Security Bank vs RCBC — Quick Comparison
Both are solid mid-tier Philippine banks that compete hard against the "big 3" (BDO, BPI, Metrobank) on specific products rather than trying to out-scale them on branch count. Security Bank leans into savings interest; RCBC leans into card variety.
| Feature | Security Bank | RCBC |
|---|---|---|
| Savings interest rate | Higher (Complete Savings) | Standard |
| Credit card variety | Fewer, cashback-focused | Wide co-brand lineup |
| First credit card friendliness | More accessible | Varies by card |
| Airline/retail co-branded cards | Limited | Multiple partnerships |
| Mobile app | Solid | Solid |
Security Bank — Best for Savings Interest
Security Bank's Complete Savings and related high-yield savings products are positioned to pay meaningfully more than the standard savings rate at most traditional Philippine banks. For Filipinos parking emergency funds or medium-term savings who still want the safety of a traditional bank (rather than a digital-only bank), Security Bank's savings rate advantage is the clearest reason to open an account here over RCBC.
RCBC — Best for Credit Card Variety
RCBC has built out one of the wider credit card portfolios among Philippine mid-tier banks — co-branded cards with airlines, retail partners, and lifestyle brands that let cardholders match a card to their specific spending pattern rather than settling for a generic cashback card. If you fly a specific airline often, shop at a specific retail partner regularly, or want a card tuned to a particular lifestyle category, RCBC's lineup is worth comparing directly against the bigger banks' card offerings too.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Security Bank if: your priority is a straightforward, higher-interest savings account, or you want an accessible first credit card with simple cashback rewards.
Choose RCBC if: you want a credit card tied to a specific airline, retailer, or lifestyle category, and you're comfortable comparing several co-branded options to find the best match.
Consider both: Parking savings at Security Bank for the rate while holding an RCBC co-branded card for a specific spending category is a reasonable combination — neither requires abandoning your primary bank relationship elsewhere.
Your 5-Step Decision Guide
Decide if savings rate or card rewards matters more
Parking savings: Security Bank. Optimizing a specific spending category with a card: RCBC.
Check RCBC's co-branded card list against your habits
If you fly a specific airline or shop a specific retailer often, a matching RCBC co-brand card can outperform a generic cashback card.
Compare Security Bank's Complete Savings rate against your current bank
If your existing savings account pays close to 0%, moving idle funds to Security Bank is a low-effort upgrade.
Check income requirements before applying for a card
Security Bank's cashback cards tend to be more accessible for first-time applicants; some RCBC co-brand cards carry higher requirements.
Hold both if your needs span savings and specific card rewards
Both are free to maintain with standard balance requirements — there's no cost penalty to using each bank for what it does best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Active promo codes and card discounts for both banks, updated regularly on TipidNation.