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Q: China merchants bank others freezing foreigners account?

Hi guys, just dropping some doodoo news from Shenzhen:

Apparently China Merchants Bank and others will follow in the future are now freezing foreigners account, they want us to have 2 forms of ID's to prove our identity.

3 of my friends have told me about this today. The big problem is that nobody has two forms of ID except the drivers license from our home country.

If anybody else is having a problem with this please give us your experience and tips and advice, not many of us have 2 forms of ID. well maybe I can use my birth certificate.

9 years 43 weeks ago in  Money & Banking - China

 
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You need a passport to take a shit in China...

 

The only papers I got from the PSB were receipts...

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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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It's been confirmed in Shenzhen, I just got off the phone with China Merchants bank.

 

They said we need to provide our Passport and Resident Permit, Not the RP in your passport, but a paper that has all your information on, I've never heard of a Resident permit paper. I'm guessing it's our registration with the police whenever we rent a house. So if you didn't register your address that might be the thing you'll need to do next.  They said a drivers license will work.

 

 You can call and ask at : 95555

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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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This new requirement is
* for all kind of banking operations, or only if you want to move money out of China ?
* does it holds if the operation is made by a Chinese national, ie. wife/husband/in-law/friend ?

ironman510:

My friends found out when their ATM or Visa debit cards didn't work for any kind of transaction and were told to go to the nearest branch to confirm their identity. (I hope no one needs to withdraw money in the hospital, hint hint.)

9 years 43 weeks ago
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DrMonkey:

I see >_< Yeah, keeping my earnings here, feels so safe, never the fear it can be blocked at a whim. Thanks a lot for the info.

9 years 43 weeks ago
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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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A passport in America usually counts as two forms of ID...

 

WTF @ resident permit paper? Not the one in your passport...?

ironman510:

I'm waiting for my Chinese boss to get the proper translation and then we "might" have a better idea. Yeah I told them that as well, that it was two forms of ID, they of course said: you need something else. angry BS, BS, BS, always something new.

9 years 43 weeks ago
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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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Wonder if they will aceept Chinese drivers licenses. 

 

The document mentioned must be the paper from the police when registering there. 

 

If China wanted to do something for the environment, then they should put an end to the madness when a foreigner enters a bank. Must be many tons of paper each year on photocopies of passports. 

ironman510:

I was wonder the same thing but after I passed all tests, I was told to use a Chinese name on my Chinese Drivers license along with my passport number on it.  It's worth a try.

9 years 43 weeks ago
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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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That's weird...

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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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You need a passport to take a shit in China...

 

The only papers I got from the PSB were receipts...

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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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Was told the same thing: new accounts require your passport plus the police temporary registration permit.

ironman510:

So thats confirmed? The police registration sheet will work as a form of ID?

9 years 43 weeks ago
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Sinobear:

I wanted to open a new account where I am now. My old account information (both accounts that I had closed in another city) didn't mean squat.

They wanted the temporary residents permit (issued by the police) and my passport.

 

This policy was supposed to go into effect back in October of last year as I was told.

9 years 43 weeks ago
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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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Two forms of ID. I can see the police temp registration permit having a purpose, it is proof of address (although with the passport number I am sure some government facility would have a huge pile of unorganized paper that 1000s of workers sift through to find exactly the wrong piece of paper upon request) 

ironman510:

I totally agree, I go haywire when they say: but we need this or that also to prove blah blah blah.

9 years 43 weeks ago
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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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PingAn isn't doing this, they're our main bank.

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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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I was at CMB in Taizhou, Jiangsu, two weeks ago. 

 

I wanted to close my account in CMB Urumqi, and reopen new one in Taizhou.

 

Bank Manager asked me for 2nd document. I showed her my EU DL and ID card, but she wasn't happy.

Her English wasn't that good, so I wasn't sure if I understand her correct.

She came back with 'Foreign Expert Certificate' as 2nd ID doc. needed.

 

I always use my passport and FEC in China for ID. However, Taizhou is my new city, and I don't have FEC yet.

This week, I asked her for Foreign currency cash, and she was happy to gave it to me only with my passport.

 

As I understand, she wanted to see 2 ID docs. for reopening new account.

ironman510:

WallStreet like a handful of others keep our FEC in their HR lockbox. Sure if we needed it we could use it.

 

Oh Questions, (strange yes.) icnif77, how many pages does an FEC book have that can be stamped when renewing it? I'll be the living proof for the 5 year rule test this year in Shenzhen in July, (Been at Wallstreet 5 years already, next is the 6th).. Hopefully I can bring some calm to the 5 year rule thing and prove it's only being tested in ShanDong and Sichuan Province.

