Secured credit cards: a card without income proof
A secured card is backed by a deposit you keep with the bank, and your credit limit is tied to that deposit. Each bank's own rule is below.
| Bank | Card and how it works | Minimum deposit |
|---|---|---|
| BDO | BDO Secured Credit Card. Open a BDO savings or time deposit account at a branch with at least ₱10,000. Your credit limit is 90% of a peso deposit or 80% of a dollar deposit, and the deposit is held until 60 days after the card is cancelled and settled. BDO approves every application that meets this, for principal cardholders aged 21 to 70, with a signed Deed of Assignment. bank page | ₱10,000 |
| Metrobank | Metrobank secured card program. Applicants without employment can apply under Metrobank's secured card program, which needs a Metrobank account. Ask at any Metrobank branch for the deposit terms. bank page | - |
| UnionBank | UnionBank Rewards Secured Credit Card. For UnionBank savings depositors who have no credit card yet. You place ₱20,000 to ₱165,000 from your UnionBank peso savings account, locked for at least 12 months, and your limit is 90% of it (₱18,000 on ₱20,000). No income documents are needed; an unpaid balance can be taken from the deposit. bank page | ₱20,000 |
| Maybank | Maybank Secured card. If you do not pass the online pre-qualification, Maybank asks you to visit a branch to apply for a secured card. bank page | - |
| China Bank | China Bank Secured Credit Card. For China Bank depositors building or rebuilding credit. Apply at your branch with the secured card application form and a valid ID. The minimum deposit is ₱30,000 in a peso savings or time deposit account, or US$750 in a dollar account, and the limit is up to 85% of a peso deposit or 70% of a dollar deposit. The card runs as long as the deposit does. bank page | ₱30,000 |
| Maya | Maya Black Express. You cannot apply for it directly: Maya offers it to some Maya Black applicants who do not yet qualify. You accept with a one-time deposit of at least ₱12,500 from your Maya wallet or savings, and your limit is 80% of it (₱10,000 on ₱12,500). The deposit earns 3.5% a year, and after 6 months Maya can review you for a regular Maya Black and return the deposit. bank page | ₱12,500 |
What each bank asks a first-time applicant for
| Bank | Who can apply | Documents if employed |
|---|---|---|
| BDO | 21 to 60 years old for principal cardholders; at least 13 for supplementary cardholders; Filipino citizen or a foreigner who is a resident of the Philippines; Minimum gross fixed monthly income set per card (₱15,000 for Visa Classic; ₱77,000 for Visa Platinum) | Valid government-issued photo ID, front and back (e.g. PhilSys ID, passport, driver's license, SSS ID); Latest ITR stamped received by the BIR, or BIR Form 2316 signed by your employer (required); Plus one of: latest full-month payslip; original Certificate of Employment showing status, tenure and pay; or the last 2 statements of a credit card you have held for at least 1 year bank page |
| BPI | - | One unexpired photo ID, front and back: a Philippine government ID (passport, driver's license, PhilID or ePhilID) or a company ID from an entity registered with the BSP, SEC or IC; Proof of income, or your latest statement from a credit card with another bank bank page |
| Metrobank | 18 to 70 years old; A landline number; A PhilID, TIN, SSS or GSIS number; Minimum income set per card | A primary Philippine government ID with birth date and signature (PhilSys, TIN, PRC, driver's license, passport, UMID or PWD ID); Latest ITR stamped received by the BIR or its agent bank, or BIR Form 2316 signed by your employer; Your last 3 months' payslips; Original Certificate of Employment showing name, position, hire date and gross annual income (for employees of the Top 1,000 corporations) bank page |
| RCBC | At least 21 years old; Residing in the Philippines; Employed or self-employed, with the annual income each card requires | One Philippine government photo ID: driver's license, passport, PhilPost ID, PRC, SSS, TIN, UMID, visa or residence ID, voter's ID or PhilSys; Proof of income, one of: latest ITR or W2 with a BIR or bank stamp; latest payslip showing monthly salary; or an original COE with annual income, signed by HR and not older than 6 months bank page |
| UnionBank | 21 to 70 years old; A resident of the Philippines with a valid Philippine billing address; A postpaid line or postpaid mobile phone; A TIN and an SSS, GSIS or UMID number; Any credit cards with other banks current and in good standing | Completed application form; Copy of one valid government ID with photo and signature; Proof of income, one of: ITR or BIR Form 2316; COE or employment contract; last 3 months' payslips; proof of pension; or last 3 months' statements from another bank bank page |
| EastWest | Filipino citizen or local resident foreigner; Principal applicants at least 21 years old; Minimum gross annual income per card: ₱480,000 (EveryDay Titanium, foodpanda Visa, JCB Gold, Dolce Vita, Puregold), ₱1,000,000 (Visa Platinum), ₱1,800,000 (Platinum Mastercard); A residence landline or mobile number, and a business landline; A home or business address in EastWest's service areas (Metro Manila and listed provincial cities and towns) | Completed EastWest credit card application form; Copy of one valid ID with photo and signature (company ID, driver's license, passport, PRC, SSS, BIR or postal ID); Plus one of: latest BIR Form 2316 or ITR; COE with pay breakdown; letter of appointment; latest salary adjustment memo; last 3 months' payslips; latest service record (government); or another credit card with its latest statement bank page |
