How do I open an account?

1. Download from Astra’s website, print and fill out the following forms:
   • Customer Account Information Form (CAIF) – Individual/Corporate whichever is applicable
   • Online Securities Trading Agreement (OSTA)
   • Signature Cards – Individual/Corporate whichever is applicable
2. Attach photocopies of any two (2) valid and current government-issued IDs plus TIN Card ID issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue
   Example:
   • Passport
   • Philippine Driver’s License
   • SSS ID
   • GSIS ID
   • Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID
   • Comelec Voter’s ID
   • Senior Citizen ID
   
   
   * For Corporate Accounts, kindly refer to the downloadable (Corporate) CAIF for the complete list of requirements needed.
   * For foreign citizens, kindly refer to the downloadable (Individual) CAIF for the complete list of requirements needed.
3. Submit personally the required forms & documents in #1 and #2 to: Astra Securities Corporation – Units 1204-1205 Tower One & Exchange Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Makati City 1227 Philippines
4. Once the application has been approved by Astra, we shall notify you thru your e-mail and inform you that you may already fund your account.

Is there a legal age requirement to open an account?
Yes, the individual account holder must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

What is the minimum requirement to open an account?
The minimum deposit is One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00).

When can I fund my account?
You can fund your account only upon approval of the application to open an online account with Astra.

How do I fund my AstraSecOnline account?
You can fund your account through any of the following options:

1. BDO – Over-the-Counter Payment
   Account Details:
   Astra Securities Corporation
   BDO S/A # 3600-001811 (Ayala Triangle Branch)
2. BDO – Online Banking “Transfer Money” Facility (for Individual accounts)
   (Maximum amount per transaction for transferring money to Astra’s BDO Savings Account is P250,000 per day)
   
   Fax or e-mail a scanned copy of the deposit slip to Astra.
    

When can I start trading?
Once account opening requirements has been approved, we will send an e-mail notification that you can start funding you account. Once deposited funds are cleared, you will be sent an e-mail notification with details containing your Trading Account # and Identification Code. Clearing of funds deposited to our BDO S/A Account can take 1-3 business days depending on your bank’s clearing time. Register and activate your online account. Once you see the funds you deposited is already reflected in your online account, you can therefore begin to trade.

How do I pay for my stock purchases?
A customer’s cash account with AstraSecOnline will serve as the payment source for stock purchases. The customer can only buy either less than or equal to his available cash balance. Any proceeds generated by any sale of stock will automatically be credited into the customer’s cash account. If the customer wants to add funds, just deposit to Astra’s BDO Savings Account and wait until funds are cleared.

Do you provide margin facilities?
No.

How can I view my orders?
To view your orders, click on the Order Book icon. You will see all your posted orders and their status.

Can I cancel or edit an order?
Yes, you may cancel or edit open orders. To do this, simply click on the Order Book icon on the Function Menu Bar, right click on the order you want to cancel/modify and select the desired action.

Can I place an order during off-hours?
Yes, off-hours posting of orders can be done. It will just be queued with Astra’s system and sent to PSE when market opens at 9:00 AM the next business day.

Can I still place an order if I do not have access to a computer/internet?
Yes. You can call our traders at (632) 848-6421 to 23 and ask for assistance in posting your order.

How do I check my stock positions and account balances?
Click PORTFOLIO on the Function Menu Bar and select “My Portfolio”.

How do I receive my cash/stock dividends?
You will receive a credit memo (CM) reflecting the credit of the cash dividend and stock credit memo (SCM) reflecting the credit of the stock dividend which can also be seen on your account ledger / Statement of Account (SOA) sent to you monthly.

What are the fees charged for executing trades?
The following lists the corresponding charges for buying and selling transactions:
FOR BUYING AND SELLING:

FEE	AMOUNT	REMARKS
Commission	.25%	Of the Gross Trade Amount
Value Add Tax (VAT)	12%	Of Commission
Philippine Stock Exchange Transaction Fee (PSE Trans Fee)	.005%	Of the Gross Trade Amount
Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines Fee (SCCP)	.01%	Of the Gross Trade Amount

Sales Tax

No. of Shares x Price x .005

* Note: The Commission fee has a minimum charge of P45.00 per transaction. And if you require a broker-assisted trade, the commission charge is .5% of the Gross Trade Amount
EXAMPLE:
Buying – Total fees for buying 20,000 shares of ALI at Php5.00/share

FEE	COMPUTATION	AMOUNT
Commission	(20,000 x P5.00) x .25%	P250.00
VAT	P250 x 12%	P30.00
PSE Trans Fee	(20,000 x P5.00) x .005%	P5.00
SCCP	(20,000 x P5.00) x .01%	P10.00
Total		P295.00

Selling – Total fees for selling 20,000 shares of ALI at Php5.20/share

FEE	COMPUTATION	AMOUNT
Commission	(20,000 x P5.00) x .25%	P250.00
VAT	P250 x 12%	P30.00
PSE Trans Fee	(20,000 x P5.00) x .005%	P5.00
SCCP	(20,000 x P5.00) x .01%	P10.00
Total		P295.00

Can I deposit my stock certificates / convert from stock certificates to scripless form? (Lodgment)
Yes, stock certificates can be lodged or ‘deposited’ into your account as long as the name appearing on the stock certificate is the same as your account name in Astra. You may submit the duly endorsed stock certificates to our office at Units 1204-1205 Tower One & Exchange Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. The certificates will be submitted to the Transfer Agent for processing which can take around 3 business days to clear (depending on the speed of the clearing process of the Transfer Agent/PCD and if there are no discrepancies with the requirements submitted).