9 years 43 weeks ago
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icnif77:

Strange Q, because of your explanation 'why did you ask Q about FEC'. You could just ask: 'Have you ever seen one before?', and I would answer it, too. There are too many liars online.  I lie only in a real life settings! 

 

My Dalian and Fukang FECs were dark blue colour. I believe, there are 4 or 6 pages the most, with photo and address of the employer in Chinese on the first page, and last two or three pages are for the FEC extension.

I'm not sure what is the purpose of extension pages. If I change employer, new FEC get reissued too. Are the extension pages for the same employer or what?

On the funny note, I signed new Contract with School in Taizhou, which isn't authorized to hire FTs. I completed Medical last week, and this week I'm looking for new Z sponsor. No new FEC!

Add-it:

'Once document carries my photo, it belongs to me only!' However, HR can have my FEC photocopy in their drawer as long as they desire!

9 years 43 weeks ago
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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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'China merchants bank others freezing foreigners account?'

 

Who froze you what? Care to explain your Q?

 

My CMB (Urumqi) account is alive! CMB Taizhou, Jiangsu, will change few RMB to EUR, because I might travel to EU for new Z or work. No Q asked! My passport and password to the bank's machine needed for currency exchange. 

I can come back to Taizhou CMB in few days, and get EUR cash.

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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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I wonder if the wedding book and work permit can be used as ID?

 

I had to show both to get a mortgage. And I had to show my police registration.

xxxcdbxxx:

Scots,

 

Can you discuss the mortgage process?  I seem to have found that with a mortgage here you can only pay the payment amount every month, not more like in more  normal countries, so you can get out of debt faster.  Is that true?  May I ask what is your interest rate?  Thanks

 

9 years 43 weeks ago
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ScotsAlan:

The wife deals with all that stuff. I am useless with money.

 

 

9 years 43 weeks ago
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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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That's not freezing your account you silly alarmist...it's just requesting verification.

 

Does anybody else have a bank account in Hong Kong?

 

They have a crazy strict procedure for accounts, I had to have proof of address IN ADDITION to that household registration thing which they didn't accept. I literally had to use a piece of mail that was sent to my parents house along with my drivers license (both same address) to open an account.

 

If they want your housing registration that's nothing...be glad they aren't asking for utility stubs or anything.

ironman510:

They did freeze my account and 3 others today, 2 of them got theirs unfrozen by showing two ID's.. Tomorrow I have to show my ID's to use my account. You're right it is a type of verification, but our accounts were still frozen until they see 2 ID's.

Rather it be Visa's, bank stuff or new rules at work, I just get tired of these surprises on a quarterly bases.

9 years 43 weeks ago
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icnif77:

@iron: can you use your ATM card? I can use mine to check balance, get cash or purchase stuff at CMB or any other bank.

 

'Frozen' means account lock-down in China.?

9 years 43 weeks ago
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ironman510:

Yeah our's were locked down, frozen, whatever you wanna call it, I could not do anything! Same as my friends, I called and I was told by 95555 that to unlock it I needed to bring 2 ID's and that this was ordered by their head branch.

9 years 43 weeks ago
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icnif77:

I would tell them, I want to close my account immediately! In Jiangsu my account was the same as in Xinjiang. I am using ATM, and I can do dealings at Taizhou bank with my Xinjiang account.

I like CMB, because every branch has at least one employee who can speak English, beside ATM with Visa logo and 'spot' exchange rate applied. But, 'frozen account' is too much for ridiculous 2nd ID demand.

9 years 43 weeks ago
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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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I transferred 5,000 USD to my Bank of America account in the US from my China construction bank account last week. I only needed my bank card, pay stub, and passport.

silverbutton1:

how did you do this, and what was the fee ?

8 years 42 weeks ago
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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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I had a similar experience with BOC late last year. I received a text message to take passport, police registration, work contract and lease to my branch or my account would be frozen in a month.

I did as they asked. It was quick, painless and no problem at all.

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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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I had a similar experience with BOC late last year. I received a text message to take passport, police registration, work contract and lease to my branch or my account would be frozen in a month.

I did as they asked. It was quick, painless and no problem at all.

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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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Hi Guys, I just got after enjoying the aircon in China Merchants bank, it's nearly 34 in Shenzhen, Anyway my account was actually locked like other told me, they said: We are updating our system and must make sure everyone using our bank is who they say they are, yes its a verification like "expatlife26" said, but you need to bring the two ID's to unlock the account, I a brought Passport, my Chinese Marriage book and a drivers license from the U.S.  But the marriage book was useless, so my U.S Drivers license and Passport worked.

