Information on Banking Services

Around 100 jurisdictions have committed to implementing the Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information (AEOI). As a responsible international citizen and a leading financial centre, Hong Kong has committed to implement AEOI. The AEOI Fact Sheet contains some commonly asked questions and answers for general reference purposes. You should ensure that you consider the latest legislative requirements and guidance as well. For further questions, you may check with your bank.

1. Introduction

As a reliable and secure feature of ATM services provided by member banks, the capability of ATM cash withdrawal outside Hong Kong for all ATM cards (including debit cards and those credit cards with cash withdrawal function) issued by member banks is pre-set as "de-activated" to minimize unauthorized ATM transactions. Cardholders intending to make cash withdrawals from ATMs outside Hong Kong (including those in Mainland, Macau and other places outside Hong Kong) should activate the ATM cash withdrawal capability outside Hong Kong in advance to set the effective and expiry date as well as the withdrawal limit for the activation period using any one of the convenient channels provided by member banks.

For the convenience of the public, HKAB has published a list of member banks which provide ATM services, together with the channels they provide for activating the capability of ATM cash withdrawal outside Hong Kong. [Please click HERE to download the list]

Different from Internet banking, mobile banking and phone banking which have authentication controls for registered users, cardholders calling the bank's hotline which supports activation of the service will need to provide information for customer identification purposes as part of the activation process. Any enquiries for more details should be made with the relevant card-issuing bank.

2. Hong Kong Banking Industry Enhances the Security of ATM Services (TV Commercial (in Cantonese with English Subtitles)

3. Advance Activation of Overseas ATM Cash Withdrawal Capability Radio API in English

Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment Service (EBPP) provides a single consolidated platform for the straight-through processing of electronic bill presentments and payments. Individuals will be able to receive, view, manage and schedule payments for their electronic bills issued by registered merchants through their designated e-banking accounts. For a list of participating merchants and banks, visit the website of the Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited.

1. Brochure on EBPP

2. Leaflet on EBPP

The electronic cheque (e-Cheque) is an electronic counterpart of the paper cheque and turns the cheque writing and deposit processes completely online, with a number of new strengths: no need for physical delivery and presentment, more stringent security features, a high level of system automation, and more environmentally friendly.

Following the launch of e-Cheque service in Hong Kong on 7 December 2015, the cross-boundary e-Cheque service has been introduced on 20 July 2016. Bank customers in Hong Kong can issue HK Dollar, US Dollar and RMB e-Cheques and deposit online with banks in Hong Kong, Guangzhou or Shenzhen.

For more information, please refer to the e-brochures below. Bank customers are encouraged to contact their banks directly for details of e-Cheque service.

1. General information on e-Cheque Service in Hong Kong

(i). e-Cheque Poster

(ii). e-Cheque e-Brochure

2. Cross-boundary e-Cheque service between Hong Kong and Guangdong Province (including Shenzhen)

(i). e-Brochure

3. Other Useful Information

(i). Introduction and benefits of e-Cheque (Hong Kong Monetary Authority)

Plain Text Script (English)

(ii). How to issue e-Cheque? (Hong Kong Monetary Authority)

Plain Text Script (English)

(iii). How to deposit e-Cheque? (Hong Kong Monetary Authority)

Plain Text Script (English)

(iv). Smart tips to use e-Cheque (Hong Kong Monetary Authority)

Plain Text Script (English)

4. e-Cheque. The Smart New Way to Pay (Radio API)

Plain Text Script (English)

The Governments of Hong Kong and the U.S. signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement on 13th November 2014 as a means of implementing the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) in Hong Kong. This FATCA Fact Sheet contains some commonly asked questions and answers for general reference purposes. If you have any further questions, please ask your bank.

Information in other languages available at the Hong Kong Monetary Authoriy website.

Many retail banks provide remittance services to customers who wish to make payments to destinations outside Hong Kong. Standing instruction is a convenient way to make regular cross-border payments. Customers may enquire with their banks about this service. Apart from making an application for standing instruction at designated bank branches, customers may do so remotely through non-face-to-face channels provided by their banks.

Remittance of Social Security Payments to Mainland Bank Accounts by Recipients/Appointees of the Social Welfare Department's Portable Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme (PCSSAS), Guangdong Scheme (GDS) and Fujian Scheme (FJS)

To facilitate recipients/appointees under the PCSSAS, GDS and FJS to receive social security payments without the need to return to Hong Kong, some banks in Hong Kong provide remote channels (mail-in, internet and/or mobile banking) for recipients/appointees residing on the Mainland to set up standing instructions to regularly remit social security payments from their bank accounts in Hong Kong to their designated bank accounts on the Mainland. [Please click HERE to download the details]

The Hong Kong Association of Banks launches a promotional video titled “Credit Card Transaction Protection - What You Need to Know” to raise public awareness of credit card fraud prevention. Artist Ivana Wong, portrayed as a smart credit card user in the video, reminds the public to exercise caution in protecting personal information during credit card transactions. She highlights the importance of refraining from clicking on links in suspicious messages, staying vigilant for notifications from banks, and promptly reporting any suspicious transactions to banks and the police.

Credit Card Transaction Protection - What You Need to Know