It’s very dependent on the location, the familiarity of the branch staff with foreigners and a lot of other things.
Generally if you have a reason they’ll open you an account. If it’s literally “just for fun” you could very well be rejected.
Your account will also freeze when your passport expires as this information (as well as what travel status you have) is recorded at account opening now.
All of the big state banks will be able to do it and even smaller regional banks will have a process to open accounts for foreigners.
I have accounts with ICBC, BoC, Merchants Bank and Bank of Shanghai. The easiest one to open was BoC and the second easiest was ICBC.
Merchants gave me a very poor daily spending cap so I just haven’t been using the account, but I sometimes use it when I go abroad (Apple Pay). Now I have a Chinese credit card probably less likely to do so.
Edit: To anyone thinking about coming here to get an account today, you’ll spend 1-2h in a branch per account (depending on how busy they are).
I wasn’t aware that bank accounts get locked once a passport expires. Although I’ve opened over twenty bank accounts in mainland China, I used to deposit around 100 CNY when opening them and then withdraw the entire amount at an ATM as soon as the debit card was ready. The only mainland Chinese debit card I want right now is the China CITIC Bank AMEX Gold Debit Card, but it seems that after applying, I have to wait for it to be delivered to my hotel address. Consequently, I might need to stay there for about a week.
They’re definitely Chinese. Foreigners can’t do FX via app because we need to submit documents (to make illegal work earned currency exchanging harder) as the amount of money you can send home is fixed to your post-tax income.
The AmEx card actually seems somewhat useful though as it’s settled in RMB and presumably these limits don’t apply to regular card purchases (I’ve been able to use my UnionPay abroad for example).
You’d need to go to a branch to do it and would likely need a reason as you’re not a local.
Mine would be simple… I work here and I want to use the card abroad. If it has Apple Pay it’d be an easier justification (as my current Mastercard credit card doesn’t support).
Might have a crack at it tomorrow. Depends on what time I get back to Shanghai
Both seem to fit this thread decently, but I’m mindful of Bahamas based banks… seems a very small and potentially not well regulated jurisdiction and I’m not sure how I’d verify any of their claims (re: BankPro)
Starryblu is just a payments app and seems to integrate with a lot of QR based payment systems and is in Singapore, so I’m a little more trusting (they also run Panda Remit)
I mean, my issue with them is mainly that I don’t have a great deal of trust in the Bahamian banking sector to check every bank, especially when they’re not willing to back the deposits of these expat banks
I just can’t see anything online of anyone being successful in getting a credit card as a uk premier customer. Not sure if its possible but I guess I might as well open the account and then see if they accept.
It appears that individuals who only hold a passport need to apply for the China CITIC Bank AMEX Gold Debit Card at a branch counter. Since the cards themselves seem to be pre-manufactured, I wonder if they can issue one immediately if the branch has stock on hand.
Generally with Chinese banks all cards are pre-manufactured and nameless, I’ve never had to be posted a card before. Generally they all get given to you at the counter.
Yes, it’s very likely. I don’t think CITIC is as familiar with foreigners as Bank of China or ICBC would be
You’ll want to branch plan, probably something in central Shanghai. I will try one tomorrow maybe in the outskirts as I don’t want to go to the city centre
I wonder if the card supports Apple Pay though… and I also wonder if it has any perks. Like what is the point of an AmEx without it?
