Qidong residents are able to complete the whole process of business startups at more banking outlets, with the recent deepening of government-bank cooperation. [Photo/WeChat account: qdrmt0513]

The county-level city of Qidong – administered by Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province – recently opened the third batch of banking outlets that are providing one-stop services for business startups.

"In addition to financial services, the bank can also handle administrative approval affairs, which provides great convenience for us," said businessmen Mr Liu and Mr Shen, who on Jan 20 obtained their business licenses at Qidong Rural Commercial Bank, after a one-stop service outlet was launched there.

At the outlets, the entire process of starting a new company has been shortened to two hours on average. The operator of an enterprise needs only to prepare all the materials required for the establishment of a business. He or she can then complete the whole process of obtaining a business license, seal engraving, bank account opening, tax-related matters, social security registration and provident fund deposits registration at one window of a bank outlet.

The electronic registration archives of enterprises can be checked at the city's government service center, the people-oriented service centers in Qidong's towns and sub-districts and the banking outlets – through verifying the legal representative's identity or the electronic business license.

Government-bank cooperation is regarded an important measure that Qidong is taking to further streamline its administration, delegate power and upgrade its services. The reform optimizes the business environment, extends channels for handling government affairs and increases the convenience of starting up new enterprises.