[Bojak83]

Thanks for the detailed advice uvfleur, and also everyone else. Although I'd be nice to have a service rep and free global transferring, I don't have enough for a Premier account, at least not in liquid cash form...

I'll have to open a regular account after arriving in HK, and then upgrade to Premier a while later. But either way, its simple enough.

[shafinbutt]

HSBC is almost every where in Hong Kong. it you wants to open multi-million account then you better open the account in CiTi Bank, however if you will maintain low level of savings then i suggest you HSBC.

You can even open accounts in Both banks. there is no harm at least.

i have bank accounts in Hang Seng Bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered, and Even one in Wing Lung Bank. i have found Hang Seng Bank is the most co-operative bank and they are very fast.

All you need is your new employment contract or overseas driving license showing your overseas address and valid a passport if you don't have Hong Kong identity card. Without any address proof , they will NOT open any account for you.

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by Bojak83

I don't have enough for a Premier account, at least not in liquid cash form...

It doesn't have to be liquid cash. It is "Total Relationship Balance" which includes all investments (equities, funds, bonds,), time deposits, etc.

[dilzio]

My husband and I signed up for a Premier account in NYC and it has proven to bring us nearly to tears! We thought it would be helpful given that we still have financial obligations in the US but they are not very familiar with these accounts (they opened our US accouunts using our driver's license numbers which won't allow us to connect the US and HK accounts), cannot offer the best rate for US savings (their online rate) which requires you to open yet another account and our relationship manager has not been particular educated or available. Two and a half months into this, we have 4 HSBC accounts, which are not connected between the 2 countries and are on the verge of losing access to our internet banking in HK because our "security device" was mailed to the US.