How Foreigners Can Get a Bank Account & Card in China!

Source: China Daily, Travel China Cheaper

Getting a bank account in China is quite necessary here, as cashless payments and safe storage of money make life easier! Follow the quick tips below to get a bank account.

How to Get a Bank Account & Card

1. Bring a valid passport to the bank counter, after getting a queue number from the staff/machine at the front desk.

   
   

2. Fill in the bank account application. (For this, you will need a Chinese phone number, and possibly even a residence permit or work permit / student ID. Additionally, you will also need your Chinese address.)
   

   
   

3. With provision of your passport and after application in any of the bank's business outlets, a bank card will immediately be issued to you.

   
   

4. After getting the bank card, you can use an ATM to verify or change the password. (Keep in mind that if you wish to change your bank password, or any other details such as phone number, more paperwork will be required.)

Note: For some banks, the paperwork for the bank account application may only be in Chinese! In such a case, it may be very useful to have a Chinese friend assist you, or a translation APP on your phone.

List of Banks

Large commercial banks

(These commercial banks are recommended for foreigners, according to multiple sources)

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
Hotline: 95588

Agricultural Bank of China
Hotline: 95599

Bank of China
Hotline: 95566

China Construction Bank
Hotline: 95533

Bank of Communications
Hotline: 95559

Foreign banks

(Keep in mind that these banks may require a large sum of money to be placed into the account, in order to open)

HSBC China
Hotline: 400-820-1818

Bank of East Asia
Hotline: 95382

Standard Chartered Bank
Hotline: 800-820-8088

Citibank China
Hotline: 400-821-1880

DBS China
Hotline: 400-820-8988

UBS (China) Limited
Hotline: 86-10-58327000

ABN AMRO Bank (China)
Hotline: 800-820-2808

Deutsche Bank (China)
Hotline: 86-10-59698888

Policy Banks

China Development Bank
Tel: 86-10-68306688

Export-Import Bank of China
Tel: 86-10-83579988

Agricultural Development Bank of China
Tel: 86-10-68085370

Joint-stock commercial banks

CITIC Bank
Hotline: 95558

China Everbright Bank
Hotline: 95595

Hua Xia Bank
Hotline: 95577

China Minsheng Bank
Hotline: 95568

China Merchants Bank
Hotline: 95555

Industrial Bank
Hotline: 95561

China Guangfa Bank
Hotline: 400-830-8003

Ping An Bank
Hotline: 95511

Shanghai Pudong Development Bank
Hotline: 95528

Hengfeng Bank
Hotline: 95395

China Zheshang Bank
Hotline: 95527

China Bohai Bank
Hotline: 400-888-8811

Postal Savings Bank

Postal Savings Bank of China
Hotline: 95580

\n