In China since 1925
OCBC’s first branch in China opened in Xiamen in 1925. The Chinese legal entity, headquartered in Shanghai, has operated since 2007 and has 13 branches.
Bank account opening
Bank account openingAn OCBC China account for a foreign company — no link to Asia needed
OCBC’s Shenzhen branch opens an NRA or an FTN for a foreign company — with no link to China or Asia, no office and no deposit. The bank expects turnover from USD 1 million a month, and the forms are signed remotely and travel by courier.
- No link to Asia
- No office in China or deposit needed
- from USD 1 million
- Monthly turnover the bank expects
- Remote
- Forms by DHL and the director’s original passport
- 3–4 weeks
- Opening from a complete package; tokens — about 2 more weeks
Other banks in China
In short
OCBC’s Shenzhen branch opens an NRA or FTN account for a foreign company with no link to China or Asia, no office and no deposit — given turnover from USD 1 million a month. Forms are signed remotely and sent by DHL; opening takes 3–4 weeks from a complete package, tokens about 2 more weeks.
Checked 18 October 2026 · Elizaveta Germash
OCBC China — an account for a company with no link to Asia but serious turnover
OCBC China is the Chinese bank of Singapore’s OCBC group, headquartered in Shanghai. Unlike HSBC and Standard Chartered, its Shenzhen branch doesn’t require a link to China or Asia. The bar is high, though: the bank expects turnover from USD 1 million a month and looks closely at the industry, owners and counterparties.
The threshold is turnover, not region
A company from the UAE, Europe or elsewhere can apply without Chinese partners, an office or a deposit. Scale decides — from USD 1 million a month.
Industry — per the bank’s list
Trading, logistics, consulting and IT are the core; the bank reviews others case by case. Raw materials, energy and the jewellery industry are not accepted.
A new company — letters of intent
Without an account history the bank relies on current letters of intent or the history of a related company: it needs to see the future operations.
Remote, but with the original passport
The bank sends the forms by DHL courier. The director signs them per the instructions and returns them with the original passport, and an authorised person goes to the bank the same day.
Expert tip
The package first goes to the bank’s manager for a preliminary review. We check that the application describes the business the same way as the letters of intent: activity, turnover, counterparties. The bank will be the first to spot any mismatch.
Elizaveta GermashLawyer · Bank accountsWho it suits
Who it suits — and when to choose something else
A good fit if
- 01A company with no link to China or Asia — from the UAE, Europe or elsewhere — regularly pays Chinese suppliers.
- 02Turnover through the account is from USD 1 million a month, and you can show it with contracts or a track record.
- 03You are in trading, logistics, consulting or IT.
- 04The director can’t travel to China: the forms are signed remotely.
- 05You need letters of credit and payments without turnover limits on the account.
Consider something else if
- 01Turnover is below USD 1 million a month, but the business is linked to China or Asia. HSBC in Shanghai expects from USD 1 million a year.HSBC
- 02You need to start paying in days, not weeks, and without turnover. A payment platform with account details at partner Chinese banks is set up in 3–7 working days.Payment platforms
- 03You need Stripe or PayPal. They can’t be connected to an NRA account: it isn’t opened in Hong Kong.Hong Kong
- 04The company is in raw materials, energy or jewellery — OCBC doesn’t accept these.
- 05The director or shareholders will change soon — OCBC dislikes changes in ownership, so it’s better to apply with the final line-up.
OCBC in China and in Hong Kong
Shenzhen or Hong Kong: two doors into one bank
Within the OCBC group, an account for trade with China can be opened both in Shenzhen and in Hong Kong — with different requirements. Terms based on our practice as of October 2026; the decision always rests with the bank.
- Whose company
Any foreign company
no company of your own in China needed
- Link to China or Asia
Not needed
- How it’s opened
Remotely or in person
forms by DHL and the original passport
- Entry threshold
Turnover from USD 1 million a month
no deposit needed
Click an option to highlight it across every parameter
Benefits
What you get
Self-check
Does the company meet OCBC China’s requirements?
Tick what is true for your company. If even one item doesn’t apply, tell us — we’ll suggest what to fix or which bank is more realistic.
