Overview
Bank of East Asia, at a glance.
Bank of East Asia is a bank (hkma-licensed) headquartered in Hong Kong, regulated by Hong Kong Monetary Authority. The company behind Bank of East Asia is The Bank of East Asia, Limited. Business accounts cost HK$200 a month. Opening an account takes 3–5 days.
BEA is a licensed bank and a member of Hong Kong's Deposit Protection Scheme; the protected amount is not stated on the pages read.
Why businesses pick Bank of East Asia
- A licensed Hong Kong bank with an all-in-one HKD and USD account
- Payroll, MPF and corporate online banking in one account
- Open to sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited companies, associations and charities
- Overseas-incorporated companies can apply
- Payments by FPS, CHATS and telegraphic transfer
Watch out for
- Opening needs an appointment at a Business Centre in Hong Kong
- HK$200 monthly fee unless you meet a balance, MPF or payroll test
- HK$800 opening fee, and a HK$10,000 handling charge for overseas companies
- Transfer fees and the FX margin are not published on the pages read
- Casinos, money services, arms and virtual-commodity businesses pay a HK$10,000 application fee
Business fit
Will Bank of East Asia accept your business?
Four quick answers. Where your company is registered and what it does rule a provider in or out faster than anything else.
Based on Bank of East Asia's published rules
Needs review
Bank of East Asia works with Sole proprietorships, but does not publish the countries it accepts companies from.
Bank of East Asia does not publish a minimum company age or turnover, so those two answers are not checked here.
This is one provider. Your profile checks all of them.
- Every provider that fits your business
- The reason behind each match
- Company age and turnover checked too
Who it works with
Accepted and not accepted.
What Bank of East Asia publishes about the businesses it takes on.
Who Bank of East Asia serves
- Startups and SMEs
- Professional services
- Import and export
- NGOs and charities
All 8 industries on Bank of East Asia's accepted list
- Sole proprietorships
- Partnerships
- Limited companies
- Start-ups (Business Start Account)
- Societies, clubs and associations
- Charitable organisations
- Schools (incorporated management committees)
- Owners' incorporations
Not supported
Industries and countries Bank of East Asia does not accept, from its own published lists.
Industries
- Not published
Countries
- Not published
Coverage
Where can you use Bank of East Asia?
Coverage is a starting point. It does not confirm that every business in these markets is eligible.
Supported currencies
HKD and USD accounts
- HKD
- USD
CHATS payments in HKD, USD, CNY and EUR.
Payment reach
Not published
Who can apply
Company incorporation countries
Not publishedOwner nationality
Not publishedOwner residency
Not publishedCompany types
Sole proprietorships, Partnerships, Hong Kong limited companies, Overseas-incorporated companies, Societies, clubs and associations, Charitable organisations, Trusts (HK$10,000 application fee)
Pricing
What does Bank of East Asia cost?
Look beyond the monthly fee. Your total cost depends on how many transfers you make, where they go and how much you convert.
Account cost
Opening fee
HKD 800
Monthly fee
HKD 200
CorporatePlus Account
HKD 200 per month
HKD 800 setup · HKD 3,200 in year one
Transaction fees
| Cost | Listed amount | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| Outgoing | ||
| SWIFT / international | Not published | |
Other fees
Currency exchange (FX)
| Cost | Listed amount | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| FX markup | Not published |
Cards
| Cost | Listed amount | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| ATM withdrawal | HKD 15 | Fixed fee · UnionPay ATM in Hong Kong; HK$50 overseas |
Onboarding
From application to live account.
Opening an account typically takes three to five business days.
- 1
Apply or call
Apply online and upload documents (Hong Kong companies with up to 3 individual owners and signatories) or call the BEA Corporate Express hotline.
- 2
BEA contacts you
BEA reviews your company and contacts you within about 2 working days.
- 3
Appointment
Attend a Business Centre to verify identity and sign the application.
- 4
Account live
Make the initial deposit of HK$10,000 for a CorporatePlus Account.
Documents you need
- Certificate of incorporation and constitutional documents
- Company search report or certificate of incumbency (within 6 months)
- Identification of directors, beneficial owners and signatories
- Residential address proof if needed
- Organisational chart for multi-layer ownership
- Board resolution to open the account
- Documents certified by a Hong Kong lawyer, accountant, chartered secretary or notary where originals are not provided
FAQ
Your questions, answered.
Is the Bank of East Asia a bank?
Yes. The Bank of East Asia, Limited is a licensed bank on the HKMA register of authorized institutions and a member of the Deposit Protection Scheme.
How much does the CorporatePlus Account cost?
HK$800 to open and HK$200 a month, waived with an average daily relationship balance of HK$50,000, HK$5,000 of MPF contributions or HK$50,000 of automated payroll. Overseas company accounts carry a HK$10,000 handling charge.
Can I open the account online?
You can apply and upload documents online, but you must attend a BEA Business Centre to verify identity and sign.
Can an overseas company open a BEA account?
Yes. BEA lists document requirements for companies incorporated overseas with or without a Hong Kong establishment; the HK$10,000 handling charge applies.
Alternatives
How Bank of East Asia compares.
If Bank of East Asia is not the right fit, these providers work with similar businesses. Compare their listed licences and services below.
| Provider | Licensed in | Known for |
|---|---|---|
 Bank of East AsiaThis pageBank (HKMA-licensed) |  | Hong KongIn-person opening |
 HSBC Hong KongBank | | 12 currenciesBig bank |
 DBS Hong KongBank | | 14 currenciesOnline opening |
 Hang Seng BankBank | | Remote openingHKD |
 Bank of China (Hong Kong)Bank | | Multi-currencyOverseas companies |
Not sure which one fits? Your profile ranks them for your business, with the reason behind each.