If you want to trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange or the US stock market, opening a Hong Kong bank account is almost a necessary step. But many people are confused about which bank to choose and how to open an account. Today, let's talk about this.

**Why open a card in Hong Kong**

If you plan to conduct cross-border transactions long-term, a Hong Kong card not only has lower fees but also supports multiple cross-border payment methods, making it much more convenient and reliable than some domestic channels. However, the prerequisite is that you need to go to Hong Kong in person.

**How to choose among four banks**

HSBC Hong Kong and Bank of China Hong Kong are the top choices. These two are among Hong Kong’s three major note-issuing banks, with low account management fees, and their scale and reputation are guaranteed. HSBC supports seamless transfers through Industrial Bank’s Global Life, and Bank of China Hong Kong allows direct seamless transfers from mainland China’s Bank of China to Hong Kong accounts.

If you want cashback on spending, ZhongAn Bank and Star Bank are worth considering. ZhongAn is Hong Kong’s largest virtual bank, and its ZA Card combined with ZA Coin offers substantial cashback, essentially enabling zero-loss spending. Star Bank, although not as large, is backed by Xiaomi Investment, and both support cross-border payments.

**Things you must prepare before departure**

Documents: ID card, Hong Kong and Macau Travel Permit (remember to check if the visa is valid), customs clearance records (use WeChat mini-program after arriving in Hong Kong to contact immigration to download).

Tools and internet: A power bank is a must, download Amap (Gaode Map), enable roaming for Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan on your phone (activate it directly through your carrier’s app for free, then turn on data roaming after arriving), or buy a data package in advance. Without internet, it’s problematic to spend and receive verification codes in Hong Kong.

Address information: Prepare the English address and the full Chinese pinyin address, including specific room number, as it will be needed when opening a bank account.

It may seem like a lot to prepare, but these are all practical and useful. Especially network access and address information—don’t forget these.