Shanghai Commercial Bank account requirements, steps, fees

Lily Li

More and more foreign individuals and businesses are choosing to work and invest in Shanghai. When working in or registering a company in Shanghai, opening a Shanghai bank account is advisable and Shanghai Commercial Bank is an ideal choice.. So let's explore the requirements and steps to open a Shanghai commercial bank account, as well as its various fees and charges.

Foreign nationals in China may have been wondering about cheap and quick ways to make international transfers, while ensuring security. Wise, with is multi-currency account, is a convenient choice if you’re sending money from China or wishing to hold and convert currencies more affordably.

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Table of contents

What is Shanghai Commercial Bank¹?

Incorporated in Hong Kong in 1950, Shanghai Commercial Bank (SCB) currently operates over 50 branches in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Overseas, with a business network spanning Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The Shanghai Commercial Bank offers a wide range of retail and commercial banking products and services, including deposits, loans, remittances, foreign currency exchange, credit cards, securities trading, international banking, insurance services, gold trading services, Renminbi (RMB) services, internet banking and mobile banking services, to meet the needs of its customers.

In the late 1990s, Shanghai Commercial Bank formed strategic partnerships with the Bank of Shanghai in mainland China and the Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank in Taiwan to expand its business network in the Greater China region.

Requirements for opening a bank account with Shanghai Commercial Bank²

If opening a personal current savings account with SCB:

  • Documents required for persons aged 18 or above:
    • Valid identification document (e.g. Hong Kong Identity Card or valid passport)
  • Documents required for persons aged below 18 to open a Student/Children Savings Account:
    • Valid identification document (e.g. birth certificate, Hong Kong Identity Card, or valid passport)

Note: Parents should bring their identity documents when opening an account for their children if they wish to open trust accounts.

If opening a joint current saving account with SCB:

  • Two or more persons aged 18 or above can open a joint account by bringing along the following documents:
  • Valid identification document (e.g. Hong Kong Identity Card, valid passport)

Step by step guide to opening a Shanghai Commercial Bank account²

  1. Visit any branch of Shanghai Commercial Bank during office hours with relevant documents to open an account.
  2. Complete and sign the relevant account opening documents. If necessary, the Bank may require customers to provide additional account opening information and documents.

Minimum initial deposits when opening an account with Shanghai Commercial Bank³

No passbook savings accounts:

CurrenciesMinimum initial deposits amount
CNY100
HKD1,000
GBP1,000
USD100
EUR1,000
AUD1,000
SGD1,000
NZD1,000
JPY100,000
CAD1,000
CHF1,000

Passbook savings accounts:

CurrenciesMinimum initial deposits amount
USD100
HKD100

Note: If you are opening another type of account with Shanghai Commercial Bank, such as a checking account, a student/child passbook savings account, a fixed deposit account, or a call deposit account, the minimum initial deposit amount may be different, click here to view.

Shanghai Commercial Bank: fees and international transfer

Payment or transfer to other local banks via Quick Payment System via Corporate Online / Mobile Banking⁴:

ServicesAmountFees per transaction
Payment or transfer in HKDHKD500,000 or belowFree
HKD500,000 or above and HKD1,000,000 or belowHKD5
Payment or transfer in CNYRMB500,000 or belowFree
RMB500,000 or above and RMB1,000,000 or belowRMB5

Deposit services fees⁴:

Categories UniteFees
Bounce (a check)Due to insufficient savings in the accountPer cardHKD150 / RMB150
Due to other reasonsPer cardHKD80 / RMB80
Autopay / Regular Funding InstructionCreate/modify automatic transfersPer transactionHKD50 / RMB50
Processing / modifying regular allocation instructionPer transactionHKD50 / RMB50
Returned due to insufficient funds in the accountPer transactionHKD150 / RMB150
Returned for other reasonsPer transactionHKD50 / RMB50
Payment made using HKSCC Investor and returned due to insufficient funds in the account Per transactionHKD200 / RMB200
Unauthorised overdraft handling Fee (including temporary overdraft, overdraft and cheque credit) Per payable dateHKD150 / RMB150
Stop payment of chequeInstructionPer cardHKD100 / RMB100
Cancellation instructionPer cardHKD100 / RMB100
Guaranteed ChequeSelf-insuredPer cardHKD100 / RMB100
Bank guaranteed paymentPer cardHKD200 / RMB200
Cashier's chequeTo issuePer cardHKD60 / RMB60
To report lostPer cardHKD400 / RMB400
To buybackPer cardHKD40 / RMB40
Foreign bank payment cheque in foreign currencyDeposit cheque (for personal account only)Per transactionHKD50
Bounced cheque (plus correspondent bank charges)Per cardHKD80
Collection of cheques for bank payments in Shenzhen / GuangdongHKDPer cardHKD15
USDPer cardHKD100
Large amount of auxiliary coins deposited (Must be sorted and 100 coins or more per customer per day cumulatively) On a cumulative basis2%
Minimum chargeHKD50
Deposit large amount of HKD banknotes (cumulative daily deposit of over 150 Hong HKD banknotes per customer) On a cumulative basis0.25%
Minimum chargeHKD75
Deposit or withdrawal of foreign currency banknotes by T/T accountCumulative amount per customer per day per currency transaction above the following: USD2,000 RMB15,000 JPY200,000 2,000 for other applicable currenciesOn a cumulative basis0.25%
Account cancellation by the Shanghai Commercial Bank due to misuse of account Per accountHKD150
Cancellation of account within 3 months of account opening Per accountHKD150
Loss of passbook / seal Per accountHKD100

