Hong Kong continues to be one of the world’s leading financial centres, ranking 3rd worldwide, behind only New York and London, and remains Asia’s top hub for banking, investment, and corporate finance.
The city’s banking sector is known for its diversity, from large international banks to locally incorporated players and new virtual banks that operate entirely online. All of these institutions are supervised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), which ensures a stable and reliable environment for both individuals and businesses.
In this guide, we provide a complete list of banks in Hong Kong, organised under the city’s three-tier banking system. Understanding this structure is the first step to making sense of the wide range of institutions that operate here, including virtual banks and neobanks offering flexible, digital-first financial solutions.
Let’s get started.
Note: This list of banks in Hong Kong is accurate as of 3 September 2025. As it may be updated at any time, please refer to the official statistical bulletin published by the HKMA for the latest information.
The Three-Tier System
Hong Kong’s banking framework has operated under a three-tier system since 1981, introduced to regulate a fast-growing financial market while ensuring stability. By classifying institutions into three categories, the HKMA ensures that banks and other deposit-taking entities operate within limits suited to their scale, services, and risk profile.
As of August 2025, Hong Kong is home to 176 authorised institutions, which include Licensed Banks, Restricted Licence Banks, and Deposit-Taking Companies, along with 27 local representative offices of foreign banks.
Each tier plays a distinct role in the financial system:
- Licensed Banks (LBs): The largest group, authorised to provide the full range of retail and corporate banking services, and the only institutions permitted to use the word “bank.”
- Restricted Licence Banks (RLBs): Focused on merchant banking and capital markets, these institutions accept deposits of HKD 500,000 or above.
- Deposit-Taking Companies (DTCs): Smaller entities often connected to banks, engaging in niche lending and finance, and accepting deposits of HKD 100,000 or above with a minimum maturity of three months.
This system gives Hong Kong both breadth and depth in financial services: large Licensed Banks cover everyday banking needs, while RLBs and DTCs support specialised financing and cross-border activity.
Licensed Banks
Licensed Banks are the core of Hong Kong’s banking system. Defined under the Banking Ordinance, they are the only institutions permitted to carry out "banking business" in Hong Kong, which includes accepting deposits and handling cheques. In practice, this means they offer a full range of services, from current and savings accounts to lending, foreign exchange, and corporate finance. As such, the term “Licensed Bank” is often used interchangeably with "bank."
A key benefit of using a Licensed Bank in Hong Kong is the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS). If a licensed bank fails, the DPS protects deposits up to HKD 800,000 per depositor, providing added security for individuals and businesses.
This protection is only available for deposits in Licensed Banks. Restricted Licence Banks and Deposit-Taking Companies are not covered by the DPS.
Tip: Every bank in Hong Kong has a unique code for payments and transfers. Check our complete list of Hong Kong bank codes here.
List of Licensed Banks Incorporated in Hong Kong
As of August 2025, there are 32 licensed banks incorporated in Hong Kong.
- Airstar Bank Limited
- Ant Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
- Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited
- Bank of Communications (Hong Kong) Limited
- Bank of Dongguan International Limited
- The Bank of East Asia, Limited
- China CITIC Bank International Limited
- China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited
- Chiyu Banking Corporation Limited
- Chong Hing Bank Limited
- Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited
- CMB Wing Lung Bank Limited
- Dah Sing Bank, Limited
- DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
- Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
- Fusion Bank Limited
- Hang Seng Bank, Limited
- The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
- Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited
- Livi Bank Limited
- Morgan Stanley Bank Asia Limited
- Mox Bank Limited
- Nanyang Commercial Bank, Limited
- OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
- PAO Bank Limited
- Public Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
- Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited
- Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
- Tai Sang Bank Limited
- Tai Yau Bank, Limited
- WeLab Bank Limited
- ZA Bank Limited
List of Licensed Banks Incorporated Outside of Hong Kong
As of August 2025, there are a total of 117 licensed banks incorporated outside of Hong Kong.
- Agricultural Bank of China Limited
- Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited
- Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.
- Banco Santander, S.A.
- Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited
- Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG
- Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd.
