Job Discussion Forums

[askiptochina]

You would think Beijing and Shanghai would be the two cities prepared to open accounts for foreigners. Apparently, having a first, middle, and last name causes so much confusion with at least ICBC Bank they have to call 10 different managers to find out if it is ok to open an account with three names (three parts of a name). They saw 3 words in my passport, but I only signed it with my first and last like anyone would do. They didn't know what to make of it.

Then, when they finally got the go ahead to open an account, they ran into another problem. They didn't know how to enter my names into the computer. So, they had me sign my last name first, and then use my first and middle name as my last name.

After all that, they processed the wrong card and said something about coming back tomorrow

[Old Surrender]

I recently lost my bank card and had to get a new one. Everything went smoothly until they saw my name. I filled out the form with my middle name, my uni (who opened the account for me) omitted my middle name.

Long story short, two hours and 4 employees later I get my card.

Middle names blow minds here.

[tacoeater]

There should be little surprise that Chinese law requires that the application (name in this case) match your legal ID - in this case your passport. It is a requirement that your name in your passport matches your bank account. Why are you so surprised?

[jibbs]

[choudoufu]

shazam! that's very many time!

i spent forty-five minutes at BofC when i first arrived. took that long
to convince them that foreigners could indeed open accounts.
another ten minutes to explain what type of account i wanted.
once that was approved, they informed me they couldn't open
new accounts, because that branch was to close in a couple
weeks. it was then i realized i had truly returned to china.

walked a few blocks to the construction bank. nice manager
helped me open a savings account. walked out in about ten
minutes with a shiny, new ATM card. it was a few months later
that i learned that this particular branch could not accept SWIFT
transactions, that i would have to open an account at the
main branch.

it's like the taste of soylent green...it varies from person to person.

[Silent Shadow]

[therock]

Have any of you girls tried to open a bank account in the UK? - now that's jumping hoops.

[Johnny_Utah]

[jibbs]

Ah, I did not realize that, though two people I know waited a week (believe one even said ten days). And asking Chinese, been told it's the rule to wait a week. Guess I really should have insisted though as they knew I was broke and understood I would need to borrow cash from somewhere for the week. I think they were concerned it was probably stolen as I mentioned and maybe somehow the thief figured out the PIN so they decided to freeze the account and suggested I changed the PIN. No big deal really though I was not pleased at the time, but in a good way it forced me to live a really cheap week. Good to spend less than usual I guess.

[chinaamber]

When I had my BOC card stolen I was told I had to wait a week as I had too much money in my account. I also could not take any money over the counter as my passport was with the PSB. A week later went back with my passport, was told it was not acceptable as I had opened my account with my old (expired) passport.

After 30 minutes involving a lot of crying and gesticulating on my part (as mentioned, the account had a lot of money in it. I had also been borrowing money for a week as could not access said cash) they decided I could close the account with the new passport.

I ma now a customer of Construction Bank and it has been plain sailing.

The name thing is infuriating. Yes, it should match the ID but along with that staff should be trained and systems able to accept the names if accounts are offered for overseas customers. Oh, wait, TIC .

[chinanoodles]

I don't know how many banks in your home countries could open an account for a customer in Chinese characters or understand that the family name is first even if it's written in pinyin.

...but yeah...banks here are the opposite of fun.

My biggest issue lately is that the branches of a bank do not communicate. If I relocate I have to open a new account at a local branch and go through the usual headaches again.

[kev7161]

Most Chinese people I know in the USA (and that's not many!) simply move their family name to the back of the line as is customary. And what Chinese characters? Those are reserved for emails sent back home and restaurant menus for "flavor". Everyone there uses pinyin instead.

I'm looking at my US Passport right now and it has my family name first followed by my given name and middle name. Isn't that how it's done here? Many people I know here have three names: Hu Jin Tao, for example (not that I know the man personally). Hu being his family name and Jin Tao being the other. Granted, his family and close friends probably call him "Jin Tao" and my friends don't call me "Kevin XXXXX" (well, my mom did when she was mad at me!). But the same name pattern is there.

Also, many documents in the US call for family name first followed by given names. I guess the biggest issue was that the OP signed his given name first and then family name. Ah, a classic mistake! But then again, I do that all the time here and have yet had any negative consequences. Which again proves of the lack of consistency in procedures here.

[askiptochina]

[mike w]

I currently do all my banking with a small branch of Shanghai Pudong in Beijing.

I have no trouble transferring dollars to the UK. (My salary is paid in US$)

I have no trouble exchanging dollars to RMB.

I have no trouble withdrawing US$

Last year I broke my bank card - went to the bank with my passport (you quickly learn to take this with you every time you go to the bank) and walked out 15 minutes later, new card in hand.

Three years ago I had to get a new passport (old one expired). I went to my local ICBC which I had been using for 2 - 3 years to change the ID for my account. They said I had to go back to the branch where I opened the account, and gave me three different documents to fill out. I went to SPDB, gave them my bank card and both passports - details changed on the computer straight away - no forms to complete - in and out of the bank in 10 minutes.

Over the years I've banked with BOC, ICBC, CCB, and China Merchants Bank. By far the best service I've had is from SPDB and China Merchants. I wouldn't even consider going back to any of the others.

[sainthood]

My non-standard English name is similar in form to Leonardo da Vinci... think of the problems I get!! (especially since it's not Italian...)