Accounts and Services

What should I do if I lose my cheque book?

You should report it to us immediately. Contact any of our branches, or call us on (852) 2233 3000.

How can I apply for a new chequebook?

You can apply chequebook at an ATM, or by using phone banking. HSBC Premier customers can also apply through "Chat with us" on HSBC HK App or HSBC Online Banking.

What should I do if I make a mistake when writing a cheque?

You can make amendments on the cheque and sign in full next to the alterations. Alternatively, you can destroy the cheque and write a new one.

I am a joint account holder. Do we both need to sign the cheques?

You will have chosen to use either a single signature or both signatures when opening your joint account.

When do I need to put money into my account after writing a cheque?

You need to make sure there are enough funds in your current account to cover a cheque before you write it.

What happen if my account has insufficient available balance upon the cheque payment date?

We will treat this as your ad-hoc request for an unauthorised overdraft.

We may agree to your request and provide you with an overdraft. The amount of the unauthorised overdraft will be subject to our prevailing interest rate calculated on a daily basis.  We will also charge a handling charge for the unauthorised overdraft on each occasion. 

Alternatively, we may refuse your request and your instruction, return the cheque to you, and impose a return charge for considering and refusing your request on each occasion.

For details of the prevailing Unauthorised Overdraft interest rate and fees, please refer to Overdraft Fees & Charges. 

How can I stop the payment of a cheque?

You may stop a cheque (provided the cheque has not already been paid) by making a stop payment request at any HSBC branch, or by calling us on (852) 2233 3000. There is a fee for stopping a cheque.

The payee has lost the cheque. What should I do?

You should make a stop payment request immediately. You can do this in a branch or by calling (852) 2233 3000. There is a fee for stopping a cheque.

When do the funds become available after a cheque is deposited?

If you deposit a cheque before cut-off time on a business day (ie Monday to Friday, except public holidays), the funds will be made available after 3:00pm the following business day upon successful clearance*.

If it is deposited after cut-off time or on a non-business day, it will be processed* on the following business day,  the funds will be made available 2 business days after the deposit day, upon successful clearance*.

Please note that the account ledger balance will be updated to include the corresponding amount once the cheque is deposited and the funds will be made available only when the cheque is successfully cleared.

* If Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above and/or Black Rainstorm Warning is issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, or an "Extreme Conditions" is announced by the HKSAR Government, cheque processing and clearing arrangement may be different. Please refer to the following FAQ for details.

What will be the arrangements for cheque processing and clearing during severe weather conditions (refer to the Hong Kong Observatory issuing Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above and/or Black Rainstorm Warning, or the HKSAR Government announcing an "Extreme Conditions")?

Paper cheque

If severe weather conditions are in effect before 9:00am and cancelled after 12:00pm on a business day (ie Monday to Friday except public holidays), only those cheques deposited before the cut-off time on the previous business day will be processed and cleared (the funds will become available balance after 3:00pm upon successful clearance). All other cheques deposited will be processed on the next business day (if not affected by severe weather conditions).

If severe weather conditions are in effect after 9:00am or cancelled before/ at 12:00pm on a business day, cheque will be processed and cleared as usual (Please note the cut-off time of Cheque Deposit Machine may be changed under severe weather conditions, please refer to the notice posted near the machine for details).

e-Cheque

e-Cheque will be processed and cleared as usual and will not be affected by severe weather conditions.

What is the difference between a savings account and a Time Deposit?

With a savings account, you can access your money when you need it. With a Time Deposit, you put your money away for a set period of time. In return, you'll get a higher interest rate compared with a savings account.

Can I save in different currencies?

Yes. We offer savings accounts in various currencies other than Hong Kong Dollars including:

• Renminbi
• Australian Dollar
• Canadian Dollar
• Euro
• Sterling
• New Zealand Dollar
• Japanese Yen
• Singapore Dollar
• Swiss Franc
• Thai Baht
• US Dollar

What is the difference between a savings account and a current account?

A savings account allows you to earn interest on your money, while still being able to access your funds when you need to.

A current account allows you to manage your money and write cheques for day-to-day payments.

When will I get my principal back after I place my Time Deposit?

You can get your principal back on the maturity date of your Time Deposit.

Can I withdraw my money before my Time Deposit matures?

You may be allowed to do so at the Bank's discretion. In these cases, the Bank reserves the right not to pay interest on the deposit and to make a charge for early withdrawal.

Do I need a minimum amount to open a Time Deposit account?

