Press Release

Be more cybersafe with BPI’s digital security features

Everything is going digital these days—from shopping, education, fitness, religious activities, to banking and paying bills. After all, we want to stay home and remain safe amid this pandemic. But are we safe online?  

To provide a safe and secure banking experience, BPI encourages you to be more vigilant in protecting your information and accounts, and use the bank’s security features.

Here’s what you can do to be cyber-secure:

1. Activate Mobile Key.

BPI's Mobile Key is a secure alternative to the One-Time PIN (OTP). With the Mobile Key, you can authenticate transactions with biometrics. The Mobile Key allows you to do your bills payments, funds transfers to third parties, and InstaPay transfers safely and conveniently.

2. Enable biometric login.

Make things private and personal when accessing your online banking account. Do this by using biometrics via the BPI Mobile app. With BPI’s “Set Fingerprint/Face ID Login” feature, you can have your mobile device scan your fingerprint (for example, your thumbprint), or use the camera to activate facial recognition for secure access to your accounts.

3. Link a device to your account.

One online account can be linked to one mobile device, providing you additional security. Plus, transaction notifications are sent to this linked mobile device. Mobile Key will also work only on your linked device. When using the BPI Mobile app, link your trusted mobile phone, a device that only you should be using, to your account.

4. Know how to use the One-Time PIN (OTP).

For those not using mobile banking and have not activated Mobile Key, we’ve made your online banking experience safe through the One-Time PIN (OTP) sent via SMS. The OTP you receive is unique to a single transaction. Read the text message and you will find the transaction details, including the amount that you are about to transfer or pay. Once you enter the OTP, that means you have given your approval to process and complete the transaction. So read the message carefully and never share your OTP to anyone.

5. Set up your notifications and alerts.

Turn on your email login notification. You can now keep track of your login activities. You will receive an email for every successful login to your account. Hence, we encourage you to periodically review your e-mail messages.

We have also provided the “last login” date and time in the main menu of both Online and Mobile App page. This will allow you to know if somebody else has logged in your account. As a security habit, check the “last log in” every time you log in to BPI Online or BPI Mobile app.

An additional protection provided for you in the BPI Online accounts is the transaction confirmation email. Get notified via email for every successful transaction made using your account.

Finally, you may also activate BPI’s ATM Withdrawal Alerts. Receive email or SMS notifications whenever a certain amount is withdrawn from your account.

6. Be more secure with Card Control Settings.

Manage your card usage and security via the Card Control Settings. By setting your maximum ATM withdrawal amounts, debit purchase limits, or allowing international access or not, you can control your threshold on security risk exposure. Through the card control feature, you can also temporarily block or unblock your card so no one can use your card but you.

Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. Let’s all do our part in keeping our data and accounts safe.

Published on April 1, 2020