If you don’t have any expertise in investing directly to stock market, government securities and bonds, it’s easier to consider investing in UITF (Unit Investment Trusts Funds). Philippine Banks, especially universal banks offer many types of UITF in peso or US Dollar denomination. There are Bond Funds, Equity Funds, Balanced Funds, and Money Market Funds.
These funds are managed by fund managers who participate directly in stocks trading, money market, bonds and securities investments.
Choosing the right kind of UITF will depend to each individual appetite of investing. Mostly many individual in young age chooses equity type of investment primarily due to high yield of returns. If you are still young there is more time for you to recover your investments if the market collapsed like what happen in previous global recession. For those individual in middle age, balanced fund is sometimes more applicable because this fund is putting your money both for high and low risk investments. Some people want to preserve their capital and choose less risky investments like bond fund.
Any investments involve risks from low to high. The higher the return you want to earn, the higher the risk your investment will be. Managing risk can be minimized by choosing the right kind of UITF and right timing for money to invest and redeem.
Other factors to consider before investing in UITF are Institution (Bank name), minimum initial investment required, holding period, fees such as entrance fee, management fee, early redemption fees and other fees approved by BSP (Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas).
Be aware also that UITF is not covered by PDIC (Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation) since this investment is not a deposit. UITF is regulated under BSP unlike mutual funds that are regulated by SEC. Due to marked to market investment, daily prices is subject to fluctuation depends on market condition that day. Although, historical prices is not indication for future value but historical prices indicate how fund manager or institution managed its own UITF.
The value of UITF is based on its Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVpU) of the funds which uses a marked to market valuation. The NAVpu is computed by dividing the Net Asset Value (NAV) of the fund by the number of outstanding units. The NAV is derived from the summation of the market value of the underlying securities of the fund plus accrued interest income less liabilities and qualified expenses.
Below is the list of available UITF available in Philippine Banks.
| Dollar Bond Fund (DBF) | ||||||||
| Fund Name | Institution | Curr | Min | Add | Hold | Mgt | Early Redemption Fee (%) | Other Fees |
| Part. | Contr | Period (days) | Fee(%) | |||||
| Allied Unit Performance Dollar Fund | Allied Bank | USD | 5,000 | - | 180 | 0.05 | 0.5%*NAV*remaining days/holding period or 0.5% of income whichever is lower | Third Party Custodianship Fee |
| Dollar Income Fund | Asiatrust Bank | USD | 2,000 | 500 | 180 | 1.00 | 1% flat | NONE |
| BDO Dollar Bond Fund | BDO Unibank, Inc. | USD | 2,000 | 2,000 | 45 | 0.75 | 0.50% of Original Participation Amount | Custodianship, Financial Info Services and Audit Fees |
| BDO Medium Term Dollar Bond Fund | BDO Unibank, Inc. | USD | 2,000 | 2,000 | 45 | 1.00 | 1% p.a. | Custodianship, Financial Info Services and Audit Fees |
| Bancommerce Dollar Trust Fund | Bank of Commerce | USD | 2,000 | 2,000 | 30 | 2.00 | 50% of gross earnings, except when it results in a loss to the investor | NONE |
