Opening a Business Bank Account in Hong Kong [2023]

Are you starting a new business in Hong Kong, or do you already have an established business you want to expand into Hong Kong and Asia?

Whatever the reason, you will most likely need to open a business bank account in Hong Kong. To be extremely transparent, opening a business bank account in Hong Kong, especially for new Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs), will not be easy. Be prepared to invest time and possibly money to get your business account in Hong Kong without the guarantee that you will be successful in opening one.

In this article, we have gathered some of the most commonly asked questions with answers to help you make the application process as seamless as possible and increase your chances of success in opening a business bank account.

We will also share with you alternatives to traditional banking services that may help you to open a business account for your Hong Kong company because they offer more flexibility and similar services.

💡Alternatively, you can also compare different business accounts yourself using our comparisons guide.

1. Banking Options in Hong Kong

It's no secret that Hong Kong is one of the largest financial hubs in Asia, and the most popular local and international banks you'll come across include:

Currently, there are more than 100 banks licensed to provide business banking services in Hong Kong. That means you definitely have options to open a corporate bank account in Hong Kong.

Should you look for a particular bank, you can download the full list of Hong Kong banks or read our article on the 7 best banks to use in Hong Kong. Furthermore, some banks do provide programs for SMEs, such as DBS and Hang Seng Bank.

Many small businesses, however, are turning to digital bank alternatives such as Statrys, Airwallex, and Currenxie.

💡Choosing your business account: Answer only 10 questions, and we will help you find the best Hong Kong business account for your needs

Still, opening a corporate bank account is only getting more difficult. So what's the catch?

2. Why Is It Difficult to Open Business Bank Accounts in Hong Kong?

To combat money laundering and other criminal activities, almost every country has implemented strict compliance rules on banks, which are a set of guidelines that banks follow in order to avoid any criminal activity slipping into their operations.

These rules are commonly referred to as Know Your Customer (KYC) policies and anti-money laundering regulations (AML).

However, as these compliance rules get more strict and more complex every year, applying them is increasingly costly for banks. They also face the risk of multi-million dollar fines if something goes wrong.

In all, this means SME business accounts become less profitable for Hong Kong banks, so they are becoming less and less interested in serving your SME business needs.

This trend isn't specific to Hong Kong, yet Hong Kong has become one of the countries where it's most challenging to open business a corporate bank account. The HKMA has also said that it may be challenging for banks to perform any background checks for smaller companies, especially for start-ups.

🔎 Insight: Learn why many entrepreneurs find it difficult to open a bank account in Hong Kong.

3. Which Bank Account Do You Need?

When launching your company, you'll need a specific kind of bank account: a business bank account. 

A business bank account is a bank account maintained under the name of a company and is used to serve your business needs in terms of holding, receiving, and sending money.

Some banks also call this a "corporate bank account" or a "commercial bank account."

Why is this important?

First, you must use the correct terminology when applying for an account and ensure you're applying for the correct one as a business.

Second, too many entrepreneurs carry out their company's business using a personal bank account, i.e., an account opened under their name.

This is a recipe for disaster when the time comes to do the company accounting. In the worst-case scenario, you may run the risk of paying both corporate and personal taxes on the profit generated by your business.

4. What Are the Required Documents to Open a Business Bank Account?

The hardest part of opening a business bank account is gathering all the required documents. 

Each bank has its prerequisites for what you need to give to them and how you need to submit the required documents. However, you will find some standard documents that many Hong Kong banks ask for when opening a commercial account. 

Usually, the first thing to do is to complete the bank account application form provided by the bank. It can be found either online or needs to be organised in a branch. If available online, you can download the form and have it filled out before you visit the branch. 

To get an idea of the information required in the application form, you may use the links for some popular Hong Kong banks listed below:

• HSBC
• Standard Chartered
• Bank of China
• Hang Seng Bank

This form is usually the easiest to organise, as you will then have to gather various other necessary documents to accompany this form.

Required Documents for Opening a Business Bank Account

Different banks have different requirements for bank account opening, but you may expect all local and international banks to require at least the following documents:

• A resolution by the board of directors: the purpose of this resolution is to approve the opening of the corporate bank account and give one person the authority to handle the application with the bank.
• Establishment documents: all documents proving that your company was duly incorporated and validly registered in Hong Kong. Business registration documents vary depending on where your company is incorporated. For a Hong Kong company, this includes the certificate of incorporation, a valid business registration certificate, and the articles of association.
• Organisational chart: a chart showing the shareholding and management structure of the company. On one page, this chart must indicate who the directors, the shareholders, and the ultimate beneficial owners of the company are. It must also show the percentage of equity held by the ultimate beneficial owners in the company.
• ID documents: a copy of the ID documents (passport, Hong Kong identity card, or driver's license) of the directors, shareholders, and ultimate beneficial owners.
• Proof of residence: utility bills or bank statements of the directors, shareholders, and ultimate beneficial owners. The proof of residency must indicate the residence address and usually be dated no more than three months.

🔎 Insight: Learn how to find proof of address in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the UK.

• Business plan: a simplified business plan explains the company's business and gives projections of the company's expenses and revenues for the coming 12 months.
• A Certificate of Incumbency: this certificate, also known as the Certificate of Good Standing, is required for offshore companies for which little public information is available. It shall provide information about the management and ownership structure of the company and confirm that it is in good order.

Typically, required documents must be certified true copies which can be done by a lawyer, a public notary, a certified public accountant, or a company secretary.

All these professionals will very likely charge you a fee for their service, so make sure you check with the banks beforehand.

💡 Tip: Check with the bank whether the required documents need to be certified true copies so as not to waste fees.

