NAGA CITY -– With the merger of two of the Philippines’ largest banks, Banco de Oro Universal Bank and Equitable PCIBank (EPCI), all branches of the two banks are now undergoing an integration process and will involve consolidation of some branches, as well as transfer of accounts for more efficient servicing and extended banking hours.

        In this city for instance, the erstwhile EPCI Gen. Luna Branch will operate all its branch accounts under the name BDO Gen. Luna-Naga effective January 21, 2008, Leonardo G. Asinas, Personal Banking Manager announced.

        Asinas informed clients that the integration will also involve the transfer of all account information into the new BDO system although existing EPCI checkbooks would still be honoured for a period of one year from January 21, 2008.

        “Access to your account through ATM, Point-of-Sale, Internet Banking, Phonebanking and other electrpnic banking channels will, however, be unavailable from 7 p.m. of January 18, 2008 (Friday) to 6 a.m. of January 21, 2008 (Monday), Asinas said.

        He added those who are enrolled in an EPCI e-Banking facility (such as FASTNet, FASTphone, and FASTNet e-Payment) may access the BDO-EPCI electronic banking site as soon as the client’s Primary Account Number (PAN) is converted.

        For initial access, however, clients may use their existing EPCI e-Banking PAN and Password/PIN even as they may also continue to use their existing EPCI cards and corresponding PINs at all BDO and EPCI ATMs.

        With the merger, bank clients are now expected to experience added convenience with a network of more than 680 branches and 1,200 ATMS nationwide.