BPI Trade: Best Online Broker for Novice Trader

Online Stock Trading and Investing

NOTE: This is an old post and most of the details are not current anymore. We are not updating this post anymore since its posting on March 7, 2009. So readers are advised to go straight to the BPI Trade website for signing up and other details. Here is the link to the BPI Trade FAQs:

BPI TRADE FAQs

Getting started in online stock trading and investing is not that difficult at all. Here are the suggested steps:

1. Choose an online stock broker: BPI Securities Corporation
2. Open the required settlement or beneficiary bank account for your trading activities: BPI Savings or Checking Account
3. Apply for an online stock trading account: BPI Trade
4. Put funds into your trading bank account: BPI Express Online
5. Make your first online stock trading transaction: BUY Ayala Corporation (AC) shares

Step 1: Choose a stockbroker.

The first step, according to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) investing procedures, is to choose your stockbroker. A broker is person who acts as intermediary between a buyer and seller, usually charging a commission. They must be registered with the exchange where the securities are traded. (You may click on the images to enlarge.)

Online Brokers

The PSE has a complete list and information about all its trading participants who are authorized and qualified to trade either equity or debt securities for you. This list is also available on the Exchange's website and the PLDT directory's Government and Business listings yellow pages under the category of stock and bond brokers.

Trading Participants may also be called "Members of the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc." Online brokers are considered trading participants.

BPI Securities Corporation & BPI Trade

In our case, we have chosen BPI Securities Corporation and will use their BPI Trade services for our online stock trading and investing.

This is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI). In July 2000, the company launched "bpitrade.com", an on-line stock trading facility via internet or through wireless access protocol (WAP). "bpitrade.com" enables clients to view live stock market information, online buying and selling of stocks, access to research reports.

For stock transactions, BPI Trade charges a commission of 0.25% on the gross value of each trade, or a minimum commission of PhP 20.00.

Step Two: Open Settlement or Beneficiary Account

You will be required by BPI Trade to nominate a Settlement/Beneficiary Account. This can be a BPI savings or checking account that shall receive the withdrawals from your stock trading bank account: a BPI Direct savings account. You must also be one of the account holders of the nominated Settlement/Beneficiary Account.

Settlement Account

Settlement Account means for BPI Trade Cash Client, the bank account with BPI/BPI Family Bank/BPI Direct designated by you, into which amounts you will withdraw from your BPITrade Bank Account will be credited.

BPI Savings or Checking Account

Thus after choosing BPI Securities as your online stockbroker and before you apply for a BPITrade Account, your second step will have to be to opening a savings or checking account with your nearest BPI branch or BPI Family Savings Bank branch, if you don't have one yet. Use the BPI branch locator to find out your nearest branch.

BPI Savings Account

If you opened a BPI Expressteller Savings Account as your Settlement/Beneficiary Account, maintain an average to daily balance (ADB) of Php3,000.00 to avoid service charge. Even better, maintain an ADB of Php5,000.00 and your deposit will earn interest.

Step Three: Apply for an Online Stock Trading Account

Now, after you have opened a savings or checking account with BPI or BPI Family Savings bank, you are ready to open you BPITrade account. Here's what you need to do next:

Go to the BPITrade website

Go to the BPI Trade web site at https://www.bpitrade.com/ to apply for an online stock trading account

Apply Online

Simply click “Apply Now,” and then click “Apply Online”:

Choose appropriate Online Application Form

There are two options for the online application form. Choose between an individual account or a joint account.

Fill up the Online Application Form

Fill up the online application form with the required information. Prepare to nominate a user ID and password for your BPI Trade account.

Print, Sign and Submit Forms

Then print, sign, and bring the forms to your nearest BPI branch, BPI Family Savings Bank branch, or BPI Express Remittance Center for signature verification. .

Minimum investment required

There is no minimum investment required to open a BPITrade account. However, before you can purchase shares of stock, fixed income securities, or mutual funds, you must first deposit funds into your BPITrade Bank Account. The BPITrade bank account (“Settlement Account” maintained with BPI Direct Savings Bank) requires an Average Daily Balance of only PhP 500.00.

Monthly fees

There are no monthly maintenance fees on your BPITrade Securities Account. However, your BPITrade Bank Account will require a monthly average daily balance of PhP500.00. The average daily balance is computed as follows:

ADB = (Day 1 ending balance + Day 2 ending balance +...+ last day of month ending balance) / No. of days in the month (i.e. 28/30/31 days)

BPITrade Bank Account

For trading purposes, BPITrade shall open a new BPITrade Bank Account in your name. All credits and debits as a result of your trading activities shall be made against your BPITrade Bank Account.

BPI Direct Savings Bank

BPITrade Bank Account means the bank account with BPI Direct Savings Bank which a Cash Client is required to open and maintain, in connection with his securities transactions.

Cash Client

Cash Client means a new client of BPI Securities Corporation/BPI Capital Corporation. More specifically, a Cash Client is a new client of BPI Sec/BPI Cap who apply for the BPITrade online trading facility. The Cash Client is allowed to purchase either Equities or Fixed Income Securities up to the Available Cash balance in his BPITrade Bank Account.

All incoming cash into a Cash Client’s account (e.g. sale proceeds, cash dividends, maturities, etc.) are credited to his BPITrade Bank Account.

You will need to make an initial deposit to your Settlement Account to open a BPITrade account. These funds are to be used in purchasing stocks, fixed income instruments, or mutual funds, and do not represent a balance requirement. You may also contribute your existing stock portfolio as your initial securities in your BPITrade account.

Step Four: Put funds into your BPITrade Bank Account

Once your account application has been approved, you will recieve via e-mail your BPITrade Bank Account Number. There are four (4) ways to fund your BPITrade Bank Account.

1. Through the Branch: Go to any BPI Branch and make an Over-the-Counter deposit straight to your BPITrade Bank Account.
2. Through Expressphone or the ATM: You can transfer funds into your BPITrade Bank Account from your BPI Account or BPI Family Savings Bank Account through these facilities. Enroll your BPITrade Bank Account by calling 89-100 or visiting your branch of account.
3. Through www.bpiexpressonline.com: Enroll your BPITrade Bank Account in BPI Express Online and transfer funds from your other BPI, BPI Family Savings Bank or BPI Direct accounts. Click on “My Portfolio” and enroll your BPITrade Bank Account as an Additional Savings Account. If you are not yet a BPI Express Online client, please enroll on the website now.
4. Through Telegraphic Transfer from your bank, or through any overseas BPI Express Remittance Center (BPI SWIFT Address for Telegraphic Transfers: BOPIPHMM) .

Note that deposits made to your BPITrade bank account shall be reflected in your Cash Position in BPITrade the NEXT trading day.

Step five: Make Your First Online Stock Trading Transaction

Open the BPI Trade website, log in to your BPI Trad account using your nominated User ID and password, check your available cash position, then proceed to make your first BUY order for Ayala Corporation common stock in board lots of 10 shares.