How do I make an appointment with a Hong Kong bank?

April 30, 2025

Securing a bank account is a crucial step after Hong Kong company incorporation. Recently, setting up company accounts in Hong Kong banks has become more restrictive. This guide explores three options: opening a Hong Kong bank account (requiring an in-person meeting due to strict regulations), opting for an international bank account (often allowing online application), or considering alternatives like Airwallex. Understanding the requirements and your business needs is key, and Startupr offers insights to help you choose the best path.

Before Contacting a Hong Kong Bank: Preparation Tips and Offshore Account Advantages

If you still wish to have a company bank account in Hong Kong, Startupr can help. Over the years, we’ve introduced many of our clients to HK banks, and prepared them for successful meetings with bank officials. Moreover our methods ensure you’re thoroughly set for this meeting, which greatly increases the likelihood of successful account opening. Every bank is impressed by a well prepared customer. Two things you should read before approaching an HK bank or engaging us to help to open an offshore bank account are the following:

Hong Kong Bank Accounts: Key Steps and Tips

Banks are now under greater Due Diligence and KYC (Know You Client) rules, making account applications more rigorous. However, as an experienced agency, we can increase the odds of your successful application.
As regulations have tightened, we have also been advised by certain Hong Kong banks to provide clients with direct contact links for respective banks, as listed below. For appointments with these particular banks, clients must contact the banks directly.
Before you schedule your bank appointment, we recommend confirming your company’s legal incorporation. Banks may take up to 5-10 working days post-incorporation to confirm this for themselves.
Once you’ve received email confirmation that your Hong Kong company is incorporated, you may then arrange a bank appointment. You should contact the bank at least 15 -20 working days before your planned Hong Kong arrival, then reconfirm the appointment before finalizing travel arrangements.
Post-incorporation, we suggest your choice of the following banks: DBS, Hang Seng, HSBC, Standard Chartered, OCBC, and Bank of China.
Startupr is well suited to help make your appointment with the HK banks, and we need at least 15-20 working days to make the appointment and receive confirmation.

If you decide that Hong Kong banks are too problematic, we are more than ready to help you open an out of Hong Kong bank account by making a proper introduction to your choice of international banks.

In fact, please understand there’s no need to open a Hong Kong bank account for a Hong Kong registered company. Instead, international accounts give you advantageous options, enabling smooth company and bank account management. Furthermore, their online banking features give you financial access no matter where you’re located.

Offshore banks can also issue corporate, internationally recognized credit cards. Simply select from our list of international banks and let us know your choice.

What does a Hong Kong bank ask you in the meeting?

What is the nature of your business?
How old is the business?
How many employees?
What is your business address?
In what countries do you sell products?
What would be the trading currency?
What size is your customer base?
What is your current or expected annual turnover?

Typical responses might be these:

Import/export or software development
5-10 years
5-10 or over 70
Europe, Germany US, Australia
China, EU Australia, US
RMB, HKD, USD, EUR
China, EU Australia, US
3,000,000 HKD or 10,000,000 HKD

Once your company is incorporated, make sure you contact the bank you select (from the list below) and schedule a meeting before arranging to visit Hong Kong. How do you prepare yourself for the meeting? Consult our article on bank meeting preparation here.

OCBC Wing Hang

Hotline: (852) 2815 1123
How to book your appointment: Call the hotline to make an appointment, or Appointments made online. In addition the branch will call back within 3 working days.
Account opening charge: Administration fee $1,200 HKD (For Hong Kong Resident), $6,500 HKD (For Non-Hong Kong Resident)
Initial deposit: $100,000 HKD
Minimum monthly deposit: $100,000 HKD
Monthly Fees: $500 HKD / month
Time for approval process: 10-15 weeks
Annual Account Maintenance Fee: $ 800 HKD
You may wire transfer the initial deposit within 1 month from the bank account opening date.
USB Security Token: Free for first 2 USB Security Tokens and $100 HKD or equivalent for every additional or replacement

DBS Bank

Hotline: (852) 2290 8068 (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm HK Time)
You will then be invited to complete the online identity verification, and your account will be opened in as fast as 3 working days. Non-permanent Hong Kong residents may be invited to join video conference or face-to-face meetings for identity verifications. You will need to schedule an appointment to have a bank meeting.
Online request at least 2 days in advance
A bank officer will call you back within 5-7 working days to arrange a meeting no earlier than 10 working days later.
Account opening charge: Administration fee $1,000 to 10,000 HKD plus Company Search fee 150 HKD. (Depends on the clients’ conditions)
Monthly min deposit: $50,000 HKD
Monthly Fees: $250 HKD( if the Average Total Deposit Balance over the month falls below HKD50,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currency)
Time for approval process: 15-20 working days
Bank requires at least 1 transaction per year otherwise it will be dormant status. You may wire transfer the initial deposit within 1 month after the bank account is opened.

Hang Seng Bank

Hotline: 2198 8000
Required appointments made online: branches will call back within 1-3 working days.
How to book an appointment: Please call the hotline. The exact time and location will be specified. A bank officer from the particular branch will call you back within 3-5 working days to confirm the appointment. You may be asked to email business proof prior to the appointment.
Monthly min deposit: $ 50,000 HKD
Monthly Fees: $250 HKD / month
Account opening charge: Administration fee $1,200 HKD and Company Search fee $250 HKD
Time for approval process: 15- 25 working days
Administration can be deducted from the account once opened. Administration fee will be waived if application is rejected.
You may wire transfer the initial deposit within 1 month after the bank account is opened.

HSBC

Hotline: 2748 8282
Required appointments made online: branches will call back within 1-3 working days.
How to book your appointment: Please call the hotline and inform the customer support representative that you represent a new company and would like to open an account. They will ask several questions (please see the list above) about your business and then arrange a meeting. Once the call is finished, they will email a confirmation.
Monthly min deposit: $50,000 HKD / month on average throughout 3 months.
Monthly Fees: $200 HKD / month
Account opening charge: Administration fee $1,500 HKD
Time for approval process: 15 – 25 working days.
Meeting will take approximately an hour.
In addition, you may wire transfer the initial deposit within 1 month after the bank account is opened.

Bank of China

Hotline: 3988 2288
Required Appointments can be made online; branches will call back within 1-3 working days.
Monthly min deposit: $ 50,000 HKD
Monthly Fees: $ 250 HKD / month
Account opening charge: Company Search fee $ 250 HKD
Time for approval process: 15-20 working days.
Requires 2 times of visit; 1st visit for submission and 2nd visit for signing of documents.
You may wire transfer the initial deposit within 1 month after the bank account is opened.

Standard Chartered Bank

Hotline: 2886 6988
Required Appointments can be made online; branches will call back within 1-3 working days.
Monthly min deposit: $200,000 HKD
Monthly Fees: $ 300 HKD / month (if the deposit is below of $200,000 HKD)
Account opening charge: Company Search fee $250 HKD
The bank officer will promote you some financial products to keep the monthly balance
Time for approval process: 20 – 25 working days
You may wire transfer the initial deposit within 1 month after the bank account is opened.

Airwallex: Complete Solution for Managing Multi-Currency Accounts

In essence, Airwallex’s business accounts offer businesses a powerful and flexible platform to manage their multi-currency accounts and send or receive international payments. Learn more!

Disclaimer: Bank charges may vary due to frequent updates by the banks. In addition, it’s important to understand that Hong Kong banks’ due diligence processes are highly difficult because of stricter requirements. Despite this, some of our clients have still successfully opened bank accounts. If you have more questions, please contact us.

Last Modified: April, 2025