Expressnet

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Expressnet
Image:Expressnet Logo.png
Operating area Philippines
Members 7
ATMs 2,213
Founded 1986

Expressnet is an interbank network connecting the ATM networks of seven major banks in the Philippines. It is the second-largest ATM network in terms of number of ATMs (largely due to the vast nationwide presence of BPI Express Teller ATMs) and the smallest in terms of customers and number of member banks. However, it's strength among the interbank networks and the ubiquity of BPI ATMs have given birth to the Expressnet motto: "The Powerful Connection".

At present, Expressnet has 3.5 million customers and has 2,213 ATMs operating 24 hours a day.

Contents

[edit] History

Expressnet was founded on February 14, 1986, when the ATMs of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and its subsidiary, BPI Family Savings Bank, the founders of Expressnet, were connected for the first time. The first Expressnet transaction was also conducted on this year.

Soon thereafter, in December of 1991, Landbank joined the consortium, followed by HSBC in February of 1992. Banco de Oro joined in April of 1995, BPI Direct Savings Bank, another BPI subsidiary, joined in 2000, and HSBC Savings Bank, a subsidiary of HSBC, became the latest Expressnet member on April 1, 2001.

Expressnet and another Philippine interbank network, MegaLink, formed an alliance on May 6, 1997, with the main ceremony held at Ayala Center. This meant that 2.3 million Expressnet cardholders could use their cards with MegaLink ATMs, and 2.7 million MegaLink cardholders could use their cards with Expressnet ATMs.

On July 13, 2005, Expressnet and BancNet are set to interconnect after a memorandum was signed by executives of both networks. At present, BPI ATMs advertise full connectivity with BancNet ATM cards, although other member banks have not announced their plans to implement BancNet connectivity.

Expressnet is also known for its Express Payment System (EPS), which was at first the debit card system of the BPI Express Teller ATM card. In 2005, the network expanded to include cardholders of all Landbank E.A.S.Y. (Express Access for Savers like You) and Banco de Oro Smarteller (both local and international) ATM cards.

[edit] Members

Expressnet is the primary network of the following banks listed below:

Bank Membership date ATM EPS BancNet Withdrawal limit
Bank of the Philippine Islands February 14, 1986 Express Teller Yes Yes P20,000
BPI Family Savings Bank
BPI Direct Savings Bank 2000
Banco de Oro Universal Bank April 1995 Smarteller Yes No P25,000
HSBC February 1992 HSBC ATM No No P40,000
HSBC Savings Bank April 1, 2001
Land Bank of the Philippines December 1991 E.A.S.Y. Card ATM Yes No P30,000

[edit] Connectivity

Currently, all Expressnet ATM cardholders and a majority of Expressnet ATMs are also connected to MegaLink, another Philippine interbank network. All Expressnet cardholders can access MegaLink-connected ATMs and vice versa.

However, not all Expressnet ATMs are linked to MegaLink. Prominent examples of this include Landbank and HSBC, but the BPI group and Banco de Oro are accessible to MegaLink cardholders.

Currently, Expressnet does not have access to BancNet, and Expressnet cardholders who have used BancNet ATMs (especially those of Metrobank) have complained of being charged high ATM fees. These customers do not know that they are being charged in dollars for their transactions. The same also applies in reverse. However, the phenomena only works with international BancNet and Expressnet ATMs and cards. For more information, read the following section.

An agreement was signed though between BancNet and Expressnet to interconnect. However, no BancNet ATMs link to Expressnet as of now. The first bank to make such an announcement about the BancNet-Expressnet tie-up was Chinabank, of which its sister bank, Banco de Oro, is a member of Expressnet.

Internationally, Expressnet cardholders (excluding Landbank and local BPI and Banco de Oro cardholders) are connected to Maestro and Cirrus in the cases of BPI and Banco de Oro and PLUS in the case of HSBC, as well as the entire HSBC network. Banco de Oro also has a direct link to MasterCard. Expressnet ATMs link to the same with BPI ATMs also providing access to American Express cardholders and HSBC ATMs providing access to Visa cardholders.

[edit] Warning

It is generally warned by BancNet ATMs that Expressnet cardholders must not use BancNet ATMs. This warning is put in place because BancNet is not affiliated with Expressnet, but it is with MegaLink, of which Expressnet is also affiliated with, and Expressnet cardholders using their international ATM cards risk being charged international rates.

