One-Day Playbook: Open Five Hong Kong Bank Accounts Online from Mainland China

One-Day Playbook: Open Five Hong Kong Bank Accounts Online from Mainland China

2025/10/28 23:53:00

Need Hong Kong bank accounts but can’t fly over? Follow this one-day playbook to finish HSBC + BOCHK + ZA + Airstar + Ant Bank entirely online.

1. Prep Checklist (Have These Before You Tap “Start”)

ItemDetailsWhy It Matters
Mainland ID + Exit-Entry PermitBoth must have ≥ 6 months validityIdentity verification + NFC reading
Phone number with international roamingOnly for SMS OTP; buy data via roaming/Alipay packsReceive verification codes
Exit-Entry Record PDFWeChat mini-program “移民局12367” → “出入境记录查询证明” → save PDFProves a recent exit record
Mailing address (CN + EN)Include floor + unit; standard abbreviations (BLDG, FL) allowedCard + PIN delivery, address verification
Apps installedHSBC HK / BOCHK / ZA / Airstar; Ant Bank via Alipay mini-appAvoid delays mid-application

Missing even one item usually means automatic rejection. Double-check the PDF and English address.

2. Recommended Order + Steps

Run the big banks first (HSBC → BOCHK), then batch-submit the three virtual banks so you can reuse the same documents.

2.1 HSBC (HSBC One)

  1. Open HSBC HK app → “I don’t have an HSBC account.”
  2. Identity: “I’m in Hong Kong but don’t have a HKID.”
  3. Account type: “HSBC One” (no minimum deposit).
  4. Fill in info: purpose = “Savings/Investment,” tax ID = Mainland ID number, enter CN + EN addresses.
  5. Upload ID + Exit-Entry Permit; use NFC to read the permit chip.
  6. Set login credentials and submit—emails usually arrive within minutes.

Card delivery: IDEMIA ships via EMS Shenzhen. Follow the “EMS中国邮政速递物流” WeChat service account to track. Ping support if nothing arrives after two weeks.

2.2 BOCHK (“Easy Banking/自在理财”)

  1. BOCHK app → “Open Account.”
  2. Identity: “Chinese Resident ID,” confirm “I am in Hong Kong.”
  3. Method: “I am not at a branch,” Account type: “Easy Banking (自在理财).”
  4. Upload ID, Exit-Entry Permit, and the Exit-Entry PDF.
  5. Complete liveness check + personal info; choose “Investment/Savings” as the purpose.
  6. Submit and wait for approval.

2.3 Virtual Banks (ZA / Airstar / Ant)

All three share the same flow: fill info → upload docs → face scan.

  • Address must include building + floor + unit in English.
  • Tax residency: “Only Mainland China,” tax ID = Mainland ID number.
  • Upload the Exit-Entry PDF for each bank.
  • Ant Bank runs entirely inside the Alipay mini-app—no extra download needed.

3. Universal Principles (a.k.a. How Not to Get Rejected)

  1. Consistency beats speed: Name Pinyin, address, and tax info must match across all five apps.
  2. Submit during HK business hours (Mon–Fri, 10:00–18:00) for faster human review.
  3. Activate immediately: once approved, log in and set fingerprint/Face ID so the account is marked “active.”
  4. Keep the mailing address alive: PIN letters and compliance notices may arrive later.
  5. Screenshot everything: submission screens + success prompts are lifesavers if support asks for proof.

With this checklist, an NFC-capable phone, and stable internet, you can finish all five applications in a single day. Good luck! 💳

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