Tick what is true for you
0/7Tick the items to see whether you qualifyOn the basic requirements the company fits OCBC China — the bank decides after reviewing the package
Turnover below the threshold?Another option
HSBC in Shanghai expects from USD 1 million a year, but only with a link to China or Asia. Without turnover it’s faster to start with a payment platform.
Company just set up?History
The bank relies on current letters of intent — for example, with a supplier and with a buyer — or on the history of a related company.
OCBC China requirements based on our practice as of October 2026. The decision to open an account is made by the bank.
Let’s discuss the details
A new company, with turnover still ahead?
Tell us who you plan to work with. We’ll help put your arrangements with counterparties into letters of intent — so OCBC sees your real future operations.
Process
7 steps from the first conversation to the result
Every step is visible in the client portal: what’s happening now and whether we need anything from you.
Steps on your side: 3 of 7
We review the business, turnover, counterparties and ownership. If OCBC isn’t a fit, we tell you straight away which bank or channel is more realistic.
Step 1 of 7
Profile check
We review the business, turnover, counterparties and ownership. If OCBC isn’t a fit, we tell you straight away which bank or channel is more realistic.
Documents
What to gather for OCBC — for an established company and a new one
Tick what you already have — we’ll send the manager whatever is missing as one list.
Information
Information
Documents
Documents
Ready
0 / 11
The package first goes to the bank’s manager for a preliminary review. The bank may ask for documents not in Chinese to be translated.
Timing and budget
What makes up the budget
OCBC doesn’t require a deposit, and its price list has no account maintenance fee — you pay for online banking, tokens and transfers. Amounts follow the bank’s price list effective 19 December 2025: indicative as of October 2026, the bank has the final say.
- DepositDepends onNot required — based on our practice as of October 2026.WhenAt opening
- OCBC Velocity online bankingDepends on80 RMB a month or 1,000 RMB a year — monthly by default for a non-resident account.WhenMonthly
- TokenDepends on100 RMB per token; there are normally two — for the director and the finance manager.WhenAt opening
- Outgoing foreign currency transferDepends on0.1% of the amount, minimum USD 25, maximum USD 150, plus USD 25 per SWIFT message. To OCBC group banks in their local currency — USD 45 with no message fee.WhenPer transaction
- Incoming transfer to an NRADepends onUSD 5 per foreign currency payment.WhenPer transaction
- Cross-border yuan transferDepends on0.1% of the amount, minimum 150 RMB, maximum 850 RMB.WhenPer transaction
- Currency conversionDepends onIn online banking — no commission, at the bank’s rate.WhenPer transaction
- Courier, translations, our supportDepends onDelivery of the forms and the original passport, translation of documents into Chinese — if the bank asks, our work on the package and the bank visit.WhenAt opening
Getting it right
Common mistakes — and how to avoid them
Click a card to see how to do it right · 0 of 6 open
01 What people often do
Applying with a new company with only its articles and a promise of future turnover.
02 What people often do
Overstating turnover to clear the USD 1 million threshold.
03 What people often do
Changing a director or shareholder soon after opening.
04 What people often do
Planning payouts to private individuals through the account.
05 What people often do
Signing the forms “as usual” and sending them without the passport.
06 What people often do
Counting on connecting Stripe or PayPal to the account.
FAQ
Expert answers
Elizaveta Germash — Bank accounts
No. The Shenzhen branch opens NRA and FTN accounts for companies without Chinese partners, an office in China or a deposit. What matters is turnover — from USD 1 million a month — and the industry: trading, logistics, consulting, IT, others case by case.
Elizaveta Germash · Bank accountsSources
- OCBC China — business price list
- OCBC China — business accounts
- OCBC China — account opening guide
- OCBC China — payments and transfers
- OCBC China — notice on beneficial owner checks (AML)
- OCBC China — bank profile
- SAFE (China's FX regulator) — rules on non-resident accounts
- State Council of China — Deposit Insurance Regulations
Deadlines, amounts and rules are based on these sources as of the check date. Rules change: check with us before deciding.
Often goes with this
What else you may need
Next step
Will OCBC open an account for your company?
Tell us about the business, turnover and counterparties. Before submission we’ll say whether the company meets OCBC’s requirements and assemble the package for the bank’s preliminary review.
Elizaveta GermashLawyer · Bank accounts