Yes. The minimum deposit amount is HKD10,000 for a Hong Kong Dollar Time Deposit and RMB10,000 for a Renminbi Time Deposit. Open a Foreign Currency Time Deposit account with a minimum deposit amount as low as 2,000 units in foreign currency, except Japanese Yen and Thai Baht (100,000 units each), and Swiss Franc and Singapore Dollar (10,000 units each).

Can I set up a Time Deposit in different currencies?

Yes. You could open a Renminbi Time Deposit, or a foreign currency Time Deposit which gives you a choice of saving in ten major foreign currencies.

How do I know whether a Time Deposit is suitable for me or not?

It depends mainly on two things: whether you need immediate access to your money and whether you want to earn higher interest rates than those offered by a savings account.

Why do I see 2 different balance amounts?

One is the account ledger balance and the other is the available balance. The ledger balance is the amount which may include the cheques that have been deposited into the account but that have not yet been cleared for withdrawal and / or other credits that have not yet become part of the available balance. 

The available balance is the amount of money in the account that is available for withdrawal.

Can I make renminbi transfers to other renminbi accounts?

You can transfer renminbi from your renminbi savings & current account to a third party's renminbi account belonging to individual or companies (except to a renminbi account of Hong Kong Designated Business Customer).

Can I transfer renminbi in my renminbi savings & current account to another foreign currency?

You will only be able to convert renminbi to Hong Kong dollar, or from Hong Kong dollar to renminbi. If you wish to convert renminbi into another foreign currency, you must first convert renminbi to Hong Kong dollar and then convert Hong Kong dollar to the designated currency.

I want to check how much I have exchanged during the day. Can I check the utilisation of my daily limit through HSBC Personal Internet Banking?

You may check the usage of your daily limit by viewing the transaction history of your renminbi savings & current account through HSBC Personal Internet Banking. The transaction history is updated until 7:30pm on Monday to Friday and until 5:00pm on Saturday.

What are the prerequisites if I wish to send a renminbi remittance to my account in China?

Personal customers who are Hong Kong resident must first maintain a renminbi savings account with us in Hong Kong and have a renminbi bank account under the same name in Mainland China.

Non-Hong Kong residents may need to obtain an approval from the relevant Mainland authorities for renminbi remittance to Mainland and charges may be involved should the outward remittance be rejected by the Mainland authorities or Mainland banks for non-Hong Kong residents.

Can I place a remittance in renminbi?

Personal customers who are Hong Kong residents can remit up to RMB80,000 each day from your renminbi savings & current account to your renminbi account under the same name in mainland China. If the remittance amount exceeds the available daily remittance limit, the transaction will be rejected on the transaction date. Your daily remittance amount may also be checked by the renminbi clearing bank.

Simply select 'Transfers - Overseas' page and follow the instructions to make an overseas transfer. To effect an renminbi remittance, please input the English name of the remitting account holder in the "Account Holder's Name" . We will automatically use your Chinese name maintained with us as the remitter and beneficiary when effecting the transfer. If you only have your English name on record with us, we will use your English name instead.

If personal customers who are Hong Kong residents need to make remittances to your renminbi account in mainland China on a regular basis, you can set up a standing instruction to save time and trouble. You can also amend and cancel your instructions at any time through HSBC Personal Internet Banking.

Non-Hong Kong residents may need to obtain approval from the relevant Mainland authorities for Renminbi remittance to Mainland and charges may be involved should the outward remittance be rejected by the Mainland authorities or Mainland banks for non-Hong Kong residents.

When can I send a renminbi remittance?

The renminbi remittance instruction will be processed during our business hours on Monday to Friday, from 9am to 1:30pm, (excluding Saturday, Sunday and public holidays). You can send instruction to the Bank whenever you like but the earliest processing for instructions received after these times will be at the business hours of the next working day. Moreover, the renminbi remittance is processed subject to the operation and practice adopted by the renminbi clearing bank. It will not be processed by the renminbi clearing bank during holidays in China (e.g. Labour Day, National Day).

Other than ID, how can I change my other personal information for banking, credit card and investment accounts (excluding insurance policy/MPF/ORSO)?

