Hi, everyone! Welcome to my review on Tonik Bank. If you’re new here, my name is Gretchen Gatan. I’m currently the managing editor of a magazine. Simultaneously, I run this lifestyle blog and online shop. I’m also the co-founder of Mama Jessie’s Kesong Puti. I’ve been working in corporate for a decade now.
And like most people, I’m trying to save up so my family and I can have a comfortable life. Additionally, I want to give my baby girl Cambria a bright future.Luckily, when I was in my early 20s, a financial advisor talked to me about the importance of investing early. So I started a Variable Universal Life (VUL) Policy with Sun Life that’s meant to be my retirement fund. Moreover, I have a Mutual Fund with ALFM under the Bank of the Philippine Islands to help grow my money as well.
Preparing for Cambria’s Future
My husband Cayo and I are very, very fortunate to already have our HMOs, our own car, and the #FraggyHome.
So our priority right now is to save up for our family—particularly Cambria’s future. We also want to continue traveling once it’s easier to bring her around.
A few months ago, during Cambria’s baptism, she received monetary gifts from her grandparents and godparents. Cayo and I discussed different options on where we could put it. Should we add it to one of our bank accounts? Do we create a new policy or mutual fund? Or do we put it in a time deposit?
Tonik Bank Review
After looking through different options, checking what other parents are doing, and hearing feedback from friends who highly vouched for Tonik, I decided to open a Tonik account. Setting it up was effortless and quick! After downloading the app, I just had to take a photo of myself to prove I was human and a valid ID. (I used my passport.) The app’s user experience was very smooth. And you could tell their tone of voice was meant for millennials and Gen Zs. Their language is far from intimidating. So it makes it easier to understand investments and finance management.
To transfer money or top up, there are different ways. You can transfer from any bank through PESONet or Instapay. Or you can do a direct online transaction through GCash, BPI, or UnionBank—this is what I did! In addition, they have over-the-counter partners like CLIQQ, 7-Connect, Cebuana, MLhuillier, and SM Business Center.
I’m not sure how long it takes for the money to reflect if you choose the other channels. But the first time I transferred directly via BPI, it took about an hour to reflect.
More Questions About Tonik Bank
According to its website, Tonik is a transformative digital bank on a mission to revolutionize the way money works in Southeast Asia. They provide retail financial products including deposits, loans, savings accounts, payments, and cards on a highly secure digital banking platform. Tonik Bank is officially the country’s first neobank to secure a digital bank license from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Deposits are insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC). So if you’re wondering if your money is safe with Tonik, the answer is yes.
Their website is very informative when it comes to answering frequently asked questions. For example, if I’ll be traveling to a country that requires a visa and I need to apply for it, I can easily request a bank certificate through the app and it should be sent to my registered email.
If I want to withdraw money, I can transfer it from my Tonik account to any of my existing banks—BDO, BPI, or UnionBank.
6% Interest with Tonik Bank’s Time Deposit
What made me decide to open an account with Tonik Bank is the interest rate of their Time Deposit. A Time Deposit is an investment where you commit a specific amount to be locked in over a period of time. In return, you get a guaranteed interest rate. If Tonik changes the Time Deposit interest rate, the new interest rate will only apply to new Time Deposits created after the new rate is effective. Old Time Deposits will always follow the rate at the time it was created.
The app shows a computation of how much you can earn depending on the amount and for how long. This is where I placed Cambria’s money from her baptism.
Some of the monetary gifts she gets in the near future, I can perhaps place in a Stash. A Stash is a savings pocket where you can add funds anytime. You can earn high interest and withdraw anytime you need it—without any lock-in period. However, the interest rate in a Stash is a floating interest. This means that if Tonik Bank changes the Stash interest rate, all Stashes will follow the latest Stash interest rate. Good thing I can constantly monitor this through their app.
Hope My Tonik Bank Review Helps!
I’m new to the neobank but I hope that my Tonik Bank review helps you decide whether or not to open an account. A lot of my friends who messaged me about it have already earned from their Stashes and Time Deposits in the past year. So I’m hoping that I can do the same for Cambria’s money!
If you have any questions, feel free to comment or send me a direct message on Instagram at @gretchengatan. Don’t forget to also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to stay updated with all things beauty, home, travel, and lifestyle.