What is Balance Protect?
Balance protect provides total and permanent disability, death, and critical illness benefits up to 200% of your credit card’s total outstanding card balance subject to a maximum amount of Php2,000,000 per credit cardholder. The benefit settles your outstanding credit card balances at the time of unforeseen events and any remainder including the Family Assistance Benefit in case of death equivalent to 10% of the credit card balance will be received by you or your beneficiary.
Death Benefit up to 200% of your outstanding credit card balance (up to 2M)
Family Assistance Benefit up to 10% of the outstanding credit card balance payable to the family of the credit cardholder upon death
No medical exam required
Benefits and Eligibility
Base Plan Benefits
- Balance Protect ensures that the loss of life of the Insured due to natural or accidental causes happening at any time zone, across any geographical border is covered with a benefit amount.
Supplementary Benefits
- Family Assistance Benefit if the member who dies is also covered by any family assistance benefit, the amount will be paid to the member’s beneficiaries or estate (if there are no beneficiaries) and will not be used to cover any outstanding loan balance.
- Non-employee Total and Permanent Disability Benefit pays a supplementary benefit amount as an advance from the base policy benefit amount if the Insured suffers from ‘Non- employee Total and Permanent Disability.’
- Critical Illness Benefit advances the payment of the base policy benefit amount if the insured is diagnosed with Cancer, Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, Heart Attack, Kidney Failure, or Stroke.
Eligibility Criteria
- All active and in good standing credit cardholders actively performing all the Activities of Daily Living ages 18-57 years old at the time of application. Individual coverage expires upon reaching age 61.
Special Conditions
Health Declaration Form
All credit cardholders will be required to accomplish a Health Declaration Form. A credit cardholder with an adverse health statement or declaration will not be eligible to enroll under the plan.
Renewal
The premium rate shall be subject to review and may be adjusted once a year on every Policy Anniversary Date. FWD will provide prior notice before any such adjustment takes effect.
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Apply online nowFrequently Asked Questions
What is Balance Protect?
Balance Protect is a Group Credit Life Insurance (GCLI) product designed to pay for your total unpaid credit card transactions up to a max of PHP2,000,000 per cardholder in the event of your death, the first diagnosis of covered critical illness, or total and permanent disability. Should there be the remaining amount in the benefit, it will be given to you or your beneficiaries.
What type of transactions are covered in charging for the monthly premium of Balance Protect?
The following transactions are included in your monthly premium computation:
• Regular Straight (Local, International, and Online retail transaction);
• Merchant Installment (0% ChargeLight Installment, Charge Now, Pay Later, Reduced Rates Installment, and Pay Later Easy Installment);
• In-House Installment (Ready Cash, Balance Transfer, Balance Convert, Pay Later Easy Installment, and SimplyPay);
• Cash Advance (Over-the-Counter and ATM); and • Continuous Billings System (Auto-Debit Arrangement).
• All fees and charges such as but not limited to late payment, finance charge, over the limit, pre-termination, interest, monthly add-on, service quasi-cash, and annual fees.
For Merchant and In-House Installment transactions, the computation of premium will be based on the principal amount.
What are the benefits I’ll receive with Balance Protect?
You’ll get:
Group credit life insurance (GCLI)
Death benefit equivalent to 200% of your total unpaid credit card transactions, max of PHP2,000,000 per cardholder. This will be used to pay your credit card amount due, including unbilled installments. Your beneficiaries will receive any excess amount after the credit card payment.
Family Assistance Benefit (FAB)
Your beneficiary will receive a family assistance benefit equivalent to 10% of your total unpaid credit card transactions, a max of PHP100,000 per cardholder
Total and Permanent Disability Benefit (TPD)
Advanced from the death benefit that will pay for your total unpaid credit card transactions, including unbilled installments, if you become unable to independently perform at least 3 out of 6 activities of daily living: 1) washing, 2) dressing, 3) transferring, 4) mobility, 5) continence and 6) feeding, for a continuous period of 6 months and it leads to permanent inability to perform these activities. You will receive any excess amount after the credit card payment. After which, your coverage will end.
Critical Illness Benefit (CIB)
Advanced from the death benefit that will pay for your total unpaid credit card transactions, including unbilled installments in case of critical illness diagnosis, provided it first occurs, is first diagnosed or, you first experienced it 90 days from the start of your coverage; and that you survived at least 14 days after the diagnosis. You will receive any excess amount after the credit card payment. After which, your coverage will end.
