Chinese Phrases for Banks and ATMs in China | Degree in China

Chinese Phrases for Banks and ATMs in China

You need a Chinese bank card to link WeChat Pay and Alipay, which run almost all daily payments. These phrases cover opening an account and basic counter requests.

When you want to say中文PinyinEnglish
I want to open an account我想开户wǒ xiǎng kāi hùI want to open an account
I want to withdraw money我要取钱wǒ yào qǔ qiánI want to take out cash
I want to deposit money我要存钱wǒ yào cún qiánI want to put in cash
Bank card银行卡yín háng kǎBank card
PIN / password密码mì mǎPassword / PIN
Service fee手续费shǒu xù fèiService charge
Transfer转账zhuǎn zhàngTransfer money
Balance余额yú éAccount balance
Can I open an account with my passport?可以用护照开户吗kě yǐ yòng hù zhào kāi hù maCan I open an account with my passport?
Where is the ATM?ATM 在哪里ATM zài nǎ lǐWhere is the ATM?
Open an account with your passport, visa, and residence permit (a school letter sometimes helps). Major banks: 工商银行 (ICBC), 中国银行 (Bank of China), 建设银行 (CCB). Your card then links to WeChat and Alipay.

Which bank to open, and why it matters

The big four (工商, 建设, 中国, 农业) and 招商银行 (China Merchants) all serve foreign students, but app quality and English support vary. Your card will be 银联 (UnionPay), which is accepted everywhere domestically; foreign Visa or Mastercard cards are rejected at many counters and shops. Open the account in your first week, because you need it to activate WeChat Pay and Alipay.

Daily limits, fees, and using other banks’ ATMs

New accounts often start with a low daily withdrawal cap that you raise at the counter. Taking cash from another bank’s ATM (跨行) usually costs a small fee, and foreign-card withdrawals are limited and sometimes blocked. Set your PIN (密码) in numbers only, since some terminals do not accept letters.

Common mistake: assuming your home card just works. It often does not at Chinese POS terminals. Open a local account early, link it to WeChat Pay and Alipay, and set a numeric PIN so the ATM never rejects you.

Try it yourself

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Frequently asked questions

Which bank is best for international students?
Bank of China and ICBC have the widest English support and ATM coverage. Any of the big four works for daily use.
Do I need the bank card for WeChat Pay?
Yes. WeChat Pay and Alipay bind to a Chinese bank card, so opening the account comes first.
Are there fees for using another bank’s ATM?
Sometimes a small fee for cross-bank withdrawals. Your own bank’s ATMs are free.