Which first bank account to get?

[Beach]

@Mataiou

As @justintaiwan said the post office is probably the easiest account to open, but requires u to get a personal seal.

The seal would just have the name in English or would you need to have a name in Chinese?

[justintaiwan]

It can be english

[anon24369109]

@Beach

With a HSBC Premier checking account (US, will open one in TW), is it going to be easier to get a credit card approved with HSBC TW (if having an HSBC TW credit card helps when I apply for other local credit cards (with better rewards, benefits)?

I have not applied for a HSBC Taiwan credit card. Last year however I applied for the HSBC Credit Card in HSBC HK as I am a Premier Account holder there. I was approved as soon as I applied with a credit limit of HK$400,000. I have been with HSBC HK for over 20 years. I do not live or work in HK so have no income there also.

I’m sure if you open a Premier account in Taiwan you should be able to get one of the HSBC Credit cards. I haven’t applied as I dont want to have a card collection

[Beach]

@anon24369109

I was approved as soon as I applied with a credit limit of HK$400,000.

HK instead of TW - interesting choice. Is it because HK is more generous with credit limits (and they are!) or they offer better card benefits?

@anon24369109

I’m sure if you open a Premier account in Taiwan you should be able to get one of the HSBC Credit cards.

I suppose technically I may not need a local card - I have US cards with no foreign transaction fees. I’m thinking if somewhere down the road I want to buy a small unit in a 電梯大樓, having local credit cards may help with getting a loan.

[anon24369109]

HSBC premier you can transfer credit history from other countries.

I applied for the HSBC HK credit card as a lark not expecting to get one lol.
There is a credit card success thread on this forum.

[Beach]

@anon24369109

HSBC premier you can transfer credit history from other countries.

Good to know. I don’t currently have a credit card with HSBC US but I hope HSBC TW will take my US credit history into account via HSBC US.

While browsing the HSBC TW credit card pages, I noticed on their card comparison page that the Premier Credit Card offered free airport lounge access. I couldn’t believe that a (basically) no annual fee card offered that. Then I checked the main page for the Premier card and didn’t see lounge access mentioned there. Hmm… looks like an error on the card comparison page.

@anon24369109

I applied for the HSBC HK credit card as a lark not expecting to get one lol.

Ha. Looks like they offer some nice sign-up bonuses. The high credit limit may come in handy when you need it.

@anon24369109

There is a credit card success thread on this forum.

Thanks. I’ll be following that thread.

[YJ]

Hi, thank you for the suggestions here. I have a complex situation right now and need a bank account in Taiwan as soon as possible to link it for my business.

I am not in Taiwan right now, and I have few window of days in August when I can visit there. I wanted to know if I can get the checking account done online with Bank of Taiwan? Also, I got approved for Gold Card but haven’t collected it yet as I haven’t been there yet.

Would I need a proper 10-15 days thing to set stuff up?

[anon24369109]

A personal account or a business account. Two are separate. So are you running your own business and want a business account in Taiwan?

Most banks dont really offer checking accounts as no one uses checks anymore. So you need to look at a normal saving’s account.

I have accounts and separate business accounts with Taiwan Co Operative bank and personal account with HSBC.

HSBC were easy to deal with. Although I have personal HSBC Premier accounts both here and in Hong Kong.

[Chris59]

Planning to open my first bank account at the post office. Anything to be careful about? (e.g. tax-wise?)

I mainly want to use it for iPass Money to transfer money to friends via line.

[CTaitung]

Tax-wise for which country and for what reason?
If U.S. citizen, will hsve to report it if total assets in Taiwan in bank system over a certain threshold.

[Chris59]

Germany. Also does the post office bank has an App I have to separately apply for?

[CTaitung]

Yes, it has an app.
search for 行動郵局

[afterspivak]

@Andrew

Convenience stores still charge a small fee.

I’ve paid my utility bills countless times at a convenience store and I have never, not once, been charged “a small fee” (or any fee) to do so.

Guy

[slawa]

@CTaitung

search for 行動郵局

play.google.com

行動郵局

The "Mobile Post Office" APP creates a simple and convenient user interface for you, featuring functions such as quick scan code payment, transfer, cardless withdrawal, online bill payment, email and policy inquiry...

Free

Don’t remember if it is geo restricted to Taiwan.

[Chris59]

Seems to work fine with my german google account. But luckily I have multiple accounts and one is set to Taiwan. Easy to switch around. Some important apps are really only available in the taiwanese account.

[Andrew]

@afterspivak

I’ve paid my utility bills countless times at a convenience store and I have never, not once, been charged “a small fee” (or any fee) to do so.

How? Were you using something other than cash?

[afterspivak]

@Andrew

[Regarding the payment of utility bills at convenience stores:] Were you using something other than cash?

Always cash.

I’ve never been charged an extra fee, large or small.

Guy

[Andrew]

@afterspivak

Always cash.

I’ve never been charged an extra fee, large or small.

I think I’ve figured out the discrepancy:

Electricity/water: No charge
NHI bills (which I guess is done through your employer): NT$4–5 per bill

[afterspivak]

I’d add: telecommunications bills (Chunghua Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, etc) are also no charge.

You are correct in presuming that my NHI payment is deducted at source—I’ve never paid for it at a convenience store or anywhere else.

Guy

[Mataiou]

I think also credit card bills paid at Konbini have a surcharge. Paid only once like that long time ago, can’t remember though