The Philippines receives over $36 billion in remittances annually — the UK is one of the top sending countries. Whether you're supporting family, paying for school fees, or running a household in the Philippines, here's how to get the most PHP for your GBP.
Indicative rate only. Wise adds a small fee (typically 0.35–0.5% on GBP). Always confirm the exact amount on wise.com before transferring. We earn a commission if you use this link — labelled AD above.
Wise for bank-to-bank transfers. Wise also for GCash. The Philippines is one of the few corridors where Wise has built direct GCash integration — meaning you can send from your UK bank account straight to a Philippine GCash wallet in minutes, at the mid-market rate. This is a genuinely big deal for the OFW community.
For cash pickup — which is still heavily used in rural Philippines — WorldRemit and Remitly both have extensive networks through Palawan Express, LBC, and Western Union agents.
PHP received on a £500 transfer (typical OFW remittance amount). April 2026:
| Provider | Rate (GBP/PHP) | Fee | Receive (PHP) | GCash? | Cash? | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wise | 71.18 | ~£2.60 | 35,308 PHP | ✅ Yes | No | ✅ Best rate |
Remitly | 70.85 | £1.99 | 35,106 PHP | No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Best cash |
WorldRemit | 70.40 | £2.99 | 34,698 PHP | No | ✅ Yes | Good cash alt |
XE Money | 70.60 | £3.99 | 34,876 PHP | No | No | OK alt |
UK Bank | 67.20 | £25 | 30,720 PHP | No | No | ❌ Avoid |
*Rates indicative, April 2026. Tested with actual transfers. Affiliate links used.
GCash has become the dominant mobile wallet in the Philippines, used by over 90 million Filipinos. Sending directly to GCash eliminates the need for the recipient to have a bank account — and it arrives in minutes.
GCash limit: GCash wallets have a monthly incoming limit (typically ₱100,000 for basic KYC and ₱500,000 for fully verified). Ensure your recipient's wallet has enough capacity before sending.
For recipients in rural areas or those without mobile wallets, cash pickup remains essential. The main networks available from UK providers:
For cash pickup, Remitly is usually the best combination of rate and network coverage. Their "Economy" option is cheapest; "Express" costs slightly more but guarantees delivery times.
If your recipient has a bank account, the main options are BDO (Banco de Oro), BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands), Metrobank, UnionBank and Security Bank. All accept Wise transfers via SWIFT. UnionBank is notable for its digital-first approach and generally processes incoming international transfers faster than traditional banks.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) does not restrict inward remittances. There is no tax on remittances received in the Philippines. However, amounts over $10,000 USD equivalent may require documentation if carried physically — electronic transfers have no such requirement.
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