Practical Guide to Opening a Bank Account in Hong Kong Full Record of Witness Account Opening at Dah Sing Bank and Bank of China Hong Kong

Want to open a bank account in Hong Kong-but don’t want to fly there just for that? Many people get stuck at this very step. In practice, the process is simpler than most imagine-especially now that Dah Sing Bank and Bank of China (Hong Kong) have both launched mainland-based “witness account opening” services, making the entire procedure more mature and stable. Starting from Q2 2025, both banks have successively optimized document review standards at their mainland cooperative branches and refined their remote video identity verification processes; in some cities, preliminary review can even be completed on the same day, with physical cards issued the following day. Below, drawing on real-life account-opening experiences, we break down all critical steps clearly.

Dah Sing Bank Mainland Witness Account Opening - A Real-World Walkthrough

Dah Sing Bank currently operates designated witness points in 13 mainland Chinese cities-including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Chengdu-with cooperating institutions primarily being licensed mainland banks such as CITIC Bank, China Merchants Bank, and SPDB. Important note Not all cooperative branches offer Dah Sing Bank’s witness account opening service-be sure to call your target branch in advance to confirm availability.

1. Pre-book your appointment via Dah Sing Bank’s official website or its WeChat Official Account (“Dah Sing Bank”), providing basic personal information and uploading clear scanned copies or photos of

Both sides of your PRC ID card;

Your Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao (or valid passport);

Proof of residential address (e.g., utility bills or bank statements issued within the last three months).

2. Attend your scheduled appointment in person, bringing original documents. Staff at the cooperating bank will verify your identity, capture a facial photograph, and witness your signing of the Account Opening Application Form and Customer Declaration.

3. After the witnessing session, Dah Sing Bank will complete its KYC (Know Your Customer) review within 3-5 working days. During this period, you may be asked to submit supplementary documents-such as proof of income or employment confirmation-to expedite processing (though these are not mandatory).

4. Upon approval, your account is activated instantly. You may immediately conduct fund transfers using the electronic account, while the physical debit card will be mailed to your specified mainland address-delivery typically takes 7-10 working days.

5. For your first deposit, we recommend transferring no less than HK$5,000 to avoid potential dormancy due to insufficient balance.

Bank of China (Hong Kong) Key Points for Mainland Witness Account Opening

Bank of China (Hong Kong) offers broader geographic coverage for its mainland witness service, with over 600 Class-II (or higher) branches of Bank of China across mainland China now integrated into the program. Its key advantages include system-level integration with BOC’s domestic infrastructure, shorter review cycles, and simultaneous opening of multi-currency accounts (HKD, RMB, and USD).

1. Log in to the Bank of China (Hong Kong) mobile banking app, navigate to the “Mainland Witness Account Opening” section, select your nearest Bank of China branch, and submit your appointment request.

2. The system automatically identifies branches authorized to handle the service. Upon successful booking, a unique reference code is generated-please print it out or save a screenshot for your records.

3. On the day of your visit, bring the following original documents

Your second-generation PRC ID card;

Your Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao (or valid passport);

Proof of residence (e.g., a signed lease agreement plus a photocopy of your landlord’s ID card is also accepted).

4. A Bank of China counter officer will assist you in completing a live video interview. Questions focus on your purpose for opening the account, occupational background, and source of funds-answer concisely and truthfully.

5. Once your account is successfully opened, Bank of China (Hong Kong) will send you an SMS notification. Online banking and mobile banking access are activated simultaneously. The default daily transfer limit for your first transaction is HK$50,000-this can be increased later upon request.

Two Critical Details Not to Overlook

Dah Sing Bank enforces relatively strict requirements for proof of address If submitting digitally issued utility bills (e.g., online payment receipts), ensure your full name, complete residential address, and issue date are clearly visible and unobscured.

Bank of China (Hong Kong) does not accept social insurance contribution records as proof of employment. However, an employer-issued employment certificate bearing an official company seal-or a copy of your business license (for self-employed individuals or sole proprietors)-is acceptable.

Both banks charge no fee for account opening. However, if your account remains inactive (i.e., no transactions) for 12 consecutive months and holds a balance below HK$1,000, it will be automatically classified as “dormant.” Reactivation requires manual application and bank approval.

The above outlines practical, step-by-step guidance for opening accounts with Dah Sing Bank and Bank of China (Hong Kong) via mainland-based witness services. We hope this helps you navigate the process smoothly.