Wechat wallet

[dilphinus]

If you have the APEC card, then it should be fine, since each entry is up to 60 days (with possibility to extend to 90 days with valid reason).

Nah. I'll just apply for the Q2 visa. Hassle to keep going to the public security authority every trip.

And I'm not extending for business reason so it won't work.

 

[Innocuous*]

I'm in China every other month for max 30 days.

Need a visa to stay longer. Damn tired to keep flying back to Singapore for visa runs.

Visa run via japan or south korea? It's nearer and can go for short holiday or shopping.

 

[dilphinus]

Visa run via japan or south korea? It's nearer and can go for short holiday or shopping.

Cost more than coming back.to Singapore. Come back Singapore, I can bunk in with my mum. And I can go to the office show face.

My return flights for Beijing to Singapore return on SQ cost less than $400.

It's the packing and unpacking and going to the airports and taking planes every 3 weeks that's really exhausting.

 

[bertrande]

Reporting back here. Went to the bank with the latest closing time (5pm vs 430pm) as it was close to 4pm after I checked in. Turned out to be ABC. Super patient and managed to get the card in about an hour plus.

By that time counter services had closed so the staff led me to the ATM where I could physically deposit cash. Also downloaded the app where I can monitor transactions. It is a tier 2 card so has restrictions but suits my needs. Really thankful to the staff for being so accommodating. Have successfully linked it to WeChat and Alipay as well.

 

[froztheart]

Reporting back here. Went to the bank with the latest closing time (5pm vs 430pm) as it was close to 4pm after I checked in. Turned out to be ABC. Super patient and managed to get the card in about an hour plus.

By that time counter services had closed so the staff led me to the ATM where I could physically deposit cash. Also downloaded the app where I can monitor transactions. It is a tier 2 card so has restrictions but suits my needs. Really thankful to the staff for being so accommodating. Have successfully linked it to WeChat and Alipay as well.

Have you tried and manage to transfer money in from SG bank to your China bank too?

 

[bertrande]

Have you tried and manage to transfer money in from SG bank to your China bank too?

No haven’t tried but I won’t be surprised if it’s not possible. I can always pop over to ATM to deposit money I guess…

 

[mimicoco77]

But the china no need to pay
monthly subscription, if not.. u lost your no.. no otp, miney gone ? cos didn’t pay mobile phone subscription.. not sure my logic correct or not

 

[16/8IF]

But the china no need to pay
monthly subscription, if not.. u lost your no.. no otp, miney gone ? cos didn’t pay mobile phone subscription.. not sure my logic correct or not

Can bring your passport and new China telephone number to update and u are good to go on the spot ?

 

[HoGnix]

Have you tried and manage to transfer money in from SG bank to your China bank too?

It is not possible. Even at Peoples Park, the remittance service only can credit money to China Bank account with China IDs, not foreigners.
But you can transfer money from any China Bank account to China Bank account opened by foreigners.
Means cross board transfer is restricted. But not between inside China Bank.

 

[bertrande]

It is not possible. Even at Peoples Park, the remittance service only can credit money to China Bank account with China IDs, not foreigners.
But you can transfer money from any China Bank account to China Bank account opened by foreigners.
Means cross board transfer is restricted. But not between inside China Bank.

Yes indeed not possible. Will need to use traditional methods of topping up the account (over the counter, via ATM or getting someone else to transfer to you within China). But I can finally top up my WeChat wallet to a reasonable size to use and zerorise it! Also, I had to buy domestic flight tickets using WeChat mini program and it was great to be able to pay RMB3000 without an automatic 3% charge!

As a PSA, for those wishing to open a bank account, do take note that the individual branch manager has final say. I visited four counters (ABC, CCB, CMB, CMB) and it was a vastly varied experience:

ABC: managed to open, great accommodating duty manager.
CCB: said very very hard to pass verification without an actual residential address and work permit, any account opened will be short term and closed upon leaving China, asked me to try a smaller bank (?!)
CMB 1: said an account can be opened but no web banking, no usage of ATM, no binding with WeChat / Alipay. Everything must be over the counter ie we can open an account that totally useless for you.
CMB 2: managed to open, great service.

 

[Velton]

Sounds like ABC is the better choice.

I did mine many years back pre-Covid with CMB.

 

[Mr.Kopi]

No haven’t tried but I won’t be surprised if it’s not possible. I can always pop over to ATM to deposit money I guess…

May I know what's the min balance to keep the account alive?

 

[bertrande]

May I know what's the min balance to keep the account alive?

ABC didn’t mention a minimum balance - card opening costs RMB5 which will be deducted from your balance. CMB muttered something about some fee which is waived if you have I think RMB1000 inside but I have to admit I didn’t quite catch what they were saying. I suspect it’s not the balance kept that matters but how active your account is in determining whether they shift it to dormant status or to a “deposit only no withdrawal” status. I buy a lot of my stuff from Chinese platforms so it is not an issue for me.

 

[quekkb]

Anyone try to open bank account with HSBC China?

I may try to open one with HSBC China if I visit China.

 

[16/8IF]

Anyone try to open bank account with HSBC China?

I may try to open one with HSBC China if I visit China.

It is an unusual choice.

 

[quekkb]

It is an unusual choice.

I can link to my HSBC Singapore and transfer in and out.

 

[16/8IF]

I can link to my HSBC Singapore and transfer in and out.

ok...but China may have different sets of rules for domestic and international banks,( altought I might be wrong).
Over in this forum you can see the choice of most people are the domestic banks.

You should state your reasons earlier than people wo reads can understand, Y ?

If your intention is only for foreign currency and not NOT RMB, i think it is good, but If you are talking about
RMB...than I think most likely will be problematic, even for Domestic banks if you are not a China National ?

 

[quekkb]

ok...but China may have different sets of rules for domestic and international banks,( altought I might be wrong).
Over in this forum you can see the choice of most people are the domestic banks.

You should state your reasons earlier than people wo reads can understand, Y ?

If your intention is only for foreign currency and not NOT RMB, i think it is good, but If you are talking about
RMB...than I think most likely will be problematic, even for Domestic banks if you are not a China National ?

At the moment, I link my Wechat wallet and Alipay using HSBC Hong Kong debit card. It works well and HSBC Hong Kong account has CNY facilities. I believe many mainlanders opens HSBC Hong Kong account so that they can transfer CNY out to HSBC HK.

 

[froztheart]

I guess end of the day, opening a HK bank account might work too.
When I was in HK, Stan Chart had no issue opening bank account for me, but did not proceed due to insufficient cash on hand at that moment.

Anyone has HK bank account and able to verify that it works similar to a Mainland China account?

 

[16/8IF]

At the moment, I link my Wechat wallet and Alipay using HSBC Hong Kong debit card. It works well and HSBC Hong Kong account has CNY facilities. I believe many mainlanders opens HSBC Hong Kong account so that they can transfer CNY out to HSBC HK.

You can try and let us know here?
Most internation credit card can be linked with Alipay and Wechat, all posted before in this thread,
nothing new ?

I was based in China for a long time in the past, I have 6 domestic bank accounts, and all are multi currencies accounts, When My wife' transfer money, it CANNOT be RMB, eg the SGD will enter my mutli currencies account, and than I have to go down to the banking counter , present my documentation than they will check than convert the rmb which will than be in the RMB act.

Of course things may change...so waiting for you to share your experience whether it is possible ?

As far as I know, HK, Macau & Taiwan Nationals are treated the same as Chinese Nationals,,,
and currencies control is based on Nationality and not which banks , Maybe things have change,
we await your results ?