How much benefit amount will I be covered with?
| Benefits | Benefit Amount |
| Group Credit Life Insurance | 200% of the Outstanding Card Balance |
| Family Assistance Benefit | 10% of the GCLI Benefit Amount |
| Total and Permanent Disability Benefit | 200% of the Outstanding Card Balance |
| Critical Illness Benefit | 200% of the Outstanding Card Balance |
I have more than one SBC credit card, can I enroll all my other credit cards for Balance Protect?
Yes, you can enroll more than one credit card since coverage is per card. But all enrolled cards are subject to the maximum cumulative benefit amount per cardholder.
| Benefits | Maximum Benefit Amount |
| Group Credit Life Insurance | PHP2,000,000 |
| Family Assistance Benefit | PHP100,000 |
| Total and Permanent Disability Benefit | PHP2,000,000 |
| Critical Illness Benefit | PHP2,000,000 |
For example, if you have 3 credit cards and the total unpaid credit card transactions on all three cards is PHP600,000, you are covered for 600,000 x 200% = PHP1,200,000 for that month. If at any given month, the total outstanding credit card balance of your 3 credit cards is more than PHP1,000,000, your coverage will only be up to the maximum benefit amount of PHP2,000,000.
Who can apply for Balance Protect?
You can apply if you are:
• An active primary credit cardholder
• 18-57 years old at the time of application
• Actively and independently performing all the “activities of daily living”
“Activities of Daily Living” are daily routine tasks such as transferring, mobility, toileting, washing, dressing, and feeding that are performed on your own without the need for other’s help.
How do I apply for Balance Protect?
You may accomplish and submit the online form here.
How much do I pay for Balance Protect?
You only need to pay 0.366% of your total unpaid credit card transactions per month which will be automatically charged to your Security Bank credit card. For example, if you have a total outstanding balance of PHP10,000 on your credit card, you will be charged 0.366% x 10,000 = Php36.60 Credit Protect premium for that billing cycle.
| Total Outstanding Balance | PHP 10,000 |
| Premium Rate | 0.366% of your Total Outstanding Balance |
| Total premium total be charged | PHP 36.60 |
How many attempts will be done to charge Balance Protect premium to the credit card?
We will attempt to charge your credit card for Balance Protect only once. If it failed, your coverage will end.
What if I do not have any balance on my credit card for a particular month?
If you do not have any balance for a particular month, no premium will be charged to your credit card but your Balance Protect coverage will still continue. You will only be charged again if there’s already an outstanding credit card balance on your bill.
When will my coverage start?
Your coverage starts on the date FWD Insurance approves your application and upon payment of the first premium which will be charged to your credit card. You will receive an SMS from FWD as proof that your coverage for Balance Protect has started.
When will my coverage end?
Your coverage will end on the earliest of any of the following dates:
– On the date of death or total and permanent disability;
– On the date of payment of Critical Illness Benefit;
– On the date that you reached the expiry age of 61;
– On the date we are unable to successfully charge the premium to your credit card for a period of thirty-one (31) days after they become due;
– On the date we approve your request to cancel your coverage;
What will happen to my Balance Protect coverage if my credit card account becomes delinquent?
Your coverage will automatically end when your SBC credit card becomes delinquent. You will be considered in default or delinquent if your card or any credit facility with Security Bank Corporation has no payment for the minimum amount due and/or past due amount. Once your card becomes active, you may reinstate your coverage 6 months from the date when your coverage has ended.
You may reapply and submit the online form here.
What is not covered by Balance Protect?
No Death Benefit will be payable within the first year from the start of coverage if the cause of death is proven to be suicide while sane. Death Benefit will be payable if the suicide is committed while insane.
No benefits for Total and Permanent Disability will be payable when the claim arises from any of the following:
• Drugs or alcohol abuse
• Loss of independent existence or the inability to perform without the continuous assistance of another person at least three (3) of the Activities of Daily Living for a continuous period of at least six (6) months and leading to a permanent inability to perform the same.
• Pre-existing condition
• Suicide or self-inflicted act
• Unlawful acts
• War or any act of war (whether declared or not), or any civil or military uprising
No benefits for Critical Illness Benefit will be payable if the condition is diagnosed, the sign or symptoms leading to diagnosis became known to you, or the sign or symptoms would have been known to a reasonable person in your home within 90 days after the latest of the start of your coverage or date of the last reinstatement.
No benefits for critical illness will also be payable when the claim arises from any of the following:
• Drugs or alcohol abuse
• Loss of independent existence or the inability to perform without the continuous assistance of another person at least three (3) of the Activities of Daily Living for a continuous period of at least six (6) months and leading to a permanent inability to perform the same.