| BPI Global Philippine Fund | Bank of the Philippine Islands | USD | 1,000 | 200 | 30 | 1.00 | .25% of the NAVPU | Custody Fee |
| BPI International Fund Plus | Bank of the Philippine Islands | USD | 1,000 | 200 | 30 | 0.75 | 0.25% of the NAVPU | Custody Fee |
| Philippine Dollar Bond Index Fund | Bank of the Philippine Islands | USD | 1,000 | 200 | 90 | 0.25 | 0.25% | Custody fee |
| ChinaBank DollarFund | China Banking Corporation | USD | 10,000 | 1,000 | 60 | 1.00 | 1.5% p.a. for first half of holding period; 1.0% p.a. during the second half of holding period | Custody and Audit Fees |
| EWBC Dollar Maximizer | EastWest Banking Corporation | USD | 2,000 | 2,000 | 30 | 1.50 | the interest will revert back to the prevailing S/A rate or (NAVPU at withdrawal date multiplied to units owned), whichever is lower | Third Party Custodianship Fee, Pre-termination Penalty, Withholding Tax |
| Infinity Dollar Long Term Bond Fund | EastWest Banking Corporation | USD | 10,000 | 10,000 | 180 | 1.00 | 50% of earnings | Custodianship Fees |
| UnionBank Philippine Dollar Bond Portfolio | UnionBank | USD | 2,000 | - | 90 | 2.00 | 0.25% flat on redeemed amount or USD 10, whichever is higher | NONE |
| ING Philippine Dollar Bond Fund | ING Bank N.V. | USD | - | - | 20 | 1.25 | 1% of Redemption Amount | Custody Fee 0.02% p.a. and other fees as allowed by BSP |
| ING Tax-Exempt Philippine Dollar Fixed Income Fund | ING Bank N.V. | USD | - | - | 20 | 1.25 | 1% of Redemption Amount | Custody Fee 0.02% p.a. and other fees as allowed by BSP |
| Metro$ Max-3 Bond Fund (Phil. Liquid Fund) | Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. | USD | 2,000 | 1,000 | 90 | 1.50 | 50% of income on redeemed amount | Custodian Fee 0.0175% p.a. |
| PNB Dollar Profit | Philippine National Bank | USD | 5,000 | 1,000 | 30 | 1.00 | 50% of the income earned if any, by the participation from the date of admission up to the date of withdrawal | Custodianship Fee of 0.0175% p.a. based on fund value |
| PNB Dollar Punla | Philippine National Bank | USD | 1,000 | 500 | 30 | 1.50 | 50% of the income earned if any, by the participation from the date of admission up to the date of withdrawal | Custodianship Fee of 0.0175% p.a. based on fund value |
| Rizal Dollar Bond Fund | RCBC | USD | 5,000 | 1,000 | 90 | 1.00 | 0.125% Flat of MV | .025% Custudianship Fee and Early Withdrawal Charge 0.125% of proceeds |
| Global $ Fund | LandBank of the Philippines | USD | 2,000 | 500 | 90 | 1.00 | 25% of earnings (net of final w/holding tax and trustee fee), but not less than US$10 | Custodianship Fees and other Fees allowed by BSP |
| Dollar Equity Fund (DEF) | ||||||||
| Fund Name | Institution | Curr | Min | Add | Hold | Mgt | Other Fees | |
| Part. | Contr | Period(days) | Fee(%) | |||||
| BPI Global Equity Fund | Bank of the Philippine Islands | USD | 1,000 | 200 | 90 | 1.50 | refer to relevant transaction processing fee | Custody fee and transaction processing cost |
| Dollar Medium-Term Bond Fund (DMTBF) | ||||||||
| Fund Name | Institution | Curr | Min | Add | Hold | Mgt | Early Redemption Fee (%) | Other Fees |
| Part. | Contr | Period(days) | Fee(%) | |||||
| Metro$ Max-5 Bond Fund (Philippine Bond Fund) | Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. | USD | 2,000 | 1,000 | 90 | 1.50 | 50% of income on redeemed amount | Custodian Fee 0.0175% p.a. |
| Dollar Money Market Fund (DMMF) | ||||||||
| Fund Name | Institution | Curr | Min | Add | Hold | Mgt | Early Redemption Fee (%) | Other Fees |
| Part. | Contr | Period(days) | Fee(%) | |||||
| BDO Dollar Money Market Fund | BDO Unibank, Inc. | USD | 2,000 | 2,000 | 45 | 0.50 | 0.50% of Original Participation Amount | Custodianship, Financial Info Services and Audit Fees |
