BDO launches self-service forex machine at NAIA 3

MANILA, Philippines — BDO Unibank Inc. has introduced a self-service foreign exchange machine at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, allowing arriving passengers to convert U.S. dollars, euros and Japanese yen into Philippine pesos without teller assistance, the bank said.

The machine is located shortly after immigration clearance and the arrival gates, in front of the BDO branch, according to the bank.

BDO said the service is available around the clock and can accept up to 30 foreign-currency banknotes in a transaction.

The machine authenticates banknotes, provides a transaction receipt and dispenses Philippine currency in bills and coins.

The launch is aimed at travelers seeking access to local currency immediately after arriving in the Philippines, as banks and financial services firms increasingly adopt automated and self-service channels.

“Travelers today expect convenience at every touchpoint of their journey,” BDO Executive Vice President and Head of Branch Banking Group Cora A. Mallillin said in the bank’s press release.

“With the launch of the Currency Exchange Machine, we’re giving customers greater flexibility and control over their Forex needs,” she added.

BDO said customers can use the machine by selecting the currency to be exchanged, accepting the terms and conditions, scanning their passport for identity authentication, inserting their foreign-currency notes and confirming the peso amount before collecting the proceeds and receipt.

The bank said the machine is available to both foreign and Filipino travelers carrying eligible U.S. dollar, euro or Japanese yen notes.

BDO also described its foreign exchange rates as competitive. 

The rollout comes as travelers increasingly use automated services for routine financial transactions, including currency conversion, payments and withdrawals.

For passengers arriving at Terminal 3, the service provides another option for obtaining Philippine pesos without waiting for a conventional foreign exchange transaction, subject to the machine’s operating conditions and applicable terms.