- Bank of America, National Association
- Bank of China Limited
- Bank of Communications Co., Ltd.
- Bank of Dongguan Co., Ltd.
- Bank of India
- Bank of Montreal
- The Bank of New York Mellon
- The Bank of Nova Scotia
- Bank of Singapore Limited
- Bank of Taiwan
- Bank SinoPac
- Banque Pictet & Cie SA
- Barclays Bank PLC
- BDO Unibank, Inc.
- BNP Paribas
- CA Indosuez (Switzerland) SA
- Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
- Cathay Bank
- Cathay United Bank Company, Limited
- Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, Ltd.
- The Chiba Bank, Ltd.
- China Bohai Bank Co., Ltd.
- China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited
- China Construction Bank Corporation
- China Development Bank
- China Everbright Bank Co., Ltd.
- China Guangfa Bank Co., Ltd.
- China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd.
- China Minsheng Banking Corporation, Ltd.
- China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd.
- The Chugoku Bank, Ltd.
- CIMB Bank Berhad
- Citibank, N.A.
- Commonwealth Bank of Australia
- Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A.
- Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
- Crédit Industriel et Commercial
- CTBC Bank Co., Ltd.
- DBS Bank Ltd.
- Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft
- DZ Bank AG Deutsche Zentral-Genossenschaftsbank, Frankfurt am Main
- E.Sun Commercial Bank, Ltd.
- East West Bank
- EFG Bank AG
- Erste Group Bank AG
- Far Eastern International Bank
- First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC
- First Commercial Bank, Ltd.
- HDFC Bank Limited
- Hong Leong Bank Berhad
- HSBC Bank PLC
- HSBC Bank USA, National Association
- Hua Nan Commercial Bank, Ltd.
- Hua Xia Bank Co., Limited
- ICICI Bank Limited
- Indian Overseas Bank
- Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited
- Industrial Bank Co., Ltd.
- Industrial Bank of Korea
- ING Bank N.V.
- Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
- KBC Bank N.V.
- KEB Hana Bank
- KGI Bank Co., Ltd.
- Kookmin Bank
- Land Bank of Taiwan Co., Ltd.
- LGT Bank AG
- Malayan Banking Berhad
- Mashreq Bank PSC
- Mega International Commercial Bank Co., Ltd.
- Melli Bank PLC
- Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation
- Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
- MUFG Bank, Ltd.
- National Bank of Pakistan
- Natixis
- NongHyup Bank
- O-Bank Co., Ltd.
- Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited
- Philippine National Bank
- Ping An Bank Co., Ltd.
- PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
- Qatar National Bank (Q.P.S.C.)
- Royal Bank of Canada
- The Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank, Ltd.
- Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd.
- The Shiga Bank, Ltd.
- Shinhan Bank
- The Shizuoka Bank, Ltd.
- Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB
- Société Générale
- Standard Chartered Bank
- State Bank of India
- State Street Bank and Trust Company
- Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
- Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited
- Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank Co., Ltd.
- Taishin International Bank Co., Ltd.
- Taiwan Business Bank, Ltd.
- Taiwan Cooperative Bank, Ltd.
- Taiwan Shin Kong Commercial Bank Co., Ltd.
- Toronto-Dominion Bank
- UBS AG
- UCO Bank
- Union Bancaire Privée, UBP SA
- United Overseas Bank Ltd.
- Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
- Woori Bank
- Yuanta Commercial Bank Co., Ltd.
Virtual Banks in Hong Kong
The HKMA defines a virtual bank as a licensed bank that delivers its services primarily through the internet or other electronic channels instead of physical branches. While they operate under the same Banking Ordinance as traditional banks, their branchless model makes them fully digital in how they serve customers.
The regulatory framework for virtual banks was first introduced in 2000 with the Guideline on Authorization of Virtual Banks, and updated in 2018 to reflect new technology and market conditions. The first virtual bank licences were granted in 2019, and today there are 8 authorised virtual banks in Hong Kong.
