Bank Suggestions for Foreigners

2023-04-20

With so many banks to choose from in Taiwan, opening a bank account can be a time-consuming and challenging process. However, we’re here to help you save both time and effort. Drawing from our own experiences, we’d like to offer some suggestions to ensure you avoid any potential trial and error.

CTBC Bank （中國信託）

Reasons to recommend this bank:

The bank has a partnership with 7-11, making it very convenient to withdraw money.
The bank’s app is user-friendly and allows you to withdraw money using a QR code on the app. This means that even if you forget your debit card, you can still withdraw cash from any 7-11 without paying any transaction fees.

Citibank Taiwan（花旗銀行）

Reasons to recommend this bank:

Since Citibank has branches in multiple countries, there are more favorable transaction fees for international remittances.
The credit card rewards offered by this bank are high. Additionally, if you are a movie enthusiast, Citibank has a close partnership with Warner Village Cinemas, which offers excellent discounts.

Still hungry? Here’s more

How do a foreigner get a phone number in Taiwan?

If you are a foreigner who would like to apply for a cell phone number in Taiwan, you will need to follow these steps: 1. Bring your passport and Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) to a Taiwan telecommunications company, such as Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, or FarEasTone.

Eating Like a Local in Taiwan

Unlike other countries, breakfast in Taiwan is a serious affair. With a plethora of options ranging from traditional to western-style dishes, it’s no surprise that locals consider it the most important meal of the day. Indulge in the authentic Taiwanese breakfast of rice porridge and pork or try the beloved soymilk and baked buns.