Philippines BRSTN Code Guide
What a BRSTN is, how to get yours, and which Philippine banks and e-wallets take part in PESONet and InstaPay.
A BRSTN (Bank Routing Symbol Transit Number) is a nine-digit code for a Philippine bank branch. This page does not list BRSTN codes. We could not find an official public directory of them, and unofficial lists can be wrong or out of date, which sends money to the wrong place. Ask your bank for its BRSTN. What we can show, from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) participant lists dated 31 August 2026, is which banks and e-money issuers take part in PESONet and InstaPay.
Check PESONet and InstaPay participation
No institution matches. Names on the lists are legal names, so try part of the name. An institution that is not listed may still be a participant under another name.
Go Deeper
What a BRSTN Is
BRSTN stands for Bank Routing Symbol and Transit Number. It is commonly described as a nine-digit routing code for Philippine bank branches, used to route cheques and some interbank transfers. It is a domestic code. It is not a SWIFT code, and it is not your account number.
How to Get the Right BRSTN
- Ask the bank that holds the account. Its customer service, a branch, or your online banking may give you the routing details for that account.
- Use the number the bank gives you, and check it against the bank's own documents. A BRSTN can differ by branch.
- If a website gives you a different number from your bank, trust your bank.
Many banking apps ask you to choose the receiving bank from a list and enter the account number, and do not ask for a BRSTN at all. Only use a BRSTN when a form asks for one, and take it from the receiving bank.
PESONet and InstaPay
PESONet and InstaPay are the two main electronic transfer services between Philippine banks and e-money issuers. PESONet processes transfers in batches, and InstaPay works in real time. Each has its own participant list, which the BSP publishes. The PESONet list is sourced from the PCHC, and the InstaPay list from BancNet.
| Type | PESONet | InstaPay |
|---|---|---|
| Universal or commercial bank | 40 | 22 |
| Thrift bank | 21 | 20 |
| Rural bank | 45 | 20 |
| Digital bank | 6 | 6 |
| E-money issuer or payment provider | 14 | 28 |
| Total | 126 | 96 |
On the InstaPay list, most participants can both send and receive. A smaller group is listed as "receiver only", meaning it can receive InstaPay transfers but not send them. The tool above shows this for each institution.
Receiving Money from Abroad
A transfer from another country normally uses the receiving bank's SWIFT/BIC code and your account number, not a BRSTN. Give the sender your full name as it appears on the account, your account number, and the bank's SWIFT/BIC code, and ask your bank whether it needs anything else. Find a bank's BIC with our SWIFT code lookup. The Philippines is not in the IBAN registry, so there is no IBAN to give.
The Data This Page Uses
The lists are the BSP's PESONet ACH Participants (source: PCHC) and InstaPay ACH Participants (source: BancNet), both as of 31 August 2026. Together they name 152 institutions. We checked that our copy matches the totals printed in each document. The lists change, so a newer version may add or remove institutions. We last checked on 19 September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a BRSTN?
BRSTN stands for Bank Routing Symbol and Transit Number. It is commonly described as a nine-digit routing code for Philippine bank branches, used to route cheques and some interbank transfers. It is a domestic code and is not the same as a SWIFT code or an account number.
Why does this page not list BRSTN codes?
We could not find an official public directory of BRSTN codes. The BSP publishes participant lists but not the codes, and unofficial lists on other websites can be wrong or out of date. A wrong routing code can send a transfer to the wrong place or make it fail, so we do not publish one. Ask your bank for its BRSTN.
How do I find my bank's BRSTN?
Ask the bank that holds the account, through its customer service, a branch or your online banking. A BRSTN can differ by branch, so use the number your bank gives you and check it against the bank's own documents. If a website gives you a different number, trust your bank.
Do I need a BRSTN for InstaPay or PESONet?
Often not. Many banking apps ask you to choose the receiving bank from a list and enter the account number. If a form does ask for a BRSTN, get it from the receiving bank.
What is the difference between PESONet and InstaPay?
PESONet processes transfers in batches, and InstaPay works in real time. Each has its own participant list. The BSP publishes both: the PESONet list is sourced from the Philippine Clearing House Corporation and the InstaPay list from BancNet.
How do I know whether my bank or e-wallet is on PESONet or InstaPay?
Search for it in the checker on this page. Names on the lists are legal names, so try part of the name, such as "Metropolitan" for Metrobank. "Not listed" means the institution is not on the BSP list for that service as of 31 August 2026.
What does "receive only" mean?
On the BSP's InstaPay list, a receiver-only institution can receive InstaPay transfers but cannot send them. On the 31 August 2026 list, 8 institutions are receiver only.
Are GCash and Maya on the lists?
On the 31 August 2026 lists, G-Xchange, Inc. (GCash), Maya Philippines, Inc. and Maya Bank, Inc. are each listed for both PESONet and InstaPay as senders and receivers. This describes the operator's listing and not every feature of its app.
Is a BRSTN the same as a SWIFT code?
No. A BRSTN is a domestic routing code. A SWIFT/BIC code identifies a bank for international payments. Money sent from another country normally needs the receiving bank's SWIFT/BIC code and your account number.
How do I receive money from abroad?
Give the sender your full name as it appears on the account, your account number and your bank's SWIFT/BIC code, and ask your bank whether it needs anything else. Find a BIC with our SWIFT code lookup. Never share your PIN, password or one-time codes.
Does the Philippines use IBAN?
No. The Philippines is not in the IBAN registry, so Philippine accounts do not have an IBAN. You can check IBANs for the countries that use them with our IBAN validator.
How current is this data?
The PESONet and InstaPay lists are the BSP's versions dated 31 August 2026. Together they name 152 institutions, and we checked that our copy matches the totals printed in each document. The lists change, and we last checked on 19 September 2026.
Is anything I type stored or sent?
No. The search runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server or saved by this page.
