Hi emx, I registered my HK limited company in November 2012 and I have been actively working on growing my business and getting revenue, but I just recently started getting revenue. This means I didn't have anyone wanting to pay my business, so I didn't bother to open an HK business bank account. Now things are changing, and thus I'm just now deciding which bank is the best for my needs.
I have an HKID, but not a permanent one, so most if not all banks will require me to use my US passport alongside my HKID to open an account.
HowardCoombs I believe you're right about opening a business bank account with HSBC being fast. They seem to be the go to choice for companies that help others especially those not living in HK register an HK Limited Company. I just didn't like the service I received from HSBC. I don't like HSBC's account opening fee and their CHATS and electronic clearing fees. HSBC probably does have the best online banking system in HK, but if the other ones work I'd rather use them.
I do have a personal HSBC account because when I didn't have an HKID they were the only bank I knew would let me have an HK bank account. Ideally, I'd like to separate my personal HSBC account from my business HK account, but as long as I keep good records I might use it to pay and receive money locally from clients I'm working with that use HSBC for their business or school.
Does anyone know if I can send and receive money using my personal HK bank account for my HK business, then just transfer it back to my HK business account, and keep records of all such transactions?
MovingIn07, thanks for the extra information about Geo putting me at greater risk for spam. I trust Gmail to help filter out email spam, if people want to spam call me I'll just have to deal with that, and for snail mail spam I haven't encountered that since I put a "No Circular Mail" sticker on my mailbox.
If you want to reduce the number of HK paper mail you receive that isn't addressed to you, you can request a "No Circular Mail" sticker to be sent to you for free at http://app1.hongkongpost.com/CGI/nocir/e_reg.jsp.