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BDO Home Loan Refinance 2026: How to Apply, Requirements & Steps to Switch Banks

By the Nook Editorial Team · Reviewed to Nook's editorial standards

Step-by-step guide to refinancing your home loan with BDO in 2026

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BDO Unibank is one of the Philippines' largest and most trusted home loan providers, and refinancing your existing mortgage with or through BDO can be a smart way to reduce your monthly payments and total interest costs. Whether you're currently paying a high rate with another bank and want to switch to BDO, or you're a BDO borrower looking to restructure your loan, this guide covers everything you need to know — from eligibility requirements and documentary requirements to how long the process takes and what fees to expect.

Through Nook, applying for a BDO home loan refinance is completely free. Nook is the Philippines' first digital mortgage broker, and we work directly with BDO and other partner banks to help you compare options and secure the best available rate — currently as low as 5.99% p.a. — without any broker fees charged to you. Read on for answers to the most common questions Filipino homeowners ask about BDO home loan refinancing in 2026. Note that interest rates are subject to change; always verify current rates before applying.

BDO home loan refinancing is the process of replacing your existing mortgage — either from BDO itself or from another bank — with a new BDO home loan, typically at a lower interest rate or with better terms. When you refinance, BDO pays off your outstanding loan balance and issues a new loan in its place. You then make monthly payments to BDO under the new terms.

Refinancing makes sense when the new interest rate is meaningfully lower than your current rate, when your fixed-rate period has expired and your rate has repriced upward, or when you want to change your loan term to reduce your monthly payment or pay off your loan faster. BDO offers a 1-year fixed refinance rate of 6.00% p.a., which is significantly lower than the 7%–10% many Filipino homeowners are currently paying. For a deeper look at how switching works, see our guide on BDO home loan refinancing: how to switch banks and lower your rate.

BDO's current 1-year fixed refinance rate is 6.00% p.a. This applies to both standard home loan refinancing and home equity loans. This is among the most competitive rates available in the Philippine market today, and it is available to qualified borrowers who apply through Nook at no cost.

After the 1-year fixed period, your rate will reprice based on BDO's prevailing rates at that time. It's important to plan ahead and consider refinancing again when your fixed period ends to avoid a rate increase. Interest rates are subject to change, so confirm the latest rate directly with BDO or through Nook before submitting your application.

BDO accepts refinance applications from a wide range of borrower types, making it one of the more accessible banks for Philippine homeowners. Eligible employment types include:

  • Privately employed workers
  • Government employees
  • BPO industry workers
  • OFWs and seafarers
  • Self-employed individuals and business owners
  • Licensed professionals

Key eligibility criteria include:

  • Minimum monthly income: 50,000
  • Maximum debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: 40% — meaning your total monthly debt obligations, including the new loan payment, should not exceed 40% of your gross monthly income
  • The property must be located in the Philippines and must be a completed residential property (house and lot, condominium unit, or townhouse)
  • Your existing loan must typically have at least 12 months of good payment history

If your income is slightly below the minimum or your DTI is close to the limit, a co-borrower such as a spouse or parent can be added to strengthen the application.

BDO requires a standard set of documents for refinancing applications. Requirements vary slightly by employment type, but generally include the following:

Personal documents (all borrower types):

  • Completed BDO home loan application form
  • Two valid government-issued IDs with photo and signature
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable)
  • Tax Identification Number (TIN)

Income documents:

  • Employed: Latest 1-month payslip, Certificate of Employment with compensation, ITR (BIR Form 2316) for the most recent year
  • Self-employed: DTI or SEC registration, audited financial statements for the past 2 years, ITR for the past 2 years, business bank statements
  • OFW/Seafarer: Employment contract or POEA-verified contract, proof of remittances, crew contract (for seafarers)

Property and loan documents:

  • Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) or Condominium Certificate of Title (CCT) — certified true copy
  • Tax Declaration (land and improvement)
  • Statement of Account or amortization schedule from your current lender
  • Loan balance certification from your current bank

Nook will guide you through document preparation as part of the free application process, helping to ensure your submission is complete and ready for BDO's review.

