A woman applies for a business license at a self-service machine at a branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in Rugao. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Rugao, a county-level city in Nantong, recently set up a "one-stop" self service area at the Rugao branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, allowing business operators to apply for and receive business licenses within half a day, local media outlets reported.

There is no need to go to the administrative service center. The business license is available at the nearby bank, which exempted us from going between different departments, said Gong Yuehong, an executive of a local information technology company.

Under the guidance of bank staff, Gong completed a series of administrative procedures, including identification verification, completing the application for a business license, official stamp engraving, and tax declaration on a self-service registration machine within half a day.

"Previously, the applicant had to visit six different departments and it usually took five to 10 days to complete the procedures," said an official from the local administrative bureau.

In recent years, Rugao has been working on streamlining administrative procedures and improve government services. The cooperation between the government and banks is part of the efforts to bring more convenience to companies.

The city has also developed a platform for companies to apply for business licenses, which allows different departments to examine digital materials and give their approvals online, to save time for applicants.