U.S. expat, tried to open an account at this branch. I came prepared: Proof of Hong Kong residence with government stamp; passport; student visa; proof of residence in U.S.; proof of student registration in Hong Kong. I even brought my Hong Kong lease agreement for good measure.
This branch did not let me open an account because it wanted my proof of Hong Kong residence to be green. Like, the color green. The employee told me they wanted the "original," the "green one." When I asked my landlord about this, my landlord didn't know what that meant; my landlord, like most landlords, did the online application for proof of residence and had the official stamped proof emailed to them; my landlord then emailed it to me. This WAS the original. There is no "green" one. My landlord has assured me that the proof of residence I held in my hand had been used countless times before to open bank accounts in Hong Kong. Despite my best efforts to find out, HSBC wouldn't tell my why they wanted it to be green, why my official proof of residence wasn't acceptable proof of residence, and refused to let me open an account until it was green.
Any business that makes it difficult for me to give them my money, even when I come 100% prepared to do so, won't get my money. I'll be opening an account in a different bank. I'll give my new bank something green, but it won't be my proof of residence. read more