🇹🇼 Taiwan · Business Banking
Opening business and personal bank accounts, remote options, required documents, and fees.
Quick answer
A valid Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) plus your passport is the standard way to open a personal account; you also need a local phone number, an email and proof of a Taiwan residential address (not a PO box or hotel). Without an ARC you can open a basic savings account at Chunghwa Post using a Record of ID No., and some banks accept a passport with a temporary immigration ID at their discretion. The FSC regulates banks and the Central Deposit Insurance Corporation insures deposits. A company uses its registration documents.
Banks are regulated by the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), with the Central Bank conducting monetary policy. A company needs its registration documents to open a corporate account.
- The FSC licenses and supervises banks and financial institutions.
- Opening a corporate account requires the company registration and representative ID.
- Deposit insurance is provided by the Central Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Step-by-step
- 1
Secure your ARC (or an alternative ID)
A valid Alien Resident Certificate is the standard requirement; without one, Chunghwa Post basic savings via a Record of ID No. is the common fallback.
- 2
Choose a bank
A major bank (Bank of Taiwan, CTBC, Cathay United, E.SUN, Taishin) or Chunghwa Post; policies for foreigners vary by branch.
- 3
Gather your documents
Your ARC and passport, a local phone number, an email, and proof of a Taiwan residential address (not a PO box or hotel).
- 4
Open the account in person
Most banks require a branch visit; a 2026 One-Stop initiative with several banks aims to standardise foreigner onboarding and reduce repeat visits.
- 5
For a company, use the registration documents
A corporate account requires the company registration and the representative's ID.
Checklist
- Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)
- Passport
- Local phone number + email
- Proof of Taiwan residential address (not PO box/hotel)
- Company registration + representative ID — business accounts
Official authorities
- Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC)
Financial regulator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open a Taiwan bank account without an ARC?
Yes, to a degree — you can open a basic savings account at Chunghwa Post using a Record of ID No., and some banks accept a passport with a temporary immigration ID at their discretion, but a valid ARC is the standard route.
Are deposits insured in Taiwan?
Yes — the Central Deposit Insurance Corporation insures eligible deposits up to the statutory limit, and the FSC supervises banks.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.