How to Open a Bank Account in China: 开户, Documents, and What to Say
In 2026, almost everything in China runs through a bank account: WeChat Pay and Alipay both attach to one (see our guide to digital China’s apps), and landlords and employers want your 银行卡 (yín háng kǎ) for payments. The paperwork sounds scary; the actual visit is friendlier than an airport check-in — if you know what to say.
What to Bring (Checklist)
- Passport — the original, not a photo of it
- Visa or residence permit — 居留许可 (jū liú xú kě)
- A mainland phone number that receives SMS — the step most foreigners miss; nearly every bank needs it for verification
- A little cash for the first deposit (often 100 RMB is plenty)
- Your address written in Chinese characters, if you can get it — saves ten minutes of dictionary fumbling
The 6 Phrases You’ll Actually Use
| Phrase | Pinyin | What it means / when |
|---|---|---|
| 我想开户 | wó xiǎng kāi hù | “I’d like to open an account” — the opener |
| 取号 / 叫号 | qǔ hào / jiào hào | “Take a number” — the ticket system |
| 办什么业务? | bàn shén me yè wù | “What business?” — the staff’s first question |
| 存钱 / 取钱 | cún qián / qǔ qián | “Deposit / withdraw money” |
| 转账 | zhuǎn zhàng | “Transfer” — the word you’ll use forever |
| 取款机 (ATM) | qú kuǎn jī | Cash machine — many branches have one 24/7 |
At the Counter: A Real Exchange
你: 你好，我想开户。
ní hǎo, wó xiǎng kāi hù.
柜员: 护照和签证就行。手机号多少?
hù zhào hé qiān zhèng jiù xíng. shǒu jī hào duō shao?
你: 138… 多久能拿到卡?
duō jiǔ néng ná dào kǎ?
柜员: 今天办好，卡当场给你。
jīn tiān bàn hǎo, kǎ dāng chǎng gěi nǐ.
Tone Notes: Getting the Numbers Right
Bank talk is number talk, and numbers live or die on tones. The unit that trips up every Westerner is 万 (wàn) — ten thousand. 四千 (sì qiān) is 4,000; add the unit and 四万 (sì wàn) is 40,000. A former colleague once asked for 四千 and the teller repeated 四万 back — thankfully she was listening. My rule since: say it slowly, then repeat the number back: 三万五 (sān wàn wǔ) “35,000”, clear and short.
After the Account: What You’ll Say Forever
- 绑定手机银行 — bǎng dìng shǒu jī yín háng: “link mobile banking”. Staff will do it for you — your phone, your face scan, two minutes.
- 改密码 — gǎi mì mǎ: “change the PIN”.
- 挂失 — guà shī: “report a lost card”. Hope you never need it.
- 手续费 — shǒu xù fèi: “transaction fee” — ask before big transfers.
One thing that surprised me the first time: the teller took my unlocked phone, scanned my face, and set up mobile banking herself. Handing your phone to a bank employee feels odd at first. In China, it’s simply how it’s done — nobody blinks.
An honest data point from 2026: in my students’ reports this year, the whole visit — number, counter, card, mobile setup — ran 45–75 minutes at ICBC, CCB, and BoC branches, with zero English needed. Bring the phrases above and it’s smooth. And bring 现金 (xiàn jīn): some counters still prefer a small cash first deposit.
Summary
开户 (kāi hù) is a one-visit errand: passport, visa, mainland number, a little cash, and six phrases. Repeat numbers back, let them set up your phone, and walk out with a card that powers WeChat Pay, Alipay, rent, and salary in one go.