| Metro$ Money Market Fund(Dollar Money Market Fund) | Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. | USD | 2,000 | 1,000 | 45 | 1.00 | 50% of Income on redeemed amount | 0.0175% per annum |
| PBCom Winner Dollar Fund | Philippine Bank of Communications | USD | 1,000 | 1,000 | 30 | 0.50 | 0.125% of redemption value | 0.025% custudy fee per annum |
| Rizal DollarMoney Market Fund | RCBC | USD | 2,000 | 500 | 30 | 0.50 | .125% Flat of MV | .025% Custudianship Fee and Early Withdrawal Charge 0.125% of proceeds |
| SB Secure Dollar Fund | Security Bank | USD | 10,000 | 1,000 | 30 | 1.00 | A pre-termination fee of 0.5% on the withdrawal proceeds | None |
| Peso Balanced Fund (PBALF) | ||||||||
| Fund Name | Institution | Curr | Min | Add | Hold | Mgt | Early Redemption Fee (%) | Other Fees |
| Part. | Contr | Period(days) | Fee(%) | |||||
| BDO Peso Balanced Fund | BDO Unibank, Inc. | PHP | 10,000 | 10,000 | 30 | 1.00 | 0.50% of Original Participation Amount | Custodianship, Financial Info Services and Audit Fees |
| BPI Balanced Fund | Bank of the Philippine Islands | PHP | 50,000 | 10,000 | 90 | 1.50 | .50% of the NAVPU | Custody Fee |
| ChinaBank Balanced Fund | China Banking Corporation | PHP | 100,000 | 10,000 | 30 | 1.00 | 1.0% of the amount withdrawn | None |
| Metro Balanced Fund (Metro Capital Growth Fund) | Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. | PHP | 25,000 | 25,000 | 90 | 2.00 | 50% of income on redeemed amount | Custodian Fee: 0.015% p.a. |
| PNB Mabuhay Prestige | Philippine National Bank | PHP | 100,000 | 50,000 | 90 | 1.25 | 50% of the income earned if any, by the participation from the date of admission up to the date of withdrawal | Custodianship Fee of 0.015% p.a. based on fund value |
| Rizal Balanced Fund | RCBC | PHP | 25,000 | 5,000 | 90 | 1.00 | .25% Flat of MV | .025% Custodianship Fee and Early Withdrawal Charge 0.0125% of proceeds |
| Peso Bond Fund (PBF) | ||||||||
| Fund Name | Institution | Curr | Min | Add | Hold | Mgt | Early Redemption Fee (%) | Other Fees |
| Part. | Contr | Period(days) | Fee(%) | |||||
| Allied Unit Performance GS Fund | Allied Bank | PHP | 50,000 | - | 30 | 2.00 | 0.5%*NAV*remaining days/holding period or 0.5% of income whichever is lower | Third Party Custodianship Fee |
| Peso Income Fund | Asiatrust Bank | PHP | 10,000 | 5,000 | 180 | 1.00 | 1% Flat | NONE |
| Enterprise Fund | Asiatrust Bank | PHP | 10,000 | 5,000 | 180 | 1.00 | 1% Flat | NONE |
| BDO Peso Bond Fund | BDO Unibank, Inc. | PHP | 100,000 | 100,000 | 30 | 0.75 | 0.50% of Original Participation Amount | Custodianship, Financial Info Services and Audit Fees |
| BDO Peso Fixed Income Fund | BDO Unibank, Inc. | PHP | 10,000 | 10,000 | 30 | 1.00 | 0.50% of Original Participation Amount | Custodianship, Financial Info Services and Audit Fees |
| BDO GS Fund (formerly EPCIB GS Fund) | BDO Unibank, Inc. | PHP | 100,000 | 100,000 | 30 | 1.00 | 0.50% of Original Participation Amount | Custodianship, Financial Info Services and Audit Fees |
| Bancommerce Peso Trust Fund | Bank of Commerce | PHP | 25,000 | 25,000 | 30 | 2.00 | 50% of gross earnings, except when it results in a loss to the investor | NONE |
| BPI Premium Bond Fund | Bank of the Philippine Island | PHP | 50,000 | 10,000 | 90 | 1.50 | .25% of the NAVPU | Custody Fee |
| BPI Institutional Fund | Bank of the Philippine Island | PHP | 50,000 | 10,000 | 90 | 0.75 | 0.25% | Custody Fee |
| ABF Philippines Bond Index Fund | Bank of the Philippine Islands | PHP | 50,000 | 10,000 | 90 | 0.25 | 1.00% of the NAVPU | Trustee Fee: 0.08% per annum |