- Airstar Bank Limited
- Ant Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
- Fusion Bank Limited
- Livi Bank Limited
- Mox Bank Limited
- PAO Bank Limited
- WeLab Bank Limited
- ZA Bank Limited
Tip: Want to see how each virtual bank stacks up? Read our comparison of Hong Kong’s virtual banks.
Restricted Licence Banks
Restricted Licence Banks (RLBs) form the second tier of authorised institutions in Hong Kong. They are licensed under the Banking Ordinance to specialise mainly in merchant banking and capital market activities, rather than general retail banking. Unlike licensed banks, they do not provide current or savings accounts for the general public.
By law, RLBs may only accept deposits of HKD 500,000 or above, which makes them relevant primarily to corporations, institutional investors, and high-net-worth clients. Many RLBs in Hong Kong are subsidiaries or affiliates of large international banking groups, focusing on investment services, syndicated lending, or other specialised financial activities.
List of Restricted Licence Banks Incorporated in Hong Kong
As of August 2025, there are 9 restricted licence banks incorporated in Hong Kong.
- Allied Banking Corporation (Hong Kong) Limited
- Bank of China International Limited
- Bank of Shanghai (Hong Kong) Limited
- Citicorp International Limited
- Goldman Sachs Asia Bank Limited
- Habib Bank Zurich (Hong Kong) Limited
- J.P. Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited
- KDB Asia Limited
- Orix Asia Limited
List of Restricted Licence Banks Incorporated Outside of Hong Kong
As of August 2025, there are 7 restricted licence banks incorporated outside of Hong Kong.
- ABN AMRO Clearing Bank N.V.
- The Access Bank UK Limited
- Euroclear Bank
- Kasikornbank Public Company Limited
- The Korea Development Bank
- PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
- The Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited
Deposit-Taking Companies
Deposit-Taking Companies (DTCs) make up the third tier of authorised institutions in Hong Kong’s banking system. Unlike licensed banks and restricted licence banks, DTCs operate on a smaller and more specialised scale, focusing mainly on consumer and commercial lending, trade finance, and securities-related businesses.
By regulation, DTCs may only accept deposits of HKD 100,000 or above with an original maturity of at least three months. They cannot offer current or savings accounts to the general public, and under the law, they are not permitted to call themselves a “bank.”
Most DTCs are affiliated with larger banking groups, acting as finance arms to support specific market segments.
List of Deposit-Taking Companies
As of August 2025, there are 11 deposit-taking companies incorporated in Hong Kong, and zero DTCs incorporated outside of Hong Kong.
- BCOM Finance (Hong Kong) Limited
- BPI Wealth Hong Kong Limited
- Chau’s Brothers Finance Company Limited
- Chong Hing Finance Limited
- Corporate Finance (D.T.C.) Limited
- Fubon Credit (Hong Kong) Limited
- KEB Hana Global Finance Limited
- KEXIM Asia Limited
- Public Finance Limited
- Vietnam Finance Company Limited
- Woori Global Markets Asia Limited
Neobanks
Neobanks, unlike virtual banks, are not an official category under the HKMA. The term usually refers to digital-first financial providers that run mainly through apps and online platforms. In Hong Kong, they are not authorised institutions under the three-tier banking system. Instead, they operate under other regulatory frameworks, such as Money Service Operators (MSOs) or Stored Value Facility (SVF) licensees.
Neobanks may offer services similar to licensed banks, such as multi-currency accounts, international transfers, and debit cards. But under Hong Kong law, they are not recognised as banks and cannot use the word “bank” in their names or marketing.
Some well-known neobanks around the world include:
Conclusion
Hong Kong’s banking system runs on three tiers: Licensed Banks, Restricted Licence Banks, and Deposit-Taking Companies. Licensed Banks carry the weight of the sector, from long-standing institutions to new virtual banks. RLBs and DTCs play smaller but specialised roles. Together, they make Hong Kong one of the world’s most trusted financial hubs.
FAQs
What is the most reliable bank in Hong Kong?
The reliability of a bank in Hong Kong can be assessed by its compliance with HKMA regulations, financial stability, and customer service quality. Major banks like HSBC, Bank of China (Hong Kong), and Standard Chartered are often noted for their reliability.
