BDO trends on Twitter over P2 withdrawal fee report

Confusion over a report in an online column that Banco De Oro would soon be charging P2 for withdrawals from its automated teller machines sparked a Twitter frenzy Monday, making BDO a trending topic on the micro-blogging site.   Enraged Twitter users cited a column written by Vic Agustin on the Interaksyon website that read: “Starting September 1, it will cost a BDO depositor P2 every time he/she withdraws his/her own money from any BDO terminal.”   Netizens reacted angrily to the news, quickly assuming that the charge covers all deposits, including savings and checking accounts. A flurry of tweets on the issue quickly made BDO and ATM trending topics on Twitter.  

But what was actually flashing on the screens of BDO automated teller machines nationwide was a “Cash Card Advisory” with the following notice: “Effective September 1, 2012, Cash Card withdrawals from BDO ATMs shall be charged Php 2.00 per transaction. Thank you very much.”     An official of the universal bank confirmed to GMA News Online that the transaction fee is only for its cash cards, or reloadable prepaid cards that can be bought over the counter. ”We were surprised because we made an advance announcement on this as levied on cash cards, not ATM cards,” said Jaime Nasol, head of BDO's cash management services. “It was clear in the advisory that it only applies to cash cards.”   Nasol said BDO is imposing transaction fees on reloadable cards because of the rising costs of cash handling.   Interaksyon later apologized for the confusion on Twitter, and Agustin revised his column to reflect the actual advisory from the bank.   “The fee does NOT apply to every BDO depositor's ATM transaction, as Cocktales had mistakenly reported earlier. Cocktales regrets the error, and apologizes to BDO and its depositors for the confusion,” Agustin wrote. - Marc Jayson Cayabyab/YA, GMA News