Shekou holds Chinese banking crash course for expats

A packed salon in Shekou turned into a crash course in Chinese banking for expat residents and entrepreneurs Tuesday, helping participants manage everyday finances and overcome common banking challenges.

Expat residents and entrepreneurs listen to a bank representative at a salon on Chinese banking in Shekou Tuesday. Photos courtesy of Shekou MSCE

Organized by the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE), the Banking Services for Foreigners in Shenzhen seminar featured two English-speaking, internationally trained banking professionals from Bank of China (BOC) and Bank of East Asia (BEA). They delivered hands-on guidance on opening accounts, foreign-exchange rules, salary and property remittances, and wealth management.

A glimpse into the salon.

Designed for newcomers, long-term residents, and entrepreneurs alike, the event focused on real-world solutions. Liu Yangpeiying, an integrated service manager at BOC, discussed account-opening procedures, foreign exchange settlements, common financial risks, and preventive measures. BEA’s Zhuang Qilin provided operational guidelines and policy interpretations, illustrating cross-border remittances with concrete case examples.

Their clear presentations drew applause and kept the room engaged. Brian Chamberlin, an engineer from the U.K. who works for Shenzhen-based telecom giant Huawei in Longgang District, said the seminar answered nearly all the banking questions he brought with him. “The salon is really informative,” he said.

An expat attendee (L) talks to Liu Yangpeiying from Bank of China at the salon Tuesday evening.

The Q&A session ran longer than originally scheduled as participants pressed for deeper clarifications on their real-life problems, from foreign exchange to cross-border fund planning.

Andre, an entrepreneur from New Zealand preparing to start his own business in Shenzhen, said the event gave him confidence to handle corporate foreign exchange and banking affairs. “The professional banking knowledge I learned tonight will better guide me on to-dos and not-to-dos for opening and running a company,” he said.

Zhuang Qilin from BEA (L) listens to questions from an attendee during the salon in Shekou Tuesday evening.

For newcomers like Maria from Jamaica, the seminar proved immediately useful. Maria, who has not yet opened a Chinese bank account, said the salon helped her compare options and narrowed down the choices. “I haven’t got a Chinese bankcard yet, but I can’t wait to get one!”

The seminar was this month's edition of the “Hot Topic in Shekou” service series, which has been launched to give expats professional, authoritative information on pressing foreign-related issues. The Shekou MSCE said it will continue to host events that respond directly to the financial and daily-life needs of the international community in Shenzhen.