What you'll need
- access to CZCB online banking;
- account numbers — the foreign-currency account (USD/EUR) and the yuan account (CNY) — and the customs code;
- the trade documents: contract, invoice and bill of lading.
Currency exchange in online banking
The bank accepts corporate currency-purchase requests on business days (check the exact hours with your bank manager). On public holidays, processing moves to the next business day.
Stage 1. Logging in to online banking
Step 1. Log in to CZCB online banking and open the section shown in the screenshot.
Stage 2. Currency-purchase request
Step 2. Open the currency-purchase section (the sequence is shown in the screenshots below).
Step 3. Enter the account number (USD/EUR), the currency, the amount, the account number (CNY) and the customs code. In type of funds, select 一般贸易 ("general trade").
Step 4. Click the button shown in the screenshot.
Stage 3. Documents and confirmation
Step 5. Confirm the details and upload the trade documents — the contract, the invoice and the bill of lading.
Step 6. Click the button shown in the screenshot — the request is sent for review.
Once the review is complete, the entry is confirmed and the currency is purchased at the rate in effect at the time of the entry.
Stage 4. Managing the currency purchase
Operations that have cleared review in the international settlement system can be found in the section shown in the screenshot.
Step 7. In the section that opens, click the button shown in the screenshot.
Step 8. Click the transaction number to view the transaction details (see the screenshots below).
Step 9. Done! Click print to print the currency-purchase receipt (see the screenshot below).
Exchanging currency at a bank branch
To exchange currency at a branch, you need to bring the physical trade documents to the bank.
If the request is rejected
If the request is rejected, the bank states the reason through your manager; the typical reason is an incomplete set of trade documents.
Q/A
Can an application be submitted without a contract, invoice or transport documents?
Do not assume that one universal minimum pack exists. Under SAFE rules, the bank reviews the transaction’s authenticity, reasonableness and internal consistency and chooses evidence through customer due diligence. Agree the contract, invoice, customs and transport documents for the particular payment with the bank in advance.
Can “general trade” be selected only because it is quicker to approve?
No. The foreign-exchange category must match the transaction’s real economic purpose, contract, goods, customs treatment and payment description. A false classification creates inconsistencies in the SAFE and bank review; choose the code from the transaction documents, not from the convenience of the interface.
Which data should match across the documents and the bank form?
At a minimum, the parties, amount and currency, contract and invoice references, description of goods or services, customs information and payment purpose should form a consistent chain. The exact fields depend on the transaction and the current CZCB form, so screenshot instructions should be checked before submission.
Does an “approved” status mean that the beneficiary has received the funds?
No. Application approval, execution of the foreign-exchange transaction, account debit, interbank processing and beneficiary credit are separate stages. After approval, verify the actual debit, bank receipt and beneficiary status; if delayed, request the payment reference or trace details from the bank.
What should be done after a conversion or payment application is rejected?
Do not resubmit the same form blindly or invent missing information. Preserve the rejection reason, reconcile it with the contract, invoice, customs and transport evidence, and ask the bank manager what correction is acceptable. A new application should resolve and explain the inconsistency, not conceal it.