We’ll say this straight up: Losing your bank card in China is a real inconvenience. As a general rule, you’ll need to wait five work days to have your card replaced. However, these things do happen, so here’s what you need to know.

For Chinese bank cards

First, report the loss to your bank to have your account frozen. You can do this by phone or in person. Most banks will offer an English-language service on their telephone hotlines (see ‘Hotline numbers’, below). 

1. If you are still hopeful about retrieving your card, you may also wish to report the loss to the police. However, in many cases this will be time-consuming, and is unlikely to prove rewarding. 
2. To be issued with a replacement card, you must go to the bank branch where your account was opened.
3. Take the original copy of the ID that you used to open the account and any other documentation verifying that you are the account holder – a bank statement, documents received when you opened the account, or any other paperwork connecting you and your passport number to your account.
4. Some banks may insist on sending a representative to visit you at work.
5. After completing any necessary paperwork, the bank teller will tell you to return to the bank to collect your new card. Usually, banks take five business days to issue a new card. 

Hotline numbers for major banks providing English-language services 

Agricultural Bank of China: 95599
Bank of China: 95566
Bank of Communications: 95559
China Construction Bank: 95533
China Merchants Bank: 95555
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China: 95588

For cards issued outside of China

1. Call your bank to report your card lost and have your account frozen immediately. For information on how to call abroad from China see this article.
2. Follow your bank’s process for issuing a new card.

Useful Chinese words and phrases

Source：onestop