You can update your other personal information by:

- logging on to HSBC Online Banking (with security code generated from your security device or HSBC HK App)

- calling our customer hotline (with phone banking PIN)

- visiting our branch

- mailing in the completed Change of Address and/or Customer Information Instruction Form (For Personal Customer)

Ways for adding/updating mobile phone number or email address:

• You can also add/update via HSBC HK App if both/either of your mobile number and/or email address are valid in our record. If you only have either one which is valid and wish to do the update via HSBC HK App, you can only add/update the missing/invalid one via HSBC HK App. Keep your HKID handy when you start to add/update mobile number and/or email address on the app.
• If you have a valid mobile number, but your email address in our record is missing or invalid, you can add or update it via HSBC Online Banking (with security code generated from your HSBC HK App or security device).
• Alternatively, you can submit the completed Change of Address and/or Customer Information Instruction Form (For Personal Customer) by mail or visit any HSBC branch in Hong Kong. Please ensure the information you provide is complete and accurate if you prefer to mail-in your instructions.
• You can also update your residential and correspondence address via HSBC HK App.
• Please note that you can only update your residential and correspondence address if you have a valid mobile number and/or email address in our records. Kindly ensure your mobile number and/or email address are up-to-date before updating your residential and correspondence address.
• Alternatively, you can submit the completed Change of Address and/or Customer Information Instruction Form (For Personal Customer) or Change of Address/Telephone Number/ Fax Number / Email Address Instruction Form (For Personal Customer) by mail or at any HSBC branch in Hong Kong. Please ensure the information you provide is complete and accurate if you prefer to mail-in your instructions.

How long does the personal information update take to process?

For mail-in forms:

• it normally takes no more than 7 working days upon receiving your form with completed information after verifying that your signature matches the one we have in our record.

For HSBC Online Banking:

• updates you make to your personal information (except ID) during Monday to Friday 09:00-20:00, and Saturday 09:00-17:30 will be effective immediately.
• if you want to update personal information of insurance policy, please refer to Insurance - Manage your policy FAQs.

For HSBC HK Mobile Banking:

• if you update your mobile number or email address via the mobile banking app, your updates will be effective immediately.
• If you submit your request for updating your residential or correspondence address during office hours, it will be processed on the same day and the record will be updated in your customer profile. If your request is submitted outside of office hours, it will be processed on the next working day. For correspondence address, the update may take up to 4 working days to be effective for eStatements/ eAdvices, and some products like cards and MPF.

Please note the office hours:

Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 7:55pm; and Saturday, from 9:00am to 5:25pm HKT, excluding Sundays and public holidays.

How can I change my personal information if I'm overseas?

You can update your personal information by:

- HSBC Online Banking (with security code generated from your security device or HSBC HK Mobile Banking app)

- customer hotline (with phone banking PIN)

- mailing-in the form

If you can't make the changes via automated channels (ie online banking or mobile banking platforms), you can mail-in the Change of Address and/or Customer Information Instruction Form (for Personal Customer). Ensure the information you provide is complete and accurate, and your signature matches the one we have in our record.

If you forgot your signature specimen or want to update your identification, you can download the Customer Information Sheet for Requesting Personal Account Document Authentication at HSBC Overseas Branch via HSBC public website and follow the instructions accordingly.

Our overseas HSBC branch staff will check and make a copy of your original ID and witness your signatures on the customer instructions. These documents will be sent back to HSBC Hong Kong where we'll follow up.

Please call our customer hotline in case you have difficulties at an overseas branch or there is no branch in your residing country.

HSBC Global Private Banking customers
(852) 2233 3033

HSBC Premier Elite customers
(852) 2233 3033

HSBC Premier customers
(852) 2233 3322

Other customers  
(852) 2233 3000

What should I do if I receive a notification saying my account is inactive?

You can reactivate your account via these channels:

• log on to HSBC HK Online Banking with security code generated from your security device or HSBC HK Mobile Banking app and follow the instructions for reactivation
• call us or visit any HSBC branch in Hong Kong in person to complete the process

Note: during the account reactivation process, we may contact you for an update of your information.

For investment accounts, you can reactivate your account(s) through either of these 2 methods:

• call us with a valid phone banking PIN or ATM PIN at (852) 2233 3033 for HSBC Premier Elite customers, (852) 2233 3322 for HSBC Premier customers and (852) 2233 3000 for other customers
• visit any HSBC branch in Hong Kong to conduct identification verification and complete a form

How do I reactivate my HSBC HK account while I'm abroad?

If you're abroad, you can visit an HSBC branch nearest to you for help in contacting HSBC HK or make an appointment at a designated branch attesting to your documents. Our staff there can check and bear witness to your signatures on the required documents and to your instructions to reactivate your HSBC HK account. They can then pass your instructions to HSBC HK to follow up on.