5. How to Open a Business Account for Companies Outside Hong Kong?

It's completely legal for a Hong Kong bank to provide banking services to a company registered outside of Hong Kong.

It is also possible to apply for a corporate bank account for companies whose shareholders and/or directors are not residents of Hong Kong.

However, either of these situations will often result in Hong Kong banks being reluctant to open a corporate bank account.

Why is this the case? 

Put yourself in the bank's shoes: why would a company with no presence in Hong Kong need a business bank account here?

Opening a corporate bank account is especially questionable when the offshore companies are registered in some exotic location known for its lack of transparency.

If you have business opportunities in the region, you may consider registering a Hong Kong company to increase your success in opening your business account.

This would make your life easier with the banks and give you more time to focus on your business endeavours.

6. Is It Possible to Open a Business Account Online?

Until not too long ago, it was impossible to complete the whole process of opening a business account online. Times are changing, though, and some Hong Kong banks now offer remote sign-up services (sometimes with a hefty fee) to open a new business account. 

However, the traditional process is still the most common. Depending on the bank, you may be able to submit the application form and supporting documents online but then need to meet them in Hong Kong to finalise the process.

Typically,  at least one of the directors of the company must visit the bank. In some cases, a physical meeting may be required for all directors and shareholders.

It's important you do your homework before visiting the bank (check their website/give them a call).

💡 Tip: Make an appointment and check what you need to bring to have a smoother process in opening an account.

Alternatively, there are options apart from traditional banks where applicants are not required to visit a branch physically. Though some services might be missing, essential banking services will be provided.

7. Business Bank Account Fees

Business bank accounts do not come for free. You should be prepared to pay, at minimum, an account opening fee and an initial deposit.

It's impossible to tell the exact cost or even give a range, as the fee policies of banks are far from easy to understand. You can easily get lost very quickly with the added fees they charge.

We encourage you to read the fee policies from the following banks:

• HSBC
• Standard Chartered
• Bank of China
• Hang Seng Bank

To make things easier, we've done some of the hard work for you and produced a table below that compares some options available in Hong Kong. 

Here, you'll get to see some common fees that come with opening a standard business account with HSBC, Hang Seng Bank, and Statrys – an online alternative to traditional banks.

Fee Comparison Table for Business Accounts in Hong Kong

Here, we will compare three different business accounts in Hong Kong:

• Statrys Virtual Business Account
• HSBC Sprint Account
• Hang Seng Bank Biz Virtual+ Account

*Fees up to date as of October 2023

**Time-limited sign-up promotion with lower or waived fees when meeting criteria

You might also need to keep a minimum balance to maintain the account.

If you're considering getting help to open a business bank account, you should know that many corporate service companies will charge you several thousand US dollars to assist you with the process.

⚠️ Caution: There is still no guarantee in successfully opening a business bank account when assisted by a corporate service company.

8. How Long Does It Take to Open a Business Account in Hong Kong?

Bank account opening can take quite a bit of time. Depending on the bank, you can expect it to take several weeks before your business bank account is up and running.

The process will start with meeting a bank representative who will ask you to complete application forms and tell you to submit certain documents and information about your company's business nature.

Your application will then go through a review.

This review takes a minimum of several weeks, but don't be surprised if it drags on for a few months, during which time you may be asked to provide more supporting documents and explanations at any given time. As frustrating as it may be, it's important to remember that there is nothing you can do to accelerate the process.

The process ends with either a "yes" or "no" answer. 

"No" is a commercial decision by the bank, and the bank will not give you a specific reason for their decision.

9. Benefits of a Business Bank Account in Hong Kong

Assuming your company will be successful with its business bank account application, you may wonder what the common features and benefits you'll get with your account are. 

Advantages of a Hong Kong Business Bank Account

• Online banking: you will be able to manage your banking affairs through the bank's digital platform. However, the online banking experience varies considerably from one platform to the other. It is worth checking the user-friendliness and features of a platform before applying for a corporate bank account to avoid any surprises.
• Multi-currency account: with Hong Kong being a financial hub in Asia, most business accounts are multi-currency. This feature is handy if your company receives and makes payments in different currencies, notably because it will help you save money on foreign exchange commissions.

What to Keep In Mind

• Payment card: don't expect to receive a payment card that you can use wherever your business brings you. What you will get is a debit card you can use for local payments and ATM withdrawals in Hong Kong only.
• Poor customer support: Do you have a question about your account?
  Call customer support at 8888 8888,
  Listen to the long pre-recorded message, then dial #1 – dial #4 – dial #2 – dial #9, and
  Expect a painfully long wait until you get a chance to talk to a real person.

10. Alternatives to Business Bank Accounts

With the rise of digital transformations, many small businesses are finding themselves turning to digital bank alternatives because of their convenience and lower costs. There are several alternatives, such as Statrys, Airwallex, and Currenxie, and we also have a comprehensive Airwallex review and a Currenxie review to help you compare your options.

Therefore, if you're looking for an alternative to banks, you may want to consider Statrys to save time and money:

• Application is 100% online – open your account remotely, with no need to visit a branch
• 10 minutes of your time – skip your next coffee break, and you will have finished the application
• Quick response – guaranteed to hear back from us within 48 hours after the request is submitted.
• No account opening fee, no initial deposit, and no minimum balance – our pricing plans are easy to understand and transparent. However, we may charge an account opening fee for certain companies raising compliance questions (doing business with a company registered on an exotic island has a cost!).
• Internet banking to manage your account.
• Phone, Email, WeChat, WhatsApp, Live Chat – get in touch with a real person to answer your questions!

Don't make business banking a complicated process for your SME business. Sign up with Statrys today.