For the purpose of improving the service level of individual domestic and foreign currency exchange businesses and satisfying the ever-increasing demand for individual domestic and foreign currency exchange, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has approved the carrying out of pilots for individual domestic and foreign currency exchange franchise businesses in Beijing and Shanghai .
In the pilots, eligible domestic non-financial institutions may provide domestic and foreign currency exchange services for individuals upon approval, operate domestic individual foreign exchange sale and purchase business and overseas individual foreign exchange sale business within the prescribed annual total quota, and handle the business of converting RMB into foreign currency for overseas individuals, with a cumulative amount not exceeding the equivalent of US$ 500 per person per day (US$ 1000 in outlets within the borders of the PRC but outside  Customs).
Institutions operating individual domestic and foreign currency exchange franchise businesses shall use the uniform exchange mark provided by the SAFE, and can use their own brands to conduct autonomous management and to take full responsibility for their own profits and losses; they may decide with which bank to cooperate, may choose the currencies for the listed transactions in line with their own service ability, and may determine their listed exchange rate with reference to the relevant provisions of the Administration of the Exchange Rate of the Peoples Bank of China.
According to international experience, the individual domestic and foreign currency exchange market generally comprises bank outlets, franchise foreign currency dealers, and some specially engaged merchants, and it is a multi-level service system relating to different customer groups and different customer characteristics. The trial operation of the individual domestic and foreign currency exchange franchise business is conducive to taking advantage of the long business hours, various exchange currencies, flexible operating mechanisms, and specialized services of the operating institutions, which complement the domestic and foreign currency exchange business of the banks to better service the individual domestic and foreign currency exchange business. (End)