| China Bank GSFund | China Banking Corporation | PHP | 100,000 | 10,000 | 60 | 0.75 | 1 % of amount withdrawn | Custody and Audit Fees |
| EWBC Peso Maximizer | EastWest Banking Corporation | PHP | 10,000 | 10,000 | 30 | 1.00 | the interest will revert back to the prevailing S/A rate or (NAVPU at withdrawal date multiplied to units owned), whichever is lower | Third Party Custodianship Fee, Pre-termination Penalty, Withholding Tax |
| Infinity Peso Long Term Bond Fund | EastWest Banking Corporation | PHP | 100,000 | 100,000 | 180 | 1.00 | 50% of earnings | Custodianship Fees but paid out from the fund as expense |
| UnionBank Philippine Peso Bond Portfolio | UnionBank | PHP | 100,000 | - | 90 | 2.00 | 0.25% flat on redeemed amount or PHP 500, whichever is higher | NONE |
| UnionBank Long-Term Current Income Portfolio | UnionBank | PHP | 100,000 | - | 365 | 2.00 | 2% flat on redeemed amount or PHP 500, whichever is higher | NONE |
| UnionBank Current Income Portfolio | UnionBank | PHP | 100,000 | - | 90 | 2.00 | 0.25% flat on redeemed amount or PHP 500, whichever is higher | NONE |
| ING Peso Bond Fund | ING Bank N.V. | PHP | - | - | 5 | 1.00 | 1% of Redemption Amount | Custody Fee 0.02% p.a. and other expense as allowed by BSP |
| ING Peso Cash Management Fund | ING Bank N.V. | PHP | - | - | 5 | 0.75 | 1% of Redemption Amount | Custody Fee 0.02% p.a. and other expense as allowed by BSP |
| ING Tax-Exempt Peso Fixed Inco... | ING Bank N.V. | PHP | - | - | 5 | 1.00 | 1% of Redemption Amount | Custody Fee 0.02% p.a. and other expense as allowed by BSP |
| ING Diversified Balanced Fund | ING Bank N.V. | PHP | - | - | 15 | 1.50 | 1% of redemption amount | 0.02% custody fee and other expenses as allowed by BSP |
| Metro Max-3 Bond Fund (Metrofund Elite) | Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. | PHP | 50,000 | 25,000 | 1.00 | 50% of income on redeemed amount | Custodian Fee: 0.015% p.a. | |
| PNB Mabuhay Plus | Philippine National Bank | PHP | 25,000 | 15,000 | 30 | 1.50 | 50% of the income earned if any, by the participation from the date of admission up to the date of withdrawal | Custodianship Fee of 0.0175% p.a. based on fund value |
| PNB Mabuhay Prime | Philippine National Bank | PHP | 100,000 | 50,000 | 30 | 1.25 | 50% of the income earned if any, by the participation from the date of admission up to the date of withdrawal | Custodianship Fee of 0.0175% p.a. based on fund value |
| PNB Peso Punla | Philippine National Bank | PHP | 10,000 | 5,000 | 30 | 1.50 | 50% of the income earned if any, by the participation from the date of admission up to the date of withdrawal | Custodianship Fee of 0.0175% p.a. based on fund value |
| Rizal Peso Bond Fund | RCBC | PHP | 50,000 | 10,000 | 90 | 0.50 | .125% Flat of MV | .025% Custodianship Fee and early withdrawal charge 0.125% of proceeds |
| GS-FI Fund | LandBank of the Philippines | PHP | 50,000 | 10,000 | 90 | 0.85 | 25% of earnings (net of final w/holding tax and trustee fee), but not less than P500 | Custodianship fees and other fees allowed by BSP |
| Growth Fund | LandBank of the Philippines | PHP | 50,000 | 10,000 | 90 | 0.85 | 25% of earnings (net of final w/holding tax and trustee fee), but not less than P500 | Custodianship fees and other fees allowed by BSP |
| Peso Equity Fund (PEF) | ||||||||
| Fund Name | Institution | Curr | Min | Add | Hold | Mgt | Early Redemption Fee (%) | Other Fees |
| Part. | Contr | Period(days) | Fee(%) | |||||
| Allied Unit Performance Equities Fund | Allied Bank | PESO | 50,000 | - | 180 | 2.00 | 0.5%*NAV*remaining days/holding period or 0.5% of income whichever is lower | Custody fee 0.02% per annum and other expenses as allowed by BSP |