Bank account service fees⁴:

Categories UniteFees
ATM cardShacom Card Annual FeePer cardHKD50 / RMB50
Replacement of Shacom CardPer cardHKD50 / RMB50
Withdrawal via JETCO ATMs in MacauPer transactionHKD25
Withdrawal via UnionPay networks worldwidePer transactionHKD20 / RMB15
Withdrawal via "Cirrus"/"PLUS" networks worldwidePer transactionHKD25
Low balance service feeAny customer whose "Average daily combined balance" is less than HKD5,000 (or equivalent in foreign currency)Monthly for each accountHKD60

Inward remittance service fees⁴:

Categories UniteFees
Deposited in a Shanghai Commercial Bank accountVia Bank Electronic Clearing House System (CHATS)Per transactionHKD20
Via wire transferPer transactionHKD65
Transfer to other banksBanks in Hong Kong / China / Macau / TaiwanPer transactionHKD220
Other Overseas Banks HKD270

Outward remittance service fees⁴:

Categories UniteFees
Send wire transfer - submission to branchHKD remittanceRemittance amount0.125%
MinimumHKD180
MaximumHKD300
Foreign currency remittancePer transactionHKD180 / USD23
Renminbi remittancePer transactionHKD180
Same day transfer to other local banks via CHATS - submission to branchesPer transactionHKD180
Send wire transfer - internet banking submissionHKD remittanceRemittance amount0.125%
MinimumHKD170
MaximumHKD300
Foreign currency remittancePer transactionHKD170 / USD22
Renminbi remittancePer transactionHKD170
Same day transfer to other local banks via CHATS - submit to branchesPer transactionHKD60 / USD8
Agency fee (if applicable)Via the CHATS of Shanghai Commercial BankPer transactionHKD250 / USD32
Via wire transfer in USDPer transactionHKD250 / USD32
Via wire transfer in EURRemittance amount0.15%
MinimumEUR35
MaximumEUR300
Via wire transfer in JPYRemittance amount0.05%
MinimumJPY3,500
Via wire transfer in SGDRemittance amount0.125%
MinimumSGD50
MaximumSGD150
Via wire transfer in other currenciesPer transactionHKD250
Drafts / chequesIssuance of drafts / chequesPer transactionHKD100 / USD13
Return and Cancellation of drafts / chequesPer transactionHKD100 / USD13
Report loss of drafts / chequesPer transactionHKD200 / USD26

Note: We have listed above the most important service charges for deposits, domestic transfers, and international transfers through Shanghai Commercial Bank. Click here to learn more about the fees and charges for lending and overdraft, document enquiry, and securities services.

Fees and other important things to know about transferring money out of China using Shanghai Commercial Bank

Currency exchange rate⁵:

When exchanging foreign notes or making international wire transfers for clients, Shanghai Commercial Bank uses a ‘marked-up rate’, which is set by the bank's own buy and sell price, in order for them to make a profit on transactions

International transfer fees:

If you are making an international transfer with Shanghai Commercial Bank, you can refer to the above inward and outward remittance service fees. Also bear in mind that the fees will include the bank's profit margin on the use of a marked-up rate.

Time to deliver transactions⁶:

Shanghai Commercial Bank's wide network enables it to send money quickly to any location in the world. Please check with Shanghai Commercial Bank for specifics as the time for the payee to receive the payment may vary due to time-zone differences and cut-off times of receiving banks.

Documents you need to to bring:

Whether you are making a international telegraphic transfer and submitting to a branch or transferring online, you will need to fill in an Application for Remittance⁷.

Wise: A cheap and hassle-free way to transfer your earnings out of China!

Shanghai Commercial Bank is a nice option to transfer money abroad from China. Alternatively, you can use Wise! Founded in 2011, Wise is an international money transfer app, now serving over 16 million people throughout the world. Benefits of sending money from China via Wise include the use of the mid-market rate, having a fully functional website and app, enabling users to send money to 160+ countries, including China.

Receiving and exchanging foreign currency are two more examples of how easy and affordable Wise's service is. There are more than 40 different currencies you can choose from to hold or convert at the mid-market rate. So you can receive RMB in China and USD in the United States. Make a Wise account to make fast and cheap international money transfers today!

*This service is provided in partnership with a licensed third party payment provider in China.


Source:

  1. Shanghai Commercial Bank: Corporate Profile
  2. Shanghai Commercial Bank: Account Opening Procedures
  3. Shanghai Commercial Bank: Minimum Initial Deposits Amount under Different Currencies
  4. Shanghai Commercial Bank: Banking Service Charges
  5. Shanghai Commercial Bank: Foreign Currency T/T Exchange Rate
  6. Shanghai Commercial Bank: Pay and Transfer
  7. Shanghai Commercial Bank: Application for Remittance

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

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