• Pre-existing condition
• Suicide or self-inflicted act
• Unlawful acts
• War or any act of war (whether declared or not), or any civil or military uprising
What is a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing condition is a condition which you have previously received medical advice for, consultation or treatment; whose signs or symptoms are evident; or you are reasonably expected to be aware of, even if you did not seek medical advice, consultation or treatment prior to the start of your coverage or date of the last reinstatement.
Who can be my beneficiary?
You may appoint one or more beneficiaries and you may decide how much benefit each beneficiary will receive. However, all benefits will first be used to pay for unpaid credit card transactions. Any excess amount after the credit card payment will be given to you or your beneficiaries.
What will happen if I do not appoint any beneficiary?
If you did not appoint any beneficiary or your appointed beneficiary is not alive, the excess amount after the credit card payment will be given to one of your surviving family members in the following order: 1) legal spouse; 2) legitimate children; 3) illegitimate children; 4) parents; 5) brothers and sisters; or half-brothers and half-sisters. If there are no valid beneficiaries alive, we will pay the amount to your estate.
How will I or my beneficiaries receive the benefit amount?
The benefit amount will be deposited to your nominated bank account on our records. You may also request for cheque payment.
How to make a claim?
We will provide you with a list of forms needed to be filled out to make a claim. Claims must be made on forms of FWD which are downloadable on SBC and FWD’s website.
What are the documents needed to file a claim?
You may refer to the list of claims documents below.
Death Claim
1. Original copy of the Certified True Copy of Death Certificated of the Insured cardholder by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) or Original copy issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority
2. Claimants Statement Form
3. Attending Physician Statement Form
4. Proof of Relationship
a. PSA Marriage Certificate of insured and spouse beneficiary
b. Birth certificate if the beneficiary is parent, child, or sibling
5. Copy of Beneficiary’s government-issued ID with date of birth, photo, and signature
Disability Claim
1. Claimants Statement Form
2. Attending Physician Statement Form
3. Complete Medical/Hospital Records which include Admitting History Record, Clinical Abstract, Discharge Summary, Diagnostic tests, results of operations, etc.
4. If due to accident:
a) Copy of Policy Report or Policy Traffic Incident Report if any.
b) Copy of Driver’s License if the accident happened while the insured borrower is driving
5. Copy of Insured cardholder’s government-issued ID with the date of birth, photo, and signature
Critical Illness Claim
1. Claimants Statement Form
2. Attending Physician Statement Form
3. Complete Medical/Hospital Records which include Admitting History Record, Clinical Abstract, Discharge Summary, Diagnostic tests, results of operations, etc.
4. If due to accident:
a) Copy of Policy Report or Policy Traffic Incident Report if any.
b) Copy of Driver’s License if the accident happened while the insured borrower is driving
5. Copy of Insured cardholder’s government-issued ID with the date of birth, photo, and signature
Additional requirements may be requested as necessary to process the claim.
What will happen if I or my beneficiaries submitted incomplete claim requirements?
FWD shall contact the beneficiary/claimant via email or mobile number for any lacking requirements.
How long is the processing before the benefit is released?
Processing takes about 7 days from receipt of complete requirements. However, for contestable claims where FWD may have a reason to treat the benefit as never having existed due to some incorrect information provided, processing may take 30 days.
How can I or my beneficiaries verify the status of the claim we filed?
You may inquire or follow up with [email protected], chat at fwd.com.ph, or call FWD Claims Connect at +632 8888 8393 local 7154.
Fine print
Terms and Conditions
BALANCE PROTECT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The “Bank” or “Policyholder”, wherever used below, shall refer to Security Bank Corporation, while “Insured” or “cardholder” shall refer to credit cardholder eligible for the group credit life insurance. “Total Outstanding Card Balance” is defined as c/o SBC “Master Policy” refers to the Group Insurance Policy entered into by Security Bank Corporation with FWD Life Insurance Corporation.
Benefits
Balance Protect a benefit which is equal to 200% of the Total Outstanding Card Balance up to a maximum of Php 2,000,000, is payable to SBC in the event of the Insured cardholder’s death due to accident or natural causes during the coverage period.
Family Assistance Benefit (FAB) a benefit which is equal to 10% of the Total Outstanding Card Balance up to a maximum of Php100,000, is payable to the Insured cardholder’s family upon the death of the credit cardholder.