Your savings depend on your current loan balance, remaining term, and the rate you are currently paying. Here are two illustrative examples:

Example 1 — Loan balance of 3,000,000:

  • Current rate: 9.00% p.a. over 20 years → Monthly payment: approximately 26,992
  • BDO rate: 6.00% p.a. over 20 years → Monthly payment: approximately 21,491
  • Monthly savings: approximately 5,501 | Annual savings: approximately 66,012

Example 2 — Loan balance of 5,000,000:

  • Current rate: 8.50% p.a. over 20 years → Monthly payment: approximately 43,391
  • BDO rate: 6.00% p.a. over 20 years → Monthly payment: approximately 35,818
  • Monthly savings: approximately 7,573 | Annual savings: approximately 90,876

These figures are illustrative and calculated on an amortizing basis. Your actual savings will depend on your specific loan details. Use Nook's free calculator to get a personalised estimate based on your current balance and rate. For more examples of potential savings, read our guide on how to switch to BDO and cut your monthly payments.

BDO's typical loan approval timeline is approximately 30 days from the submission of a complete application. The full refinancing process, including title transfer and loan release, can take between 45 and 90 days depending on how quickly documents are gathered and how smoothly coordination with your current lender proceeds.

Here is a general timeline breakdown:

  • Days 1–5: Application submission and initial document review by BDO
  • Days 6–15: Property appraisal by BDO's accredited appraiser
  • Days 16–30: Credit evaluation and loan approval
  • Days 31–60+: Loan documentation, signing, title annotation, and release of proceeds to pay off your existing lender

The process moves faster when your documents are complete and your property title is clean. Nook helps you prepare a complete application upfront to avoid delays caused by missing or incorrect documents.

Refinancing is not cost-free — there are standard fees involved, and it's important to factor these into your savings calculation to determine your break-even point. Common fees you may encounter include:

  • Appraisal fee: Typically 3,500 to 5,000, charged by BDO's accredited appraiser
  • Processing fee: May apply depending on BDO's current promotion; confirm at time of application
  • Documentary stamp tax (DST): 1.5% of the loan amount
  • Mortgage registration fee: Based on a schedule set by the Register of Deeds
  • Notarial fees: Typically 1,000 to 3,000
  • Prepayment penalty from your current bank: Some banks charge a penalty of 1%–3% of the outstanding balance if you settle early; check your current loan contract

Nook's service to you as the borrower is completely free — we do not charge broker fees or processing fees on top of what the bank requires. Our goal is to help you calculate your total cost of switching so you can make an informed decision.

Yes. BDO accepts refinancing applications from borrowers who currently have a home loan with any other Philippine bank or lending institution, including BPI, Metrobank, Security Bank, PNB, RCBC, UnionBank, Chinabank, PSBank, EastWest Bank, Landbank, UCPB, and Pag-IBIG (HDMF). This is commonly called a bank-to-bank refinance or loan take-out.

In a bank-to-bank refinance, BDO releases funds directly to your current lender to pay off your outstanding balance. Your current lender then releases the original title and cancels the existing mortgage annotation, and BDO registers a new mortgage in its favor. You will need a loan balance certification and statement of account from your current bank as part of the BDO application.

If you're currently with Pag-IBIG, the process is similar but may involve additional coordination with HDMF to release the title. Nook can help manage this coordination as part of the application process.

BDO offers a strong refinance product with a competitive rate of 6.00% p.a., broad eligibility across employment types, and a reliable approval timeline of around 30 days. For many Filipino homeowners, BDO will be an excellent choice — particularly if you already have an existing relationship with the bank or if your property is located in an area where BDO has strong appraisal coverage.

That said, the best approach is always to compare multiple banks before committing. Different banks have different rate structures, appraisal methodologies, and approval criteria, and the lowest advertised rate isn't always the best deal once fees are factored in. Nook gives you access to multiple partner banks — including BDO — in a single free application, so you can see competing offers side by side and choose the one that genuinely saves you the most money. You can also explore what switching away from BDO looks like in our guide on how to switch from BDO and cut your rate.

Starting your BDO refinance application through Nook takes less than 10 minutes. Here's how the process works:

  1. Submit your details online: Fill in your current loan balance, monthly income, property details, and contact information on Nook's secure digital platform at nook.com.ph.
  2. Get a free savings estimate: Nook will immediately show you how much you could save by refinancing to BDO's 6.00% rate versus your current rate.
  3. Prepare your documents: Nook provides a personalised document checklist and guides you through what's needed based on your employment type.
  4. Submit to BDO: Nook submits your complete application to BDO on your behalf. You won't need to visit a branch or deal with paperwork alone.
  5. Track your application: Nook keeps you updated throughout the 30-day approval process and coordinates with BDO on your behalf.
  6. Loan release and savings begin: Once approved, BDO pays off your existing lender and your new lower-rate loan begins.

Nook's service is 100% free to you as the borrower. There are no hidden fees. Ready to find out how much you can save? Apply now at nook.com.ph.

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