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Opening French bank account from HK?

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  1. #1

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    Opening French bank account from HK?

    We need to open a French bank account for an investment, however we need it before we will next go to France.

    Does anyone know how to do this? Or if it is possible?

    If it makes any difference we aren't French.

    Thanks!


  2. #2

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    C'est possible.

    You just need to find a banque that accepts you as client.
    I would approach a French bank in HK and ask for assistance


  3. #3

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    As an HSBC Premier customer I had no difficulty at all opening an account with HSBC in Paris. I am not French.


  4. #4

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    Great! Thanks!


  5. #5

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    HSBC should do this for corporate accounts for a fee. Not sure if they'll do this for non-premier individual accts.

    BNP and Socgen do open accts locally - not sure if they do that for retail customers and not sure what the procedures are for it being a "native french" acct. Worth asking them...


  6. #6

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    HSBC can do it for you but if you're not a Premier client, it can take AGES (it took some friends over 3 months).

    Alternatively, private bank Banque Transatlantique have a rep office in HK now so you could try them. I opened my French account using their London rep office a few years ago. They're a subsidiary of CIC and specialist in expat banking (usually for French expats). I was referred to them by a French colleague so not sure what the process is for new accounts.

    Or, as quite a few expats I know in France are doing these days, you can open a French account online with ING Direct.


  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by shri:
    HSBC should do this for corporate accounts for a fee. Not sure if they'll do this for non-premier individual accts.

    BNP and Socgen do open accts locally - not sure if they do that for retail customers and not sure what the procedures are for it being a "native french" acct. Worth asking them...
    For non Premier personal accounts they charge 1600 HK$.

  8. #8

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    Just to add that French accounts are notoriously difficult to open (unless you have lots of money). It's the complete opposite to HK where it took me 10 mins and I walked out with a bank card and cheque book. The French tend to make various demands in terms of opening balance etc and like their paperwork almost as much as HK. The first time I lived there (as a student many years ago), it was pretty much impossible to open an account (primarily due to the large opening balance demands) and I gave up in the end. I know lots of expats there now (who aren't earning much) who don't have French bank accounts for this reason. I left Paris to move to HK but I still pay a monthly fee to maintain my French bank account as it's easier to pay the fee and still have an account than try and open a new account if I move back to France!

    Last edited by bibbju; 22-05-2013 at 11:54 AM. Reason: typo
    MovingIn07 likes this.

  9. #9

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    Again, unless you are HSBC Premier. I opened my Paris account from HK with a reasonably small amount of paperwork completed in a few minutes at the HSBC international banking office in the HSBC HQ here. No charge (and no fees for the account) and minimal fuss.


  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gruntfuttock:
    Again, unless you are HSBC Premier. I opened my Paris account from HK with a reasonably small amount of paperwork completed in a few minutes at the HSBC international banking office in the HSBC HQ here. No charge (and no fees for the account) and minimal fuss.
    ok, you not need to repeat. we know already you are holder of a HSBC Premier account.

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