Asia United Bank vs PBCOM: Home Loan Rate Comparison
Asia United Bank (AUB) and Philippine Business and Commercial Bank (PBCOM) are both mid-sized Philippine commercial banks that offer home loan and refinancing products. While neither commands the same brand recognition as BDO or BPI, both have been actively expanding their retail lending portfolios. Below we compare them across the metrics that matter most to a homeowner considering refinancing.
| Feature | Asia United Bank | PBCOM |
|---|---|---|
| Indicative Fixed Rate (1-yr) | 7.50% – 8.50% p.a. | 7.00% – 8.25% p.a. |
| Indicative Fixed Rate (3-yr) | 8.00% – 9.00% p.a. | 7.75% – 8.75% p.a. |
| Indicative Fixed Rate (5-yr) | 8.50% – 9.50% p.a. | 8.25% – 9.25% p.a. |
| Minimum Loan Amount | 500,000 | 500,000 |
| Maximum Loan Term | 20 years | 20 years |
| Processing Fee | 5,000 – 10,000 (estimated) | 5,000 – 10,000 (estimated) |
| Appraisal Fee | Charged separately | Charged separately |
| Pre-payment Penalty | Typically applies within fixed period | Typically applies within fixed period |
| Online Application | Partial (branch follow-up required) | Partial (branch follow-up required) |
Note: Rates shown are indicative ranges based on publicly available information and may change without notice. Always confirm current rates directly with the bank or through a mortgage broker like Nook.
Monthly Payment Comparison: AUB vs PBCOM vs Nook's Best Rate
To illustrate the real-world impact of even a half-percentage-point difference, let's look at a common refinance scenario: a homeowner with an outstanding loan balance of 3,000,000 pesos refinancing over 20 years.
| Scenario | Rate | Est. Monthly Payment | Total Interest Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia United Bank (mid estimate) | 8.00% p.a. | 25,093 | 3,022,320 |
| PBCOM (mid estimate) | 7.75% p.a. | 24,739 | 2,937,360 |
| Nook's Best Rate | 5.99% p.a. | 21,490 | 2,157,600 |
The difference between refinancing at AUB's estimated mid-rate versus Nook's best available rate of 5.99% p.a. is approximately 3,604 pesos per month — that's over 864,000 pesos in savings over 20 years on a 3,000,000 peso loan. Even PBCOM's slightly lower indicative rate still leaves roughly 3,249 pesos per month on the table compared to 5.99% p.a.
If you're comparing smaller or larger loan amounts, the principle holds: the rate gap compounds dramatically over a 15–20 year term. You can also explore how other digital-first lenders stack up — for example, see how GoTyme compares to SB Finance on home loan rates for another data point on newer entrants to the market.
Asia United Bank Home Loan: What You Need to Know
Asia United Bank is a listed Philippine commercial bank with a growing branch network primarily concentrated in Metro Manila and key provincial cities. Their home loan product is a standard mortgage offering with fixed-rate repricing periods of one, two, three, or five years, after which the rate converts to a floating rate tied to prevailing market benchmarks.
- Strengths: Established bank with regulatory track record; physical branches for in-person support; accepts both local and OFW borrowers.
- Weaknesses: Rates tend to sit at the higher end for mid-tier banks; application process is not fully digital; turnaround times can be slower than larger banks.
- Best for: Borrowers who already have an existing AUB banking relationship or prefer a traditional branch-based experience.
AUB does not consistently appear among the top-ranked lenders when Nook runs rate comparisons across the Philippine mortgage market, which is why most homeowners refinancing away from AUB tend to find significantly better deals elsewhere.
PBCOM Home Loan: What You Need to Know
Philippine Business and Commercial Bank (PBCOM) has been repositioning itself as a more digitally progressive institution in recent years, which has translated into slightly sharper home loan pricing compared to peers of a similar size like AUB. PBCOM offers home purchase loans and refinancing, with fixed-rate periods typically ranging from one to five years.
- Strengths: Marginally more competitive rates than AUB in most scenarios; growing digital capabilities; accepts refinancing from other banks.
- Weaknesses: Limited branch network compared to major banks; less brand recognition may raise concerns for some borrowers; processing timelines can vary.
- Best for: Borrowers comfortable with a smaller bank who want to step up from AUB's pricing without moving to a large bank's stricter qualification criteria.
For a deeper look at how PBCOM performs against other niche lenders, our comparison of PBCOM vs Sterling Bank home loan rates is worth reading before you make a final decision.
Refinancing from AUB or PBCOM: How the Process Works
Whether your current mortgage is with Asia United Bank or PBCOM, the refinancing process in the Philippines follows broadly the same steps. Understanding them helps you set realistic expectations on timeline and costs.
