Where to Go to Set Up Your Bank Account

Setting Up Your Bank Account:

I highly recommend setting up a bank account once you receive your ARC number.  This will be the easiest most economical way to get money from your home country to Taiwan.  While there are many banks in Taiwan (and feel free to do your own research), most people just use the post office.  The post offices in Taiwan have a dual function as a bank.  They are also nice since they are everywhere (even in many temples, much to my brother’s surprise when he visited) and you can easy distinguish them by keeping your eyes out for this symbol:

Another reason I suggest using the post office bank is that there is one located right on campus for students to use. From Guoqing dorm, it is about a 5-10 minute walk.

From the outside this is what the building looks like. It is the large building with all the food shops on the second floor. It is usually crowded by students getting food, so it is hard to miss. The post office itself, is on the first floor behind the stairs.

This is what the office entrance looks like.

 Since it is on the campus as well, there will be an English speaking clerk (not all speak English, so you can ask for one) while other offices may not have one.

Once inside, go and grab a number to be put in the queue, and wait for the next available counter.  There will be someone who speaks English to assist you in setting up your account.  They will also give you instructions on how to transfer money for international accounts.  It usually take 3-5 days for the money to transfer, but after that you will have a full functioning account. (I am confused about what you are referring to here. International wire transfers originate from the the sending bank, and the reader may assume that the post office can arrange that--maybe they can, but I am doubtful.  You may want to explain that the sending bank needs the destination information, such as the routing number and the bank account number for the Taiwanese bank account, and that information comes from the Taiwanese post office.)