Naka-RCBC Checking Account Ka Ba? Baka May Credit Card Ka Na Rin!

Alam mo ‘yung feeling na parang tulog na tulog ang pera mo sa savings account? ‘Yung tipong parang naghihilik pa sa sobrang hindi nagagalaw?

We’ve all been there. In fact, I have a confession. I had a sleeping giant of a bank account.

Flashback to 2021: I open an RCBC checking account. Purpose? Fund a project. Deposit? 50k. Tapos? Limot na kasing bilis ng pag-ubos ng budget sa Jollibee.

Fast forward to early this year: “Magiging dormant na account mo!” Text message from RCBC, parang gising na gising ako bigla. Deadline? April daw.

Syempre, ayokong ma-dormant ang account ko. At saktong may project ulit, this time, pang-bahay naman! So, I dump around 3M in that account. Cheque dito, cheque doon, para sa materials.

Then boom! Not even a month later, another text message. This time, it’s about a pre-approved credit card daw!

“Call RCBC credit hotline for your pre-approved credit card.”

Natawa ako, eh. Parang kailan lang, dormant na dormant ‘yung account ko, tapos ngayon, credit card offer na agad?

Here’s the thing: I ignored it.

Pero syempre, persistent si RCBC. After 2 weeks, may pa-update na for delivery na daw yung card. And true enough, a few days later, hawak ko na siya.

Imagine my surprise when I saw the credit limit: Almost 70% of my 3M deposit!

Lesson learned? Baka may natutulog na credit card offer din sa checking account mo!

Paano Nga Ba ‘Yung Automatic Credit Card Offer Na ‘Yan?

Okay, so here’s the deal. Banks, especially here in the Philippines, are always on the lookout for new customers. And what better way to reel us in than with the promise of shiny, new credit cards?

Here’s how it usually works:

• They track your banking behavior: Yep, they’re watching. How much do you deposit? How frequent are your transactions? Do you have existing loans? Lahat ‘yan, tinitignan nila.
• They look for “good” customers: And by “good,” they mean financially responsible. Yung tipong hindi nahuhuli magbayad ng bills at may stable income.
• They tempt you with pre-approved offers: Kapag pasado ka na sa screening nila, boom! Expect those tempting credit card offers straight to your phone.

Pero wait, there’s a catch!

Hindi porket pre-approved, approved na talaga.

Kapag nag-apply ka na, dadaan ka pa rin sa usual na application process. Meaning, they’ll still check your credit history, income documents, and all that jazz.

So, Dapat Ba Mag-Grab Ng Automatic Credit Card Offer?

This is where it gets tricky. Kasi naman, credit cards can be a double-edged sword.

On one hand, they’re convenient:

• Cashless transactions: Lalo na ngayon, uso na ‘yung GCash, Paymaya, at kung anu-ano pang online payments. Mas madali mag-swipe or tap na lang kaysa magbilang pa ng cash.
• Rewards and perks: Imagine, earning points or miles just by using your credit card! Libreng flights, shopping sprees, or even cashback – pwede!
• Emergency fund: Of course, we don’t want to think about emergencies. But in case it happens, at least may fallback ka.

But on the other hand, they can lead to debt:

• Overspending: Dahil nga madaling gamitin, minsan nakakalimutan na nating gumagastos pa rin tayo. Baka mamaya, nag-swipe ka lang nang nag-swipe, pagdating ng billing, naka-jackpot ka na pala sa utang!
• High-interest rates: Kapag hindi ka nakapagbayad on time, expect na mag-balloon ‘yung balance mo dahil sa interest.
• Potential for bad credit score: Missed payments and high credit card balances can damage your credit score.

So, what’s the verdict?

It depends on you. Kung financially responsible ka naman at kayang-kaya mong magbayad on time, why not?

But if you’re still building your financial discipline, baka mas magandang mag-stick muna sa debit card or cash.

Tips Para Hindi Ka Matulog Sa Credit Card Debt:

Okay, so you’ve decided to grab that pre-approved credit card offer. Great!

Here are a few tips to keep you from drowning in debt:

• Treat your credit card like it’s cash: Kapag nagwi-withdraw ka ba ng pera, iniisip mo bang libre ‘yun? Hindi naman, ‘di ba? So, ganun din dapat ang mindset mo sa credit card.
• Set a budget and stick to it: Before you even start swiping, alam mo na dapat kung magkano lang lang pwedeng gastusin.
• Pay your bills on time: Mark your calendar! Avoid those late payment fees and interest charges.
• Track your expenses: Use an app, a notebook, or whatever works for you. The important thing is you’re aware of where your money is going.
• Use your rewards wisely: Don’t just use your points or miles for the sake of it. Make sure you’re getting the most value out of them.
• Avoid withdrawing cash: Did you know that cash advances come with higher interest rates?
• Read the fine print: Yes, I know, it’s long and boring. But trust me, it’s important.

The Bottom Line

Automatic credit card offers can be tempting, but remember, it’s still your responsibility to manage your finances well.

Don’t be afraid to say no if you’re not ready yet.

At kung mag-decide ka man kumuha, make sure you’re using it responsibly.

After all, ang credit card, parang relasyon ‘yan. Kailangan, may trust and commitment. 😉