Published · Bangladesh

Opening a Corporate Bank Account in China: A Practical Guide for Bangladeshi Founders

A practical, plain-English guide for Bangladeshi founders on opening and operating a corporate bank account in China, covering account types, documents, the role of the representative office or WFOE, common bottlenecks, and cross-border payments with Bangladesh.

If you are a founder from Bangladesh setting up a business in China, opening a corporate bank account is one of those tasks that looks simple on paper but can quietly delay your whole launch. The bank branch is only the last step. What really decides whether you get an account, and how quickly, is the paperwork you prepared months earlier: your Chinese legal entity, your business licence, your registered address, and a clear story about what your company actually does.

This article gives you the practical picture. It is general information for planning, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Banking rules in China are set by regulators and applied differently by each bank and branch, so always confirm the current requirements directly with your chosen bank and with a qualified local adviser.

First, understand what the bank is actually checking

Chinese banks are required to follow strict anti-money-laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) rules. When you apply for a corporate account, the bank is not just opening a place to hold money. It is assessing whether your company is real, legal, and understandable.

In practice, the bank wants to see three things:

• A genuine legal entity. Usually a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE), a joint venture, or a branch of a foreign company. A representative office can open accounts, but its permitted activities are limited.
• A real presence. A registered address, a lease or proof of premises, and people who can be reached. Banks are wary of shell companies.
• A clear business story. What you import, export, manufacture, or sell; who your customers and suppliers are; and where the money will come from and go to.

Founders from Bangladesh often assume the bank cares most about the size of the initial deposit. In reality, the bank cares more about whether the account activity makes sense. A well-explained small trading company is easier to onboard than a vague company with a large deposit.

Get the Chinese entity in place first

You cannot open a standard corporate RMB account as a Bangladeshi individual. The account belongs to a Chinese-registered entity. So the sequence usually looks like this:

• Choose the entity type (most first-time founders use a WFOE).
• Register the company with the local Administration for Market Regulation and obtain the business licence (营业执照).
• Complete tax registration and, where relevant, foreign exchange registration.
• Have a company seal set made (company seal, legal representative seal, finance seal, and contract seal as applicable).
• Then approach a bank.

Your business licence is the single most important document. Banks will also ask for the Articles of Association, the legal representative's ID or passport, the identity documents of the authorised signatory, and proof of the registered address.

One practical point for Bangladeshi founders: the legal representative does not always have to be physically present in China for every step, but banks increasingly prefer to see the legal representative or an authorised signatory in person at account opening. Ask the bank early whether a video interview or a power of attorney is accepted, and whether the documents need to be notarised, apostilled, or legalised. Requirements for foreign documents can vary by bank and city, so confirm before you courier anything from Dhaka.

The two accounts you will likely need

Most foreign-invested companies in China end up with more than one account. Two are essential:

Basic deposit account (基本存款账户)

This is your main operating account. It is used for day-to-day payments, salaries, and tax payments. A company can generally have only one basic account, and it is the account from which you can withdraw cash. Opening it usually requires the bank to verify your registered address, sometimes with an on-site visit.

General deposit account (一般存款账户)

You can open general accounts for specific purposes, such as receiving loan funds or managing a particular project. These are additional to the basic account and are useful once your business grows, but they are not a substitute for getting the basic account right first.

If you will receive foreign currency, ask specifically about a foreign currency account and about your foreign exchange registration. Capital contributions from abroad need to be handled through the correct channel, and the bank will want to see supporting documents for each inbound remittance.

Documents to prepare before you visit the branch

Exact lists differ, but a typical corporate account application package includes:

• Business licence (original and copy).
• Articles of Association.
• Legal representative's passport or ID.
• Identity documents of authorised signatories and, where required, beneficial owners.
• Company seals.
• Proof of registered address: lease agreement, property certificate, or utility bill in the company's name.
• Board resolution or shareholder resolution authorising the account opening and the signatories.
• Business background documents: contracts, invoices, supplier or customer information, and a short description of your business model.

For a Bangladeshi founder, also prepare a clear explanation of the ownership chain. If your Chinese company is owned by a Bangladeshi holding company, the bank may ask for documents on that parent company, including its registration certificate and ownership information. Gaps in the ownership chain are one of the most common reasons applications stall.

Common bottlenecks and how to avoid them

Registered address problems. A virtual or shared address may be accepted for company registration but rejected by some banks. Confirm with the bank before signing a lease that the address is acceptable for account opening.

Unclear business scope. If your business licence lists activities that do not match what you tell the bank, expect questions. Keep your description consistent across all documents.

Missing ownership information. Banks must identify ultimate beneficial owners. Prepare this before you are asked.

Language and sealing. Most documents are in Chinese, and seals matter more than signatures in many processes. Work with a local accountant or corporate services firm who can prepare the Chinese versions and manage the seal process.

Timing. Account opening is not instant. Allow weeks rather than days, especially if the bank schedules an address visit or requests additional documents.

Banking across China and Bangladesh

For trade between the two countries, you will want to understand how payments will flow. Ask your bank about receiving USD or RMB, the documentation required for each inbound payment, and the expected processing time. On the Bangladesh side, your bank will have its own requirements for outward remittances, so coordinate both ends early rather than assuming the Chinese account alone solves the payment question.

It also helps to open a personal Chinese bank account for your own living and travel expenses, separate from the company account. Do not mix personal and company money; Chinese banks monitor this closely, and it complicates tax and audit work later.

A realistic checklist for your first month

• Confirm your entity type and registered address with a local adviser.
• Complete company registration and tax registration.
• Get your seals made.
• Shortlist two or three banks with experience serving foreign-invested companies in your city.
• Ask each bank for its current document list and whether the legal representative must attend in person.
• Prepare your business explanation, ownership chart, and supporting contracts.
• Book the account opening appointment and allow time for verification visits.

Opening a corporate bank account in China rewards preparation more than persistence. If your entity, address, ownership, and business story are clean and consistent, the account opening becomes a routine administrative step rather than a months-long obstacle. Start the paperwork early, keep every document consistent, and confirm each requirement with your bank and a qualified local professional before you commit money or sign a lease.