| BDO Equity Fund (formerly EPCIB Equity Fund) | BDO Unibank, Inc. | PHP | 10,000 | 10,000 | 30 | 1.00 | 1% of Original Participation Amount | Custodianship, Financial Info Services and Audit Fees |
| BPI Equity Fund | Bank of the Philippine Islands | PHP | 50,000 | 10,000 | 90 | 1.50 | .50% of the NAVPU | Custody fee |
| UnionBank Large Cap Philippine Equity Portfolio | UnionBank | PHP | 100,000 | - | 90 | 2.00 | 0.25% flat on redeemed amount or PHP 500, whichever is higher | NONE |
| ING Philippine Equity Fund | ING Bank N.V. | PHP | - | - | 15 | 2.00 | 1% of Redemption Amount | Custody Fee 0.02% p.a. and other expense as allowed by BSP |
| ING Tax-Exempt Philippine Equi... | ING Bank N.V. | PHP | - | - | 15 | 2.00 | 1% of Redemption Amount | Custody Fee 0.02% p.a. and other expense as allowed by BSP |
| Metro Equity Fund | Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. | PHP | 25,000 | 25,000 | 90 | 2.00 | 50% of Income on redeemed amount | Custodian Fee: 0.015% p.a. |
| PNB PHISIX UITF | Philippine National Bank | PHP | 25,000 | 10,000 | 90 | 2.00 | one and a half percent (1.5%) of the NAV of the participation. | Custodianship Fee of 0.0175% p.a. based on fund value |
| Rizal Equity Fund | RCBC | PHP | 25,000 | 5,000 | 90 | 1.00 | .25% Flat of MV | .025% Custodianship Fee and early withdrawal charge 0.125% of proceeds |
| Peso Medium-Term Bond Fund (PMTBF) | ||||||||
| Fund Name | Institution | Curr | Min | Add | Hold | Mgt | Early Redemption Fee (%) | Other Fees |
| Part. | Contr | Period(days) | Fee(%) | |||||
| Metro Max-5 Bond Fund (Metrofund Peak Earner) | Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. | PHP | 50,000 | 25,000 | 30 | 1.50 | 50% of income on redeemed amount | Custodian Fee: 0.015% p.a. |
| Peso Money Market Fund (PMMF) | ||||||||
| Fund Name | Institution | Curr | Min | Add | Hold | Mgt | Early Redemption Fee (%) | Other Fees |
| Part. | Contr | Period(days) | Fee(%) | |||||
| BDO Peso Money Market Fund | BDO Unibank, Inc. | PHP | 100,000 | 100,000 | 0 | 0.50 | NONE | Custodianship, Financial Info Services and Audit Fees |
| BPI Short Term Fund | Bank of the Philippine Islands | PHP | 50,000 | 10,000 | 7 | 0.75 | .25% of the NAVPU | Custody fee |
| China Bank Money Market Fund | China Banking Corporation | PHP | 100,000 | 10,000 | 3 | 0.50 | 1.00 % of amount withdrawn | Custody and Audit Fees |
| Infinity Peso Money Market Fund | EastWest Banking Corporation | PHP | 100,000 | 100,000 | 0 | 2.00 | None | P100 per withdrawal, custodianship fees but paid out from the fund as an expense |
| UnionBank Peso Money Market Portfolio | UnionBank | PHP | - | - | 0 | 2.00 | No early redemption fee | PHP100 per withdrawal |
| Metro Money Market Fund (Metrofund starter) | Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. | PHP | 50,000 | 25,000 | 7 | 1.00 | 50% of income on redeemed amount | Custodian Fee: 0.015% p.a. |
| PBCom Signature Trust Fund | Philippine Bank of Communications | PHP | 10,000 | 10,000 | 30 | 0.50 | 0.125% of redemption value | 0.025% custudy fee p.a. |
| Rizal Peso Money Market Fund | RCBC | PHP | 25,000 | 5,000 | 30 | 0.50 | .125% Flat of MV | .025% Custodianship Fee and early withdrawal charge 0.125% of proceeds |
| Molave Fund | RCBC Savings Bank | PHP | 10,000 | 5,000 | 30 | 1.00 | 1/8 of 1% | Third party custodian fee 0.02% of the face value + Php25 per transfer |
| SB Secure Peso Fund | Security Bank | PHP | 50,000 | 10,000 | 30 | 1.00 | A pre-termination fee of 0.5% on the withdrawal proceeds | None |
