How to Use Banks and ATMs in China: Opening Accounts, Withdrawals, Transfers, and Currency Exchange

Opening a Chinese bank account as a foreigner requires your passport, a valid visa or residence permit, and sometimes proof of address. Key vocabulary: 开户 (kāi hù) — to open an account, 账户 (zhàng hù) — account, 护照 (hù zhào) — passport, 签证 (qiān zhèng) — visa, 居留许可证 (jū liú xǔ kě zhèng) — residence permit, 银行卡 (yín háng kǎ) — bank card, 存折 (cún zhé) — passbook, 活期存款 (huó qī cún kuǎn) — current/savings deposit, 定期存款 (dìng qī cún kuǎn) — fixed-term deposit. At the bank counter: 我想开一个银行账户 (wǒ xiǎng kāi yī gè yín háng zhàng hù) — I want to open a bank account. 这是我的护照 (zhè shì wǒ de hù zhào) — Here is my passport. 需要什么证件 (xū yào shén me zhèng jiàn) — What documents do I need? 需要填表吗 (xū yào tián biǎo ma) — Do I need to fill out a form?

Major Chinese banks and choosing one: 中国工商银行 (zhōng guó gōng shāng yín háng) — ICBC, 中国建设银行 (zhōng guó jiàn shè yín háng) — CCB, 中国银行 (zhōng guó yín háng) — Bank of China, 中国农业银行 (zhōng guó nóng yè yín háng) — ABC, 交通银行 (jiāo tōng yín háng) — Bank of Communications, 招商银行 (zhāo shāng yín háng) — China Merchants Bank. Bank of China often has the best English service and is most familiar with foreigner accounts. Smaller commercial banks like China Merchants Bank offer better mobile banking apps. Setting up mobile banking: 开通手机银行 (kāi tōng shǒu jī yín háng) — activate mobile banking. 需要绑定手机号 (xū yào bǎng dìng shǒu jī hào) — need to link a phone number. 设置支付密码 (shè zhì zhī fù mì mǎ) — set a payment password. 请记住六位数的密码 (qǐng jì zhù liù wèi shù de mì mǎ) — Please remember the 6-digit PIN.

ATMs in China support both UnionPay cards and international cards (Visa, Mastercard) at most major bank machines. Key vocabulary: ATM (A-T-M) / 取款机 (qǔ kuǎn jī) — ATM / cash machine, 自助银行 (zì zhù yín háng) — self-service banking, 插卡 (chā kǎ) — insert card, 输入密码 (shū rù mì mǎ) — enter PIN, 取款 (qǔ kuǎn) — withdrawal, 存款 (cún kuǎn) — deposit, 查询余额 (chá xún yú é) — check balance, 转账 (zhuǎn zhàng) — transfer, 打印凭条 (dǎ yìn píng tiáo) — print receipt. ATM screen navigation: 请选择语言 (qǐng xuǎn zé yǔ yán) — Please select language. 中文 / English (most ATMs have an English option). 请输入密码 (qǐng shū rù mì mǎ) — Please enter your PIN. 请输入金额 (qǐng shū rù jīn é) — Please enter the amount.

Withdrawal limits and fees: ATM withdrawal limits are typically 20,000 to 50,000 RMB per day depending on the bank and account type. 手续费 (shǒu xù fèi) — service fee / handling fee. 跨行取款 (kuà háng qǔ kuǎn) — inter-bank withdrawal (using another bank's ATM) — usually charges a small fee. 跨境取款 (kuà jìng qǔ kuǎn) — cross-border withdrawal (using a foreign card) — fees vary by card issuer. Common problems and phrases: 密码错了 (mì mǎ cuò le) — wrong PIN. 密码输入次数太多了 (mì mǎ shū rù cì shù tài duō le) — You've entered the PIN too many times. 卡被吞了 (kǎ bèi tūn le) — The card was swallowed by the machine. 没有钱了 (méi yǒu qián le) — No cash left in the machine. 请取回您的卡 (qǐng qǔ huí nín de kǎ) — Please take your card. 交易失败 (jiāo yì shī bài) — Transaction failed.

Bank transfers in China are primarily done through mobile banking apps or at bank counters. Key vocabulary: 转账 (zhuǎn zhàng) — transfer, 汇款 (huì kuǎn) — remittance, 收款人 (shōu kuǎn rén) — recipient, 对方账户 (duì fāng zhàng hù) — recipient's account, 账号 (zhàng hào) — account number, 银行名称 (yín háng míng chēng) — bank name, 开户行 (kāi hù háng) — branch where account was opened. At the counter: 我要转账 (wǒ yào zhuǎn zhàng) — I want to make a transfer. 转账需要手续费吗 (zhuǎn zhàng xū yào shǒu xù fèi ma) — Is there a fee for transfers? 什么时候能到账 (shén me shí hou néng dào zhàng) — When will the transfer arrive? 一般实时到账 (yī bān shí shí dào zhàng) — Usually it arrives instantly.

