Over IP (VoIP)

For expats moving to the Philippines, maintaining their phone number abroad and using it here is very well possible. Expats need not to change numbers, keeping a phone number at home (may it be from the U.S., Canada, or any other part of the globe) is made convenient through Voice over Internet Protocols (VoIP) service providers. VoIP Providers allow you to create an account where all local calls abroad can be forwarded to you right here in the Philippines.

Here are some to consider:

• Skype
• Vonage
• Broadvox Direct
• Maxemail

Getting any of this is very simple. All you have to do is get a reliable Internet connection, and you will be receiving messages from friends and workmates abroad without any hitch.

MagicJack For US and Canada

Aside from the common VoIP service providers, you can also make and receive calls from abroad via USB devices. For as low as $20 a year (rates are variable of course depending on the device provider), devices such as MagicJack allows the user to make unlimited calls to Canada and USA phones by simply hooking it up to a computer with an Internet connection.

Landline telephones can be plugged to the MagicJack, or you can also talk via a headset connected to your computer.

And here is another plus point: MagicJack users can also connect to other MagicJack users forming another network of MagicJack friends.

Other VoIP Services To Check

VoIP service providers do not only offer cheap and reliable services, they also offer versatile functions.

• Voice Mail Services. If you are the type who is always on the move or sometimes you are too occupied doing with things you don’t want to be bothered , this service is very convenient. You can have your caller drop you a voice message and retrieve it later on.
• Fax To File. Fax messages are specially useful to the business-savvy expats. And with the current VoIP providers, receiving fax messages while you are here in the Philippines will never be problem. The moment you receive a fax message, the VoIP provider instantly converts it to a file type (.pdf, .doc, .xls, .txt, .htm, .html, .gif, .jpg etc) that you can download, save, and read later on.

Of course not all VoIP services are created equal. That’s why they vary in their pricing and their target markets. The thing is, if these things are important to you while you are here in the Philippines, then choose a provider that offers such services.

Take note that these online options are still on their infancy. Expect a lot more features to be added as the technology matures. It would be better to check them one by one and compare the services they offer. Knowing what provides you the most services can spell the difference between convenience and a lot more savings.

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VoIP : Using Phone Numbers Abroad Here In The Philippines is written by Randolph Reserva.