W e n d y's D o m a i n

My husband suggested that I open my own bank account for our convenience. Even from the comfort of home, he could transfer money to me without going to the ATM machine.

I went to Woori Bank, just two buildings away from ours, last Monday afternoon. Since LeRuof was actively going around the bank, I only intended to inquire on the requirements. I don't know if it was the usual language barrier (but the man who entertained me speaks English quite well) but the man assumed I was to open an account so he asked for my Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and asked me to answer a five-question questionnaire. He then asked me to sign two papers and I got my passbook. I have a bank account without depositing any amount! I asked if I can have an ATM card. He asked me to sign another paper and press my password twice. In less than a minute, I got my ATM card! Since our intention was for internet banking, I also asked if I can do internet banking. Another paper to sign, then he let me write my preferred username. He printed out a paper for my reference and told me that I must sign up before April 23. I got my account, my ATM card and internet banking feature in less than 20 minutes.

I am sure the banking sector in the Philippines has a good reason for the strict process in opening bank accounts. But the inconvenience one has to go through can be intimidating to others and irritating to some. Even in a bank where we have four accounts, the security process in getting our internet banking feature was just too irritating to bother to have one. To this day, my husband and I use one user ID when we are supposed to have two (one for each of us). The same is true with another local bank. The woman knows me and my husband already even though we seldom go to their branch (we live out of the country) but when we requested for the online banking feature to be activated, we had to wait for five days and had t personally get back to the branch to get the paper containing the username and password. We were nearer to the head office that time (Makati) so I asked if I can get the paper there. Another extra day and they had to tell the person-in-charge in the head office that I was to get the security paper there. Too much fuss!

Will the paranoia ever go away? I remember, the banking industry's paranoia was at its top when the Jose Velarde account was discovered. I could go on and on about how I despise Estrada but the fact remains, he has ruined a lot in a country who showed so much potential... until he became the worst president ever... (paragraph out of topic, but i refuse to delete this)