Make sure that there’s signature at the back of the stock certificate/s. Signatures appearing in the Signature Cards, 2 valid and current government-issued ID’s and stock certificates should all be the same.

A processing/lodgment fee will be charged by PCD which we will debit from your account:
P100 transfer fee per stock
P20 cancellation fee per certificate + 12% VAT for non-bank transfer office

Example:
Lodgement of 1 certificate of Stock A
(P100 transfer fee + P20 cancellation fee) + P14.40 VAT = P134.40
Lodgement of 2 certificates of Stock A
(P100 transfer fee + P40 cancellation fee) + P16.80 VAT = P156.80
Lodgement of 2 different stocks with 1 certificate each
Stock A (P100 transfer fee + P20 cancellation fee) + P14.40 VAT = P134.40
Stock B (P100 transfer fee + P20 cancellation fee) + P14.40 VAT = P134.40
Total = P268.80
*Non-bank transfer agents charge a VAT of 12%

How do I transfer my stock holdings from another local stock broker to Astra?
If you are an existing client of Astra, you can transfer your stock holdings from another local stock broker to Astra by submitting to that other Broker a written transfer instruction. A copy of the written transfer instruction must be furnished to Astra also. If your stock holdings are in street name/lodged with PDTC (scripless form), the transfer will be done electronically. Electronic transfers can take 1-2 business days. A transfer fee of P75.00 per stock (regardless of number of shares) will be charged by the issuing broker and by the receiving broker. This can be charged to your Astra account provided it has enough available cash balance. Note: some brokers may charge Php82.50 for this fee.


How can I transfer my stock positions to another broker from Astra?
To transfer your stock holdings from Astra to another broker electronically, please download and fill-up the Request for Transfer of Shares Form from our website under the FORMS menu and send the original copy to our office at Units 1204-1205 Tower One & Exchange Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Electronic transfers can take 1-2 business days. A transfer fee of P75.00 per stock (regardless of number of shares) will be charged by the issuing broker and by the receiving broker. This can be charged to your Astra account provided it has enough available cash balance. Note: some brokers may charge Php82.50 for this fee.


Can I have my scripless shares in Astra be converted to stock certificates? (Upliftment)
To request for upliftment of your scripless stock holdings, please download and fill-up the Upliftment Request Form from our website under FORMS menu and send the original copy to our office at Units 1204-1205 Tower One & Exchange Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. The upliftment process can take up to 3 months depending on the Issuer’s speed of processing.

Some Transfer Agents (such as BPI Stock Transfer, BDO Stock Transfer, Unionbank Stock Transfer, Metrobank Stock Transfer) may require you to personally appear at their office before they will process the upliftment request.

A processing/upliftment fee of P100.00 will be charged by PCD which will be debited from your account.


Can I request for a Certification of my holdings?
Yes, download and fill up the Certification Request Form from our website under the FORMS menu. Send a copy by fax at (632) 848-6428 or e-mail to [email protected].


How do I withdraw my funds?
Download and fill up the Withdrawal of Funds Request Form from our website under the FORMS menu. Send a copy by fax at (632) 848-6428 or e-mail to [email protected]. If you would be personally picking up the check, we would need the original filled out form to be surrendered. Depending on your request, you can either pick up the check or we can deposit the check to your bank account.


Can I withdraw the proceeds of a stock sale immediately?
You can withdraw the proceeds of a stock transaction sale in 3 business days (T+3) after a stock is sold subject to the procedures on the withdrawal of funds. Any unused cash balance longer than 3 days dormant can be withdrawn anytime thereafter, allowing for 1 day notice with a cut-off time of 11am to prepare the check payment for that day.

What should I do if I change my e-mail, mailing address or account info?
Inform Astra Securities either by a signed letter or e-mail using your original e-mail address to request for any changes on your account information. Please send the request via fax at (632) 848-6428 or e-mail at [email protected].

How do I change my password?
1. Click the My Profile button, a drop down window will appear.
2. Click the Change Password button. The change password window will appear.
3. Fill up all necessary fields then click Submit.
4. A new password will be sent to your registered e-mail address.
5. Once you are able to log in, it is strongly recommended that you change your password to something more personal for security reasons.

What do I do if I forgot my password?
1. Click the My Profile button, a drop down window will appear.
2. Click Forgot Password button. The forgot password window will appear.
3. Fill up all necessary fields then click Submit.
4. A new password will be sent to your registered e-mail address.
5. Once you are able to log in, it is strongly recommended that you change your password to something more personal for security reasons.

What do I do if I want to change my PIN?
1. Click the My Profile button, a drop down window will appear.
2. Click Change PIN button. The change pin window will appear.
3. Fill up all necessary fields then click Submit.

What do I do if I forgot my PIN?
1. Click the My Profile button, a drop down window will appear.
2. Click Forgot PIN button. The forgot pin window will appear.
3. Fill up all necessary fields then click Submit.

When will my account be considered dormant?
An account will be considered dormant when there is no transaction executed in a span of one (1) year. In such case, your online account will be converted to a traditional method of trading via telephone call to our traders at our office.