| HSBC | 21 to 65 years old; Minimum annual income of PHP400,000; A Philippine-issued principal credit card held for at least 6 months | - bank page |
| Maybank | Resident of the Philippines; 21 to 65 years old; Another Philippine-issued credit card with a limit of at least ₱30,000, held more than 10 months; Gross annual income of ₱195,000 for Classic, ₱420,000 for Gold, ₱650,000 for Platinum | Copy of an ID (PhilSys, passport, driver's license, PRC, company ID, TIN, SSS, postal, voter's, GSIS, senior citizen or other government ID); Latest ITR with a bank or BIR stamp, or BIR Form 2316; Payslips from the past month; Original Certificate of Employment; The number of an active credit card, written on the form bank page |
| China Bank | 21 to 65 years old; A principal credit card from another bank, active for at least 12 months; Filipino citizen, or a foreigner working and permanently residing in the Philippines; Regular employee, or self-employed with a business operating legally in the Philippines for at least 2 years; Gross annual income of at least ₱250,000 | Valid email address, mobile and landline numbers; Valid government-issued ID with photo and signature; Details of your other credit card, held as principal for at least 1 year; One of: latest BIR Form 2316, latest 3 months' payslips, or original Certificate of Employment bank page |
| Maya | 21 to 65 years old; Filipino citizen; Regular monthly income of at least ₱15,000; An active, upgraded Maya account; Landers Cashback Everywhere: an active Landers membership (non-members can sign up) | - bank page |
| MariBank | 21 to 65 years old; A verified MariBank deposit account; Minimum gross monthly income of ₱10,000 (proof may be asked); Open only to selected MariBank customers for now | Latest 3 months payslips bank page |
| PNB | Filipino citizen; 21 to 65 years old; Minimum monthly income of ₱10,000, with income documents; Foreign nationals can apply with the documents listed for foreign applicants | One of: last month's payslip, a Certificate of Employment showing gross income, hire date and position, an ITR, or the number of a principal credit card held at least 1 year; A government photo ID with signature (driver's license, passport, TIN e-card, SSS, UMID, PhilID or ePhilID), or a company ID signed by the company and the employee; Proof of billing bank page |
Why income comes first
Your first card is decided by the income requirement, since you have no card history yet. The table above includes every card whose bank states a minimum of ₱360,000 a year (₱30,000 a month) or less, sorted from the lowest, plus secured cards. Approval is never automatic: banks also check your employment, identity and credit record.
Start with the habit
Pay the full statement balance every month. That keeps interest at zero and builds the record that later qualifies you for cards with better rewards. Paying only the minimum keeps the account current, but interest runs on the rest at up to 3% a month; the interest calculator shows what that costs.
Cards and your taxes
Card fees and interest do not lower the tax on a salary: Section 34 of the Tax Code allows no deductions against compensation income. A self-employed cardholder who takes the 40% optional standard deduction gets it in place of itemized expenses, so card charges do not reduce tax there either.
Questions
What is the easiest credit card to get in the Philippines?
Going by stated income requirements for cards anyone can apply for, PNB Ze-Lo Mastercard (PNB), PNB Visa Classic (PNB), PNB-PAL Mabuhay Miles NOW Mastercard (PNB) ask for the least. The PNB Ze-Lo Mastercard needs ₱120,000 a year. Without income proof, a secured card backed by your own deposit is the usual route.
What is the minimum salary for a credit card in the Philippines?
The lowest stated requirement among cards open to the public is ₱120,000 a year, about ₱10,000 a month, on the PNB Ze-Lo Mastercard. Most entry cards ask for more; the table shows each card's floor.
Can I get a credit card with no income?
Yes, through a secured card: you deposit money with the bank and get a card with a limit tied to that deposit. Cards here: UnionBank Rewards Secured Credit Card (UnionBank).
Can a freelancer get a credit card?
Yes. Banks accept proof of self-employed income, such as Valid government-issued photo ID; Latest ITR stamped received by the BIR and Audited Financial Statements for at least two years (required); Business registration: DTI for a sole proprietorship, SEC for a partnership or corporation (required) (BDO's list). Each bank's page here shows its own list.
Scope: 31 cards from 6 banks ask for ₱360,000 a year or less and do not ask you to hold another bank's card first. One secured card backed by your own deposit is listed for applicants with no income proof. 13 more cards with low income floors are left out because Metrobank, Maybank and China Bank ask for an existing card from another bank.