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anonymous
Q: What's the best American bank account to open before moving to China?
I hear Bank of America allows you to withdraw from certain ATM machines without a charge. Also I know Citibank has branches in china. What's the best way to set your banking up before you go?
9 years 38 weeks ago in Business & Jobs - China
Bank of China: New York.
Also Visa Prepaid checkcards are useful here.
Harpo:
I heard you can't actually use a bank of china account opened in the states and that its just for people who want to invest savings in RMB. So it would be unusable once your in China. Correct me if I'm wrong.
If you are trying to cut costs on bank charges you are almost Chinese already 
.
Honestly, don't worry about it. Just take out the max at each visit, so you have to visit less.
Standing in line at a Chinese ATM is a soul destroying experience. The guy in front will have ten atm cards for 10 accounts, and he has to distribute 150 RMB between them all. He will have a bit of paper with it all written down, but he will still have to make at least 4 phone calls to get pin numbers.
The banks that charge are empty. You walk in, beep beep beep, walk out.
I use my Bank of China card at the Agricultural Bank of China. They charge bank of China customers..... but I have a hassle free beep beep experience.
Almost every international card works here at almost every atm.
Be aware, the atms here give the cash before they return the card. They don't expect you just to withdraw money and go. Always remember to take your card after the transaction.
