BPI and its partners Lulu Financial Services (Hong Kong) represented by Christopher Martin, standing, second from left, engage OFW in a series of talks on managing their finances well.

With the continuously growing number of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Hong Kong, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has stepped up its efforts to be a reliable partner in managing their finances.

Through a series of financial literacy seminars in Hong Kong, BPI taught OFW how to save, invest, and secure their families’ future.

“BPI strives to be the trusted partner of OFW,” said Melinda Dulay, BPI’s head of Inward Remittance. “We understand the many challenges they face being away from their families.

Through our products and services, we aim to empower these clients to have control on their finances as they take on their challenging role as OFW, but at the same time have peace of mind that whatever happens to them, they have a back-up plan for their family.”

With around 220,000 Filipino nationals in Hong Kong, Pinoys are considered the largest group of expatriates in the territory, many of whom are women working as household service workers (HSW). HSW typically earn about HKD 4,000, or close to P25,000 monthly, a good portion of which they remit to their families in the Philippines once a month.

Most of these remitters have short-term work contracts and are subscribed to alternative financial services providers that simply send their money back home. Once their contracts are over, the remittances — and their sources of income — end.

To help address this situation, BPI sought of ways to increase the financial knowledge of Hong Kong-based Filipino remitters for the sake of their families. BPI’s Remittance and Funds Transfer Group (BPI RFTG) conducted a series of learning sessions aimed at addressing the financial challenges of OFW in Hong Kong. These sessions include presentations about services that safeguard their finances.

Among these services is BPI Pamana Padala, a unique remittance solution that is tailor fit for OFW who knowingly take risks to work abroad. It offers free remittance continuation benefit. In case something unfortunate happens to the OFW remitter, his or her family will continue to receive money for 12 months.

The Bank also held one-on-one consultations with the OFW during the seminar. Around 75 percent of the total attendees expressed interest in opening BPI Pamana Padala accounts.