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, the US, and 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 make an appointment online; the branch will call back within 3 working days.
Account opening charge: Administration fee HKD 1,200 (For Hong Kong Residents)
HKD 6,500 (for non-Hong Kong residents) plus a company search fee of 150 HKD.
**The account opening handling fee is non-refundable regardless of the result of the application.
Minimum monthly deposit: HKD 50,000
Monthly Fees: HKD 150/month (if average daily total relationship balance below HKD 50,000)
Time for approval process: about 4-6 weeks
Annual Account Maintenance Fee: $800 HKD or equivalent

DBS Bank

Hotline: (852) 2290 8068 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm HK Time)
Email: [email protected]
Foreigners can still complete the DBS Business Account application by providing the required information online and then making an appointment with DBS to complete the application at their SME Center.
Foreigners without a permanent HK Identity Card or Chinese Resident Identity Card may be invited to join a video conference or face-to-face meeting for identity verification. Physical copies of identification documents certified by suitable certifiers should be delivered to DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited if the meeting is conducted via video conference.
A bank officer will call and/or email you within 5-7 working days after you submit the online application.
Account opening charge: Administration fee HKD 1,200 plus Company Search fee HKD 150. (Depends on the clients’ conditions)
Monthly min deposit: HKD 50,000
Monthly Fees: HKD 250 (if the Average Total Deposit Balance over the month falls below HKD 50,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currency(ies)))
Time for approval process: about 4-6 weeks

Hang Seng Bank

Hotline: (852) 2198 8000

Foreigners can still complete the Biz Virtual+ Account or an Integrated Business Solutions Account application online by providing the required information and documents online and then making an appointment with the Hang Seng Business Banking Centre.

Biz Virtual+ Account

Account opening charge: Administration fee HKD 1,300 and Company Search fee HKD 150

Monthly min deposit: HKD 50,000

Monthly Fees: HKD 200/month (if average daily total relationship balance below HKD 50,000)

Integrated Business Solutions Account

Account opening charge: Administration fee HKD 1,300 and Company Search fee HKD 150

Monthly min deposit: HKD 100,000

Monthly Fees: HKD 200/month (if average daily total relationship balance below HKD 100,000)

Time for approval process: about 4-6 weeks

HSBC

Hotline: (852) 2748 8282

Foreigners can still apply to HSBC Online Application Center

Account opening charges include:

Account application fee

Via online Account Application Centre: HKD 1,300

Submit the paper form or via other channels. HKD 1,600

(If applicable) Handling fee for account application via video conference HKD 2,250

HSBC Sprint Account

Monthly min deposit: HKD 50,000

Monthly Fees: HKD 200/month (if average daily total relationship balance below HKD 50,000)

HSBC Business Direct

Monthly min deposit: HKD 100,000

Monthly Fees: HKD 200/month (if average daily total relationship balance below HKD 100,000)

BusinessVantage

Monthly min deposit: HKD 500,000

Monthly Fees: HKD 200/month (if average daily total relationship balance below HKD 500,000)

HKD 450/month (if average daily total relationship balance below HKD 100,000)

Time for approval process: about 4-6 weeks

Bank of China

Hotline: (852) 3988 2288
Foreigners can still complete the Business Integrated Account application by providing the required information online and then making an appointment with the Bank of China to complete the application at their branch.
Account opening charge: HKD 1,200
Monthly min deposit: HKD 50,000
Monthly Fees: HKD 150/month (if average daily total relationship balance below HKD 50,000)
Time for approval process: about 4-6 weeks

Standard Chartered Bank

Hotline: (852) 2886 6988
Foreigners can provide the required information at https://www.sc.com/hk/business/account-opening/ to make an appointment with the bank.
A bank officer will contact you via the contact number and/or email you provide within 5 working days.
Account opening charge: Company Search fee HKD 1,200
Monthly min deposit: HKD 200,000
Monthly Fees: HKD 300/month (if the deposit is below HKD 200,000)
The bank officer will promote some financial products to keep the monthly balance.
Time for approval process: about 4-6 weeks

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: May, 2025