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Q: is it possible for Foreigner with Chinese Family Residence open a bank account in China ?
Married to Chinese local , Have Chinese Family Residence , living for more than 3 years , just purchased apartment , can I open a bank account with my Family Residence ? if yes which bank ?
Hint : I live in Wuhan City
6 years 24 weeks ago in Money & Banking - Wuhan
At this time it would be interesting to see how you do. I have had accounts in China for a decade now. but last year I damaged my bankcard. I tried opening another account but was told to come up with additional paperwork from my employer. That never happened before. The laws are changing, or have changed. To avoid the hassle, I went back to the city where I had my original account. They replaced my card in 2 hours. I have accounts with both The Bank of China and the China Construction Bank.
Hint: Why don't you go into any Bank in Wuhan and ask them about?
After you're done, you can come back and tell us how did it go.
My fav bank in China was China Merchant Bank with Gold account and Visa/Mc logo ATM card and no balance limit requirenment.
At this time it would be interesting to see how you do. I have had accounts in China for a decade now. but last year I damaged my bankcard. I tried opening another account but was told to come up with additional paperwork from my employer. That never happened before. The laws are changing, or have changed. To avoid the hassle, I went back to the city where I had my original account. They replaced my card in 2 hours. I have accounts with both The Bank of China and the China Construction Bank.
I asked before , but not all banks , I asked ABC 3 years ago and they said we open account for Students and Workers here only , one year ago I asked Merchant Bank of China and said similar thing , the idea is in China each bank has different rules and each branch has different rules , I use Visa/Master Cards from my country , but I want to open a local account in China and I want to see if you guys know whats rules regarding this
icnif77:
I wonder, what is easier: 'open the thread and post Q' or 'stroll into the nearest bank (or any bank for that matter) in the city ...'?
Bankers won't put you in detention even if you don't hold proper visa.
We would really like to know how Banks in Wahun deal with married foreigners ... Send your Chinese wifey to bank ...
ambivalentmace:
To be safe and avoid family problems that could occur, print you a business card and open an account in Hong Kong with Bank of China, if you stay here, you can get direct deposit of social security, and the account works for cash in CHina. This would be your emergency, escape account that the wife does not know about of course.
I read news about some foreigners said you need at least 1 year of residence and you can get one but didn't say which bank ?
ambivalentmace:
The local banks, usually have a name and "co-op" in the title are usually more lax with rules, like a credit union for farmers, but government support.
Send your Mrs to find out. I had bank accounts with a few different banks here over the years, including BOC, ABC, Everbright, Mingsheng and BOCOM. Since only used these for various different employers (cos obviously each fucking place demands you open a new account with the bank they use) most lapsed. After a year or so with the missus I stopped using my own bank accounts and just had any money earned put into hers. Solves all the hassle. I have one of her cards for when I need it and she has linked that account to my alipay. Therefore I no longer have to deal with any of the fucking stupidity of going to a Chinese bank. You all know what I am talking about, when a simple deposit takes two hours, a urine sample, deposition from your local priest and pledging allegiance to the party.
(also she deals with sending money back to the uk each month)
In summary, let your wife deal with the money here. Unless you don't trust her, then just get paid in cash and hide it.
HayderAlasadi91:
Correct , thats what i am doing right now , using onenof her cards to avoid issues.i am going to ask few banks as soon as i am back as currently am not in China
theyre making it very hard for foreigners to open bank accounts now. there has been too much abuse in the past
HayderAlasadi91:
Guys , I went to Merchants Bank of China and they didnt speak English, long story short , they said bring ur Passport,Identity Card and Auxillary paper , after I explained to them am not working in China or student , but then there Manager came and asked them whats his nationality , I am from Iraq , so , they rejected . Am not 100% sure if American or European could open a bank account with Family Residence but anyone from these countries have higher chance of opening bank account . As for me , I cant even while I have married Chinese and have Family Residence , cause I am from Iraq , I can't open a bank account .
edgy:
marhaba habibi. the problem you are facing is not only with iraqis. even hongers have trouble opening bank accounts. what they want is for you to have proof of address, like a utility bill, or proof of employment. the banks have told me that they are afraid of foreigners laundering money. even chinese nationals from hong kong have been banned. are you going to have a job? the thing is, when they introduce hurdles like these, you never know if it's just an excuse to turn people down, or will they really give you an account if you provide the proof. i think you are in a better position than most people. at least you have family members accounts you can use. ive never heard of iraqis laundering money, but what they have told me is that taiwanese, and malaysians are the ones they are most cautious with. the taiwanese are known as the nigerians of china. isnt it ironic. we went from cash, to debit cards, to alipay. and now we're back to cash again. who knows, in another decade, we could be trading farm animals with each other again
Guys , I went to Merchants Bank of China and they didnt speak English, long story short , they said bring ur Passport,Identity Card and Auxillary paper , after I explained to them am not working in China or student , but then there Manager came and asked them whats his nationality , I am from Iraq , so , they rejected . Am not 100% sure if American or European could open a bank account with Family Residence but anyone from these countries have higher chance of opening bank account . As for me , I cant even while I have married Chinese and have Family Residence , cause I am from Iraq , I can't open a bank account .
ironman510:
Now with the new working permit cards, any Q Visa or marriage Visa holder couldn't open a bank.
ironman510:
I opened a new bank and they asked for the working permit card at Bank of China
You can open the bank account with the passport. The bank will not recognise your Chinese Family Account. Please use your passport instead.
