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Post by AMonk on Sept 3, 2006 19:21:21 GMT 7
I have just finishied reading the threads on transferring funds But my question is a little different....How good is the HSBC rep in PRC?
My (local) bank was bought out by HSBC last year. So far it's not humbugged my accounts. Is it realiable enough to keep HSBC as my primary banking source, or would I be better starting with another Bank when the time comes?
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Post by Raoul Duke on Sept 3, 2006 21:42:50 GMT 7
HSBC is a good bank. Should be a big step up from the local banks!
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Post by con's fly is open on Sept 5, 2006 12:18:35 GMT 7
A great yardstick: the bigger the chain, the better the bank.
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Crippler
Barfly
Beware the conspiracy!
Posts: 345
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Post by Crippler on Sept 6, 2006 7:31:20 GMT 7
A great yardstick: the bigger the chain, the better the bank. And the more damage it does to your back!  |
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Post by Raoul Duke on Sept 7, 2006 15:16:21 GMT 7
Oooo, not sure I agree. Bank of China (aka 'Bank of Mei-You') may be the biggest bank chain in China, and these people are the biggest idiots in the country...
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Post by Mr Nobody on Sept 8, 2006 0:18:53 GMT 7
It is the duty of any government to ensure the disabled can make a living.
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Post by Raoul Duke on Sept 8, 2006 0:22:59 GMT 7
And in China, that's a mighty big job!  But yeah, I think the Bank of China is another rehab program, like the truck drivers... |
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Post by con's fly is open on Sept 13, 2006 14:21:53 GMT 7
And the post office. Not to mention a third of the cab drivers in Suzhou.
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Post by Lotus Eater on Sept 13, 2006 21:51:37 GMT 7
Hey - taxi drivers can be great! Talk to them, make jokes with them - they will be friendly and fun.
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Post by stefista on Sept 13, 2006 23:22:18 GMT 7
Hey, Zhongguo Yinhang (Bank of China) did fine in Kunshan last year. They were the only game in town for foreign currency services and I had no problems. Sure Chinese state-owned banks are crap (see my academic paper on the subject from Chinese Politics class in college) but in all honesty, they won't be allowed to fail, so if your only business is depositing your RMB pay with intention to convert it or spend it, then Bank of China is great. BTW, at the main sub-branches (in Kunshan there is only one; I don't know about other cities) you can have a Chinese friend convert your money to US dollars without limitation. And the great thing about a corrupt and stupid bank is...they don't care if you really blatantly withdraw all your money and hand it to a Chinese friend who then walks back up to the counter and converts it for you. |
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Post by Raoul Duke on Sept 14, 2006 1:05:55 GMT 7
Stefista, I can promise you there were other choices in Kunshan. They just don't have signs.  The problem with BOC on this is not the safety of the bank, but the incredible bureaucratic and communications ordeal you can be put through in the process of converting and wiring money there. If your Kunshan branch was good, then you were lucky. I've been through multi-day nightmares trying to do this in other ones. I'll take the black market and Western Union any day. Similarly, Lotus, you may get cool cabbies where you are, but it's definitely not the full lay of the land. In Suzhou you get a very few jewels among a lot of idiots and/or assholes. In Shanghai the "nice" ratio is a bit higher. In Beijing, some of the most predatory animals in China are driving taxis. Location is everything. |
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Post by stefista on Sept 14, 2006 6:39:31 GMT 7
Correction: excluding Western Union, BOC was the only game in town for LEGIT foreign currency services.
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