Applying for Identity Documents and Banking Services

Opening Bank Accounts and Using Electronic Payment

From the perspective of a Hong Kong youngster who has just relocated to the Mainland, the short video introduces how to open bank accounts and use electronic payment in the Mainland.

Q&A

What documents are required for Hong Kong residents to open bank accounts in the Mainland?

The following documents are normally required for Hong Kong residents to open bank accounts in the Mainland:

Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (commonly known as Home Return Permit)
Hong Kong Identity Card
a real-name registered Mainland mobile phone number
Residence Permit (required by individual banks)
proof of the purposes of opening bank accounts (e.g. proof of employment/proof of school attendance/information related to business operation/proof of residence/tenancy agreement/agreement on property purchase/certificate of title to property)

A Hong Kong resident whose Mainland mobile phone number has not been activated for over three months may apply to open “Type II” or “Type III” bank accounts. Yet, there are certain limitations on these types of bank accounts in relation to daily payment amount and other functions (for a Type II account, the daily aggregate amount of payment is capped at RMB10,000; for a Type III account, the account balance should not exceed RMB2,000, while the daily aggregate amount of payment is capped at RMB2,000 and the annual aggregate amount of payment should not exceed RMB50,000).

The requirements for supporting documents for Hong Kong residents to open personal bank accounts vary slightly among different Mainland banks. Hong Kong residents are advised to approach relevant banks for details beforehand.

At present, there are banks in Hong Kong under pilot scheme to allow Hong Kong residents to open Mainland personal bank accounts in the Greater Bay Area remotely by attestation. Hong Kong residents may approach relevant banks for details.

How do Hong Kong residents apply for mobile banking accounts and electronic payment accounts in the Mainland?

Normally, Hong Kong residents may apply for online and mobile banking services when opening bank accounts in the Mainland. Applicants only need to download the mobile APPs of the banks concerned and directly log in for using such services. As for electronic payment services, usually users have to download the mobile APPs and bind the payment cards to them according to instructions to use the services.