I sent money from the US to a PNB seller and they still haven't received it
We bought a house and lot in the Philippines. Last week, we wired money from our US bank to the seller's PNB account, but it's still pending and hasn't been credited to the seller's account. The seller submitted the deed and the wire transfer documents we sent so the bank has the information, and also let the bank know the funds are on the way. The seller went to their PNB branch and asked for the MT103. Is this the usual process these days? It's been a week since we sent the money. Before the holiday, the seller kept going to the bank to check whether the funds had arrived (they said the transaction already shows up but it's still pending), and back then the bank didn't ask for any additional documents. Why now? Has anyone had a similar experience? Why is it so hard to send money I worked so hard for? I'm just frustrated and wanted to vent 😔
Could someone please let me know?
Many replies say it's common for banks to put large amounts on hold while they verify them. They say that if a deposit in the Philippines exceeds 500,000 pesos, or a transfer in the US exceeds 10,000 dollars, the bank may ask about the source of funds, so you should have supporting documents ready. Some people say it was done in a single day, while others say it took more than 10 days.
I recently bought a house in the Philippines (September 2026). I sent the money from Navy Federal Credit Union to a BPI dollar account, and every transfer was completed and received within a day. After starting the transfer, I had to email the BPI branch manager to tell them the amount that would be coming in and the purpose. There were no problems at all.
Most banks hold large transactions until they've verified everything It's totally normal
My client did it through RCBC. I called the branch manager ahead of time, sent a copy of the title, the sales contract/letter of intent (notarized), and the SPA authorizing me to receive the money on the owner's behalf, and applied for the AMLA COR. It went smoothly and the money arrived in 3 days. We did the Deed of Absolute Sale right away, and I received a manager's check marked 'purchase of property.' The owner is an ordinary farmer here in Palawan and doesn't even have a bank account. The money went through me, the licensed broker.
Banking is stressful right now, but what worries me is what comes after. I'm afraid the seller might take the money and disappear where you can't find them 😳😳😳 I hope the seller is trustworthy. I also hope you met them in person and checked all the documents, and that you have a reliable representative in the Philippines to deal with this seller. Foreigners need to be careful when buying land in the Philippines. Sometimes land that has already been sold to someone else gets sold again. It's called a 'double sell,' and I've heard a lot of stories like this in Palawan. Also, there are unregistered real estate brokers. Though 'registered' matters less than whether the person is trustworthy. When you're handling a lot of money, check everything even more carefully. I know an American who was scammed by someone like that a few years ago.
With PNB, send it through a remittance center. I had no problems.
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