 

I of course complained and asked: Why didn't you inform us in advance or at least give an update on your website?: She said: Sorry sir, we are updating the website as well. I said: Bull sh*t.

 

They also stated that they are not bound by all government policies because they are a private bank, not a gov bank.

 

Whatever, just the BS that comes around every 6 months in China. .

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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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Well done all commenters. We all received a downvote. This may be my proudest moment.....I am finally one of the gang!!

ironman510:

Yeah, forsure, let's choose a name. Hey we should all meet for a vacation and talk about starting an English franchise of our own.

9 years 43 weeks ago
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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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I got a phonecall yesterday... the girl's English wasn't great - she had trouble understanding the word 'why".

 

I apparently missed 5 other returned calls - presumably to explain 'no why'.

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9 years 43 weeks ago
 
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I just opened an account with China Merchant's Bank in Kunming and they asked me for two forms of ID. When I didn't have another one they said I could tell them my US Social Securing number or tax ID and that was sufficient. Not that you want to hand that out willy-nilly but it is a way around it...

icnif77:

Passport and Foreign Expert Certificate, both docs. are sufficient at CMB. They also want to see Residence permit elsewhere in China.

Go for Gold debit account with Visa/Mc ATM card.

Enter 'laowai friendly bank' in search above for more details on CMB Gold account.

8 years 42 weeks ago
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ironman510:

Ive never heard of such a thing, a bank asking and accepting a SSN? Thats BS.

8 years 42 weeks ago
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bill8899:

Yup, that's BS.

8 years 42 weeks ago
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Englteachted:

You are Chinese, if  you were actually American you would know. And please no one correct him about his big mistakes.

8 years 41 weeks ago
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En1Ya3:

In October 2014 I opened an account at BOC in Qingdao. The main purpose of setting up the account with this bank was so I could exchange RBM to dollars and transfer it directly into my American bank account. It took the clerk and 2-3 others approximately 1 1/2 hours to set up the account. She kept asking me for my country ID#, even though she had my passport. I eventually called the leader of foreign affairs at my school to clarify what she wanted. Indeed it was the social security number, which I gave it to her. Approximately 45 minutes and 30 RMB later she told me that foreigners aren’t allowed to convert RMB to foreign currency or wire it electronically. I withdrew all but 50 RMB.

Since my school pays us through a different bank, I decided to use the BOC account only as an emergency funds account. At the beginning of June, I deposited 300RMB via the ATM. Immediately afterwards, it wouldn’t allow me to check the balance or use the card at a POS. The message was “You’ve used the maximum tries for your password”. I haven’t been to the bank yet to settle it because I need to ask a student to come along with me to translate. If it’s indeed been frozen, except for the convenience of deposits, I’ll show them my FEC, withdraw my RMB and close the account. If they're going to forbid me to check my balance and make a purchase, they also shouldn't accept my deposits.

8 years 41 weeks ago
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8 years 42 weeks ago
 
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whenever a new immigration-esque rule emerges, i can present my dual British and Dutch passports to the civil servant, enjoy the look of surprise on their faces, and wait for them to grumble about dual nationality.

at the airport, a worker spotted me putting two passports in my pockets. with a security escord, they angrily demanded that i empty my pockets (does it even qualify as a valid reason for a body search?), and they got to see my calm bemused look, while they looked mostly disappointed that they had to respectfully return my passportS.

hi2u:

What did they expect to find when they searched you?

8 years 42 weeks ago
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coineineagh:

fake passports? Chimese only allow a single nationality, so from their viewpoint, if you have 2, at least one is fake.

8 years 42 weeks ago
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8 years 42 weeks ago
 
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Maybe I am lucky, because I do have the passport booklet, the passport card, and the DL. Hope is enough

 

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Answer of the DayMORE >>
A:  "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "S
A: "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "Shenzhen agent can connect you with an employer, who's authorized to hire waigouren ... and can sponsor Z visa." It's not like every 10th person you meet in Shenzhen's hood can sponsor work visa ...  The only way to change from student to labourer visa is just a regular way by: 1. Finding an employer, who'll apply for an Invitation letter; 2. Exit China and apply for Z visa in your home country's Chinese embassy; 3. Enter China in 30-days after Z visa was stamped into your travelling instrument ...As I am aware, you won't be able to switch to Working permit by remaining in China....,so make ready for a return to your home .... -- icnif77