How to Fix Bank Account for a Friend Abroad?

Hi Everyone,

I would appreciate advice.

1. I had a friend-girlfriend- an ex-fiance from North Africa.

2. I brought her here to study. She had an ICBC bank account.

3. When COVID came, her family bought her a ticket to return to North Africa.

4. She still has about 10,000 RMB in an ICBC account. Yet, it is near-impossible to access it:

a. She has her ICBC card, but her North African country does not use UnionPay for ATM machines.
b. Her passport may have even expired
c. Her Wechat either doesn't work, or let her transfer money

5. Any options on what to do?

There may be a way to sign the money to me, and I can send via Western Union?

It's possible that with a properly apostiled power of attorney, someone in China could access the account.  It's also possible that this isn't an option.

You need to find someone at an ICBC who knows the rules or else consult with a lawyer.

1. Thank you. You give good advice and I will ask these people.

2. More practically, it might be best to either:

a. Have her travel to a nearby place that will take her UnionPay, ICBC ATM (Turkey?)
b. She can wait to come back to China

If she is coming back and doesn't need the money right now, waiting is fine.  I had a few hundred RMB in a bank account the first time I left China.  18 months later, I came back and it was still there.  That bank account has outlived 2 passports and I now need to go and add my updated Green Card to it when I get some free time.