Mobile transfers via WeChat/Alipay: In daily life, most Chinese use WeChat Pay or Alipay for person-to-person transfers rather than bank apps. 微信转账 (wēi xìn zhuǎn zhàng) — WeChat transfer. 支付宝转账 (zhī fù bǎo zhuǎn zhàng) — Alipay transfer. 扫一扫 (sǎo yī sǎo) — scan (QR code). 你扫我还是我扫你 (nǐ sǎo wǒ hái shì wǒ sǎo nǐ) — Do you scan me or I scan you? 转给你了 (zhuǎn gěi nǐ le) — I've transferred it to you. 收到了 (shōu dào le) — Received. To link your bank card: 绑定银行卡 (bǎng dìng yín háng kǎ) — link a bank card. International transfers (SWIFT): 跨境汇款 (kuà jìng huì kuǎn) — cross-border remittance. 国际汇款 (guó jì huì kuǎn) — international wire transfer. SWIFT代码 (SWIFT dài mǎ) — SWIFT code. 中间行 (zhōng jiān háng) — intermediary bank. 一般两到三个工作日到账 (yī bān liǎng dào sān gè gōng zuò rì dào zhàng) — Usually takes 2-3 business days.

Foreign currency exchange is available at major bank branches with the 外币兑换 (wài bì duì huàn) sign. Key vocabulary: 换汇 (huàn huì) — currency exchange, 外币 (wài bì) — foreign currency, 人民币 (rén mín bì) — RMB / Chinese yuan, 美元 (měi yuán) — US dollar, 欧元 (ōu yuán) — euro, 英镑 (yīng bàng) — British pound, 日元 (rì yuán) — Japanese yen, 汇率 (huì lǜ) — exchange rate, 现钞 (xiàn chāo) — cash, 现汇 (xiàn huì) — wire/electronic currency. At the bank: 我要换人民币 (wǒ yào huàn rén mín bì) — I want to exchange for RMB. 今天的汇率是多少 (jīn tiān de huì lǜ shì duō shǎo) — What's today's exchange rate? 需要护照吗 (xū yào hù zhào ma) — Do I need my passport? 可以换多少 (kě yǐ huàn duō shǎo) — How much can I exchange?

Exchange limits and rules: Foreigners can exchange up to USD 500 equivalent per day without additional documentation at most banks. Larger amounts require proof of purpose (salary, tuition, etc.). 每人每年可以换五万美元 (měi rén měi nián kě yǐ huàn wǔ wàn měi yuán) — Each person can exchange up to 50,000 USD per year. 需要填写申请表 (xū yào tián xiě shēn qǐng biǎo) — Need to fill out an application form. 现钞和现汇的汇率不一样 (xiàn chāo hé xiàn huì de huì lǜ bù yī yàng) — The exchange rate for cash and electronic currency is different (cash rates are usually slightly worse). 机场也可以换，但是手续费比较高 (jī chǎng yě kě yǐ huàn, dàn shì shǒu xù fèi bǐ jiào gāo) — You can also exchange at the airport, but the fees are higher. For best rates, exchange at major bank branches in city centers rather than airports or hotels.

If your bank card is lost, stolen, or swallowed by an ATM, act quickly to protect your account. Key vocabulary: 挂失 (guà shī) — report a loss, 补办 (bǔ bàn) — get a replacement, 冻结 (dòng jié) — freeze (an account), 解冻 (jiě dòng) — unfreeze, 吞卡 (tūn kǎ) — swallowed card, 刷卡失败 (shuā kǎ shī bài) — card swipe failed. At the bank: 我的卡丢了 (wǒ de kǎ diū le) — I lost my card. 我要挂失 (wǒ yào guà shī) — I want to report a lost card. 请马上冻结我的账户 (qǐng mǎ shàng dòng jié wǒ de zhàng hù) — Please freeze my account immediately. 可以补办一张新卡吗 (kě yǐ bǔ bàn yī zhāng xīn kǎ ma) — Can I get a replacement card?

ATM card swallowed: If an ATM swallows your card during business hours, go inside the bank immediately with your passport. 我的卡被ATM吞了 (wǒ de kǎ bèi ATM tūn le) — My card was swallowed by the ATM. 刚才在那个机器吞的 (gāng cái zài nà ge jī qì tūn de) — It was swallowed in that machine just now. If it happens after hours, call the bank's hotline: 客服热线 (kè fú rè xiàn) — customer service hotline. Most banks have 24-hour hotlines with English service. 可以帮我查一下余额吗 (kě yǐ bāng wǒ chá yī xià yú é ma) — Can you help me check my balance? 我的账户被锁了 (wǒ de zhàng hù bèi suǒ le) — My account is locked. 密码忘了 (mì mǎ wàng le) — I forgot my PIN. 需要重置密码 (xū yào chóng zhì mì mǎ) — Need to reset the PIN. Also useful: 下载手机银行APP (xià zài shǒu jī yín háng APP) — Download the mobile banking app. Most problems can be solved faster through the app than at a branch.