Total and Permanent Disability Benefit (TPD) a benefit advanced from the Balance Protect which is equal to 200% of the Total Outstanding Card Balance up to a maximum of Php2,000,000, is payable to SBC if the Insured cardholder suffers from loss of independent existence. This means that the Insured Cardholder cannot perform at least 3 of the following 6 activities of daily living for a continuous period of at least six months and leading to a permanent inability to perform these activities:
– Washing
– Mobility
– Dressing
– Continence
– Transferring
– Feeding
Group Critical Illness Benefit (GCIB) a benefit advanced from the Balance Protect which is equal to 200% of the Total Outstanding Card Balance up to a maximum of Php2,000,000, is payable to SBC if the Insured cardholder is diagnosed with a critical illness, if the critical illness first occurs, is first diagnosed or, symptoms leading to the diagnosis of the critical illness are first experienced by the Insured after the 90-day no claim period; and the member survives at least 14 days after the diagnosis of the critical illness.
Critical illness covered:
| 1. Cancer |
A malignant tumor is characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of malignant cells with invasion and destruction of normal tissue. The Cancer must be confirmed by histological evidence of malignancy by an oncologist or pathologist acceptable to us. The following are excluded: – tumors showing the malignant changes of carcinoma-in-situ and tumors which are histologically described as pre-malignant or non-invasive, including, but not limited to: – carcinoma-in-situ of the breasts and – cervical dysplasia CIN-1, CIN-2, and CIN-3 – all of the following types of skin cancer, unless there is evidence of metastases: – hyperkeratosis – basal cell and squamous skin cancers, and – melanomas of less than 1.5mm Breslow thickness, or less than Clark Level 3 – prostate cancers which are histologically described as TNM Classification T1a or T1b or prostate cancers of another equivalent or lesser classification – T1N0M0 papillary micro-carcinoma of the thyroid less than 1 cm in diameter – papillary micro-carcinoma of the bladder – chronic lymphocytic leukemia less than RAI stage 3 – all tumors in the presence of HIV infection, and – tumors of the ovary classified as T1aN0M0, T1bN0M0 or FIGO 1A, FIGO 1B. |
| 2. Coronary artery bypass grafting |
The actual undergoing of open-heart surgery to correct the narrowing or blockage of one or more of the coronary arteries with bypass grafts. Angiographic evidence of significant coronary artery obstruction must be provided and the procedure must be considered medically necessary by a cardiologist acceptable to us. Angioplasty and all other intra-arterial, catheter-based techniques, keyhole, or laser procedures are excluded. |
| 3. Myocardial infarction (heart attack) |
Death of a portion of the heart muscle arising from inadequate blood supply to the relevant area. The diagnosis must be met by three (3) or more of the following five (5) criteria, which are consistent with a new heart attack: – a history of typical chest pain – new electrocardiogram (ECG) changes proving infarction – diagnostic elevation of cardiac enzyme CK-MB – cardiac troponin T or I at 0.5ng/ml and above, or – left ventricular ejection fraction less than 50%, measured three (3) months or more after the event. |
| 4. Renal failure (kidney failure) | Chronic irreversible failure of both kidneys, requiring either permanent renal dialysis or kidney transplantation. |
| 5. Stroke |
A cerebrovascular incident including infarction of brain tissue, cerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral embolism, and cerebral thrombosis, as evidenced by: – Permanent neurological damage confirmed by a neurologist acceptable to us at least 6 weeks after the event, and – Findings on Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computerised Tomography, or other reliable imaging techniques consistent with the diagnosis of a new stroke. The following are excluded: – transient ischaemic attacks – brain damage due to infection, vasculitis, and inflammatory disease – a vascular disease affecting the eye or optic nerve, and – ischaemic disorders of the vestibular system. |
Eligibility
All active primary credit cardholder ages 18 to 60 years old at the time of the Balance Protect application who is actively performing all the Activities of Daily Living.
Effective Date of Insurance
An eligible cardholder’s coverage starts upon SMS from FWD is received by the cardmember on the date FWD approves the cardholder’s application for coverage and upon payment of the first premium for that Insured cardholder.
