Has it really become so difficult to open a personal account in HK?

[HKHK154]

I went in with a passport and HKID (R) and a long stay hotel key-card with my address in Shanghai on it and they said SORRY NO need a utility bill from the last 3 months.

I went to around 3-4 different banks then finally one let me open it with HKID + Passport + Drivers licence with address. Then the account actually took around 2 weeks to get setup properly for internet banking.. but apparently they need to be processed manually and it was a holiday period.

The catch was some were asking for HK proof of address, which came from utility bills, which I could not have paid without a bank account. So I recommend bringing some kind of recent utility bills and or whatever official crap has your address on it.

(Hangseng was the bank tht finally accepted it, but other branches said no..)

[HK_Katherine]

The second proof of address is a legal requirement. Utility bills are the common solution, but anything official with your address on it works.

[TomXian]

I think it may be harder for Americans to open accounts because of the stringent rules about reporting on them, so not worth the hassle. Other nationalities may be fine - I had no difficulty opening an account with just a passport prior to moving here.

What do you think about Germans, living in China mainland?


I live in Xi'an for about 3 years now.
I could provide passport, resident permit, proof of address by chinese police (registration), rental contract of my Apartment (with passport ID, address, and so on).


Do you think there is a chance to open a personal account?


I will be in HK next week.


Thanks. Tom

[Paxbritannia]

I think it may be harder for Americans to open accounts because of the stringent rules about reporting on them, so not worth the hassle. Other nationalities may be fine - I had no difficulty opening an account with just a passport prior to moving here.

In Feb 2012 I opened an account as a visitor and a passport sufficed at BOC. No proof of residential address required. In fact I may have even given my foreign driver's license and openly stated I was a foreigner.

[bibbju]

In Feb 2012 I opened an account as a visitor and a passport sufficed at BOC. No proof of residential address required. In fact I may have even given my foreign driver's license and openly stated I was a foreigner.

Feb 2012 is light years ago in terms of banking regulations. Our friend Mr Dodd-Frank (amongst others) saw to that...especially for Americans.