After getting your monetization models up, you next need to think about how you can get paid online. That all actually depends on who or which program or customer you’re collecting money from.
There are some affiliate services like Clickbank that pay affiliate commissions through checks. In these cases, you just need to supply your full name and mailing address to get paid after you’ve reached minimum payout limits.
Many online programs and customers however, usually pay through Paypal. In general what you’ll need to be able to collect money online are a:
- Paypal account
- Credit/Debit card
- Bank account
Naturally the application steps and qualifications for each of the above-mentioned will depend on your country of residence. In general you need to find out if:
- Paypal is offered in your country
- The financial institution that has issued your debit card accepts transfers from Paypal
You may have to research on your own for instructions on how to sign up for a Paypal account and a Paypal verifiable debit/credit card in your country. Since I live in the Philippines, I can only really provide instructions on setting up these accounts for Filipino residents. Here are the steps;
Step 1: Apply for a Unionbank EON Visa Electron Debit Card
You can use a credit card with your Paypal account but if you want to avoid the hassle of applying for and maintaining a credit card, an EON account is the best way to go. EON is also a good option because it you get a debit card and bank account at the same time so after verifying, you can just add the bank account details of your EON account to withdraw your Paypal funds.
One more reason to go for EON is because EON was made specifically for people who transact online so you will have access to comprehensive support in case you encounter issues. Although you may still get blank stares from some Unionbank personnel when you ask about Paypal verification and withdrawal, if you call the Unionbank central hotline, you’ll get very good support.
To apply for an account:
1. Go to a Unionbank branch and fill up the application form for an EON Visa Electron Debit Card. Note that you may also be asked for your TIN and SSS number during application. You also need to submit two 1×1 photos.
2. Bring two valid identification cards and photocopies of both and submit with your application. Valid IDs include:
- Passport
- Driver’s License
- Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
- Police Clearance
- Postal ID
- Voter’s ID
- Barangay Certification
- Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) e-Card
- Social Security System (SSS) Card
- Senior Citizen Card
- Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID
- OFW ID
- Seaman’s Book
- Alien Certification of Registration/ Immigrant Certificate of Registration
- Government Office and GOCC ID, e.g. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP ID), Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF ID)
- Certification from the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP)
- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Certification
- Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID
- Company IDs issued by the private entities or institutions registered with or supervised or regulated either by the BSP, SEC or IC
3. Pay Php 350 for the annual fee. You will be required to pay this amount every year for as long as you decide to keep your EON account active.
4. Deposit around Php 200 into your EON account. You will need this later when you verify with Paypal.
5. You may have to wait one to two weeks for your account to be processed. You may call the bank after a week or two to inquire if your card is ready for you to pick up.
6. After receiving your card, ask the bank personnel when your card will be activated and when you can change your PIN. From what I remember, you may have to wait for 24 hours upon receipt of the card for it to be activated. Once activated, you can change the PIN given to you upon claiming your card to your desired PIN through the bank’s ATM machine.
7. After your card is activated and you’ve changed your PIN, go to www.unionbankph.com and click on the EON Cyber Account icon. Enroll your card online so you can quickly view all your transactions online.
Step 2: Apply for a Paypal account
1. Go to Paypal.com and apply for an account. The steps there are very straightforward and easy to follow so you won’t get lost. Just make sure you choose Philippines as your country and that you input the same name and address details that you used when you applied for your EON account. When prompted for the type of account you’re applying for, you can simply go for a Personal Paypal account.
2. You will be sent an email by Paypal to confirm your email address. Open that email and follow instructions.
Step 3: Get verified in Paypal
1. Log into your Paypal account and look for the link that says Get Verified underneath your name. Click on this link.
2. To get verified, you need your VISA Expanded Use (EXPUSE) number. To get that, log into your online Unionbank EON account, search transaction history and look for the VISA Expanded Use entry. The 4 numbers that appear after the word VISA is what you need. If you’re having trouble looking for this, call the Unionbank support hotline or go to your bank branch for assistance.
3. Go back to Paypal and input the 4 numbers in the appropriate blank to verify your debit card. Take note that Paypal will take $1.95 as part of the verification process. This is why you need Php 200 in your EON account. Paypal however will return this amount to you once verification is completed.
Step 4: Withdraw money to your Unionbank account
1. Log into Paypal and click Withdraw. Click on Withdraw to your bank account. This is a better option than Withdraw funds to your card option because withdrawing to your card has a steep fee.
2. If you don’t have a bank account entered into your Paypal account yet, you need to add one. Just fill in the blanks. Take note that you will be asked for a bank code. The bank code for Unionbank is 010419995. You can also add other bank accounts that aren’t Unionbank accounts. For a list of Philippine bank codes, you can visit this link.
As I’ve already mentioned though, I like to link to just my Unionbank account because I can rely on good support when I need it.
Please take note that if you withdraw to your bank account and the amount converts to less than Php 7,000 you will have to pay a Php 50 fee.
If you’re a visual person and you’re having a hard time with this long text tutorial, you might want to watch the video below for the verification and withdrawal process so you can finally get paid online. The video has a long intro but the actual tutorial which starts at about 0.26 is quite easy to follow.