Maximum Benefit Amount Limits
The maximum aggregate benefit amount per Insured cardholder are as follows:
| Benefits | Maximum Benefit Amount |
| Group Credit Life Insurance | PHP2,000,000 |
| Family Assistance Benefit | PHP100,000 |
| Total and Permanent Disability Benefit | PHP2,000,000 |
| Critical Illness Benefit | PHP2,000,000 |
Excluded Circumstances
Group Credit Life Insurance (GCLI) And Family Assistance Benefit (FAB)
| Suicide and self-inflicted act |
FWD will not pay any benefit under this policy if the claim arises from suicide, attempted suicide, or a self-inflicted act by an Insured cardholder within one year of the start of that Insured’s coverage under the policy. If this suicide exclusion applies, we will cancel the Insured’s coverage and treat it as never having existed, and we will refund the premium paid by the Insured cardholder. No exclusion for suicide while insane. FWD will pay the death benefit if the member was insane when committing suicide. |
| Unlawful acts | FWD will not pay any benefit under this policy if the claim arises because SBC, an Insured cardholder, or any of that Insured’s beneficiaries willfully participated in an unlawful act. |
Total and Permanent Disability Benefit
| Drugs or alcohol abuse |
FWD will not pay any supplementary benefit if the claim arises due to alcohol or drug abuse. FWD will not pay any supplementary benefit if the claim arises from Alzheimer’s disease, late stage cancer, chronic liver disease, chronic recurrent pancreatitis, coma or Parkinson’s disease due to alcohol or drug abuse: – if the condition was diagnosed; or – if the signs or symptoms leading to diagnosis became apparent to the insured cardholder within two years after coverage starts, is reinstated, or is increased (for the increased amount). |
| Loss of independent existence | FWD will not pay any supplementary benefit if the claim arises from the loss of independent existence due to psychiatric related causes |
| HIV | FWD will not pay any supplementary benefit if the claim arises from diagnosis of cancer or encephalitis in the presence of human immunodeficienct virus (HIV) infection. |
| Pre-existing condition |
FWD will not pay any supplementary benefit if the claim arises from a pre-existing condition. FWD will only pay the supplementary benefit if the member has declared the pre-existing condition in his/her application form and we have included it in our assessment of his/her application. |
| Suicide or self-inflicted act | FWD will not pay any supplementary benefit if the claim arises from attempted suicide or a deliberate self-inflicted act by the Insured cardholder within one year after this supplementary benefit’s effective date, last reinstatement date, or date of any increase in the benefit amount (for the increased amount). |
| Unlawful acts | FWD will not pay any supplementary benefit if the claim arises from SBC, or the Insured cardholder committing any illegal or unlawful act (including terrorist act). |
| War | FWD will not pay any supplementary benefit if the claim arises from war or any act of war (whether declared or not), or any civil or military uprising. |
Termination of Individual Coverage
An Insured cardholder’s coverage ends on the earliest of the following dates:
– on the date of the Insured’s death;
– on the date that the Insured is not eligible for coverage under the policy;
– on the date FWD approve SBC or an Insured cardholder’s request to cancel that Insured’s coverage under the policy;
– on the Insured’s renewal date, if this policy is canceled voluntarily by SBC or FWD;
– on the date mutually agreed by SBC and FWD;
– on the date that the policy ends.
Premium Rate
The premium rate is fixed at 0.366% of the cardholder’s Total Unpaid Credit Card transactions per month. All premiums payable shall be payable to the FWD monthly with the amount of premium due charged to the nominated credit card account.
For example, if the cardholder has a total outstanding balance of PHP10,000 on their credit card, they will be charged 0.366% x 10,000 = Php36.60 Credit Protect premium for that billing cycle.
| Total Credit Limit: | Php 100,000 |
| Total Statement Balance: | Php 10,000 |
| Unbilled Installment: | Php 20,000 |
| Monthly Premium | Php 109.80 |
Making A Claim
We will provide the forms that need to fill in to make a claim. Claims must be made on forms provided by FWD together with written supporting documents and any other information and documents that may be requested. FWD will not be able to process a claim until the information and the filled-in claim form are submitted.
Incontestability
If we discover within one year from the effective date of coverage for a cardholder, that a cardholder did not give complete, correct, or true information when the credit cardholder applied for coverage, FWD can contest or dispute coverage for the cardholder.
After this one-year period, any contest or dispute would only be made by FWD if allowed by law or jurisprudence.
Rights of Policy Examination
The Insured cardholder may rightfully access and examine the Master Group Policy within the premises of Security Bank Corporation during its regular business hours. The Insured cardholder is also entitled to a copy of the Master Policy Contract and relevant documents in paper or electric form.
This material merely summarizes the provision of the master group policy principally affecting the insured and does not in any way constitute a contract. The benefits described are all subject to provisions, terms, and conditions of the group master policy.
After this one-year period, any contest or dispute would only be made by FWD if allowed by law or jurisprudence.
SBC Data Privacy Notice
Claims Forms for Loss of Life, Critical Illness Benefit and Total and Permanent Disability Benefit
- Attending Physician Statement for Critical Illness Claim
- Attending Physician Statement for Loss of Life Claims
- Attending Physician Statement for Total and Permanent Disability Dismemberment Claim Form
- Customer Statement for Critical Illness Claim
- Customer Statement for Total and Permanent Disability Dismemberment Claim Form
- Loss of Life Claim Claimant Statement