- Assessment: Calculate your outstanding balance, remaining term, and current interest rate. Determine how much you'd save by refinancing to a lower rate. A good rule of thumb: if you can drop your rate by at least 1.5 percentage points and you have more than 5 years remaining on your loan, refinancing is likely worth it.
- Rate shopping: Rather than approaching AUB and PBCOM individually (or a handful of banks one by one), Nook submits your profile to multiple lenders simultaneously and returns the best offers. This saves weeks of back-and-forth.
- Document preparation: You'll typically need your latest loan statement, property title (or certified copy), tax declaration, income documents (payslips, ITR, or BIR Form 2316), and valid government IDs.
- Bank processing: Once you select a lender and submit documents, the bank conducts appraisal, credit evaluation, and legal title review. This typically takes 4–8 weeks.
- Loan release and title transfer: Upon approval, the new bank pays off your existing lender, and the mortgage annotation on your title is transferred to the new bank.
Nook manages this process end-to-end at no cost to you. There are no broker fees — Nook is compensated by the bank, not the borrower.
Who Should Consider Each Bank?
Despite both being mid-tier options, AUB and PBCOM do suit slightly different borrower profiles:
| Borrower Profile | Better Fit |
|---|---|
| Already banks with AUB and wants a streamlined process | Asia United Bank |
| Wants lowest possible rate between these two banks | PBCOM |
| OFW refinancing from abroad | Either (both accept OFW borrowers with co-borrower) |
| Wants fastest processing | Nook (multiple bank comparison) |
| Wants the lowest available rate in the market | Nook (5.99% p.a. best rate) |
| Self-employed borrower with non-standard income | Nook (matches you to the most flexible lender) |
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Compare My Options →Frequently Asked Questions
Which has lower home loan rates — Asia United Bank or PBCOM?
Based on publicly available indicative pricing, PBCOM generally offers slightly lower fixed rates than Asia United Bank across one, three, and five-year repricing periods. The difference is typically 0.25 to 0.50 percentage points, which can translate to meaningful savings over a 15–20 year term. That said, both banks' rates are noticeably higher than the 5.99% p.a. best rate currently available through Nook, so comparing only these two may cause you to miss a significantly better deal.
Can I refinance my AUB home loan to PBCOM?
Yes, refinancing from Asia United Bank to PBCOM is possible. PBCOM accepts home loan refinancing applications from borrowers with existing mortgages at other banks. You'll need to provide your latest AUB loan statement, proof of income, property documents, and valid IDs. However, before committing to PBCOM, it's worth letting Nook run a full market comparison — you may find a lender offering 5.99% p.a. or close to it, which would save you considerably more than moving from AUB to PBCOM alone.
What is the minimum loan amount for AUB and PBCOM home loans?
Both Asia United Bank and PBCOM typically set their minimum home loan amount at 500,000 pesos. For refinancing purposes, most applicants have outstanding balances well above this threshold — commonly between 1,500,000 and 6,000,000 pesos — which puts them well within the eligible range for either bank, as well as for the lenders in Nook's panel.
How long does it take to refinance from AUB or PBCOM through Nook?
The typical refinancing timeline in the Philippines is 6 to 10 weeks from initial application to loan release, regardless of which bank you refinance into. Nook accelerates the front end of this process by handling rate comparisons, document collection, and bank submission on your behalf — usually reducing the time you'd spend shopping around by several weeks. The appraisal and legal title review stages are bank-controlled and cannot be significantly shortened.
Does Nook charge a fee to compare AUB and PBCOM home loan rates?
No. Nook's mortgage comparison and brokering service is completely free to the borrower. Nook is compensated by the lending bank upon successful loan disbursement, so there is no broker fee, application fee, or consultation charge passed on to you at any point in the process.
Is Asia United Bank or PBCOM good for OFW home loan refinancing?
Both banks accept OFW borrowers, typically requiring a qualified co-borrower based in the Philippines (such as a spouse or immediate family member) and additional income documentation such as overseas employment contracts, proof of remittances, and POEA certifications. OFW borrowers often find the process easier when managed through a broker like Nook, which is familiar with the documentation requirements of multiple lenders and can match OFW profiles to the most accommodating bank at the best available rate.
What happens to my rate after the fixed period ends with AUB or PBCOM?
After your chosen fixed-rate period expires (typically 1, 2, 3, or 5 years), your home loan with either AUB or PBCOM reprices to a floating rate based on prevailing market benchmarks, usually the bank's own base lending rate or a reference rate set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. This repriced rate is often higher than your initial fixed rate. Many savvy homeowners use this repricing event as an opportunity to refinance again to lock in a new competitive fixed rate — which is exactly the scenario where shopping through Nook delivers the most value.