A sample warning posted on Metrobank ATMs is posted below:

"To avoid the Cirrus/Maestro charges of $1.00 per balance inquiry and $3.50 per withdrawal, Metrobank E.T. cardholders are advised to use their cards at a Metrobank E.T. or any BancNet/MegaLink ATM. Expressnet bank cardholders are advised to use their bank's own network."

Expressnet cardholders using local cards generally cannot use their ATM cards in a BancNet ATM (usually the ATM would say that access has been denied). Expressnet cardholders using international cards at an internationally-linked MegaLink ATM (e.g. Equitable PCI Bank Fasteller ATMs) could risk being charged international rates.

Usually, when an Expressnet cardholder receives an international ATM card, they are warned of what ATMs they should not use. For example, new BPI Express Teller cardholders are warned not to use their ATM cards with internationally-linked MegaLink ATMs (the example usually given is Equitable PCI Bank) or at any BancNet ATM to avoid international charges.

The reverse also applies. For example, a Metrobank E.T. cardholder using their card at a Banco de Oro Smarteller will be charged international rates (Banco de Oro Smartellers are linked to the Mastercard and Cirrus/Maestro networks, of which Metrobank E.T. cards are affiliated with internationally). However, banks that usually issue local cards, like the Philippine subsidiary of United Overseas Bank, will just be denied access. It can also be possible for MegaLink-affiliated international ATM cards to be charged international rates. For example, an Equitable PCI Fasteller cardholder could be charged international rates for using an HSBC ATM since both the ATM card and the ATM are linked to PLUS rather than local rates since both the ATM card and the ATM are MegaLink affiliates (HSBC ATMs by default are linked to Expressnet).

The risk is dependent on the type of card used. There are two classifications of Expressnet cards: local and international. A list of cards is provided below.

  • Local cards
    • Banco de Oro
      • BDO Junior Savers Card
      • BDO Power Teens Card
      • BDO Smarteller Card
    • Bank of the Philippine Islands
      • BPI Express Teller Card (before 1997)
    • Landbank
      • Landbank E.A.S.Y. Card
      • Landbank E-Card
  • International cards
    • Banco de Oro
      • BDO International ATM Card
    • Bank of the Philippine Islands
    • HSBC
      • HSBC ATM Card

The issue; however, is set to become moot after BancNet and Expressnet have agreed to interconnect.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


Philippine interbank networks Philippine interbank networks
BancNet | ENS | Expressnet | MegaLink | Nationlink


Interbank networks by region
Multiregional:

Cirrus | Maestro | PLUS
Africa:

CashNet | Interswitch | SASWITCH
Asia Pacific:

1Link | ALTO | Artajasa | atm5 | ATM BCA | ATM Bersama | ATM BII (Superkasa) | BancNet | Bankline | Cashnet | CashTree | ENS | ETC | Expressnet | Himbara | JETCO | Link | MEPS | MegaLink | MITR | MNET | Nationlink | Sanwa | UnionPay | Yucho | FISC
Caribbean:

ATH | Midas | Unired
Europe:

4B | Altın Nokta | BankAxept | Bankomat | BKM | Cash Group | CB | DIAS | Eufiserv | Euronet | LINK | Multibanco | Ortak Nokta | Otto. | ServiRed | StarNet
Middle East:

123 | BANCS | Bankernet | CSC | JoNet | NAPS | OmanSwitch | Shetab | SPAN | UAE Switch
North America:

Abby | ACCEL/Exchange | Access 24 | Advantage | Alaska Option | Alert | Allpoint | Annie | ARN | Award | BankMate | BOH | Cash Station | Checkokard | CO-OP | Credit Union 24 | Credomatic | Discover Network | Easy Answer | Express | Express Teller | Fastbank | Gulfnet | HandiBank | Handy 24 | Honor | Instant Cash | Instant Teller | Interlink | Interac | Jeanie | KETS | LYNX | MAC | Magic Line | Member Access Pacific | Minibank | Money Belt | Money Network | MoneyMaker | Money Station | MOST | MPact | Networks | NYCE | Peak | Presto! | Pulse | Quest | RED | Red Total | SC 24 | Service Card System | SHAZAM | STAR | SUM | The Exchange | Transact | Transfund | TX Network | Tyme | Universal Money Center | Via | X-PRESS 24 | Yankee 24
South America:

GlobalNet | Link | Redbanc | Telebanco | Unicard | Conexus | Suiche 7B | Banelco
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