The article summarizes some Hong Kong banks that make cross-border remittances very cheap and convenient.
It can also make free remittances to designated regions.
Cross-border remittance, paying bank ( → transit bank ) → receiving bank, may not go through a transit bank. Generally, it is not free. The remitting bank charges handling fees and telegraphic transfer fees, the receiving bank charges landing fees, and the transit bank also charges fees.
Although most situations require fees, there are still a few ways to waive all fees.
The article was updated in December 2024. The actual charges shall prevail.
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Citibank Hong Kong
Citibank Hong Kong is the first choice for remittances. Of course, it has high requirements for the economic strength of customers.
Citibank Express Transfer
Citibank Hong Kong’s Citibank Private Client Business, Citigold, Citi Plus and Citi Priority customers can remit money to Thailand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries, arriving in seconds for free.
Transfer Limit for “Express Transfer”
| Country | Supported Currency | “Citibank Express Transfer” Transfer Limit |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Pound | GBP 25,000 per transfer |
| Canada | Canadian Dollar | CAD 10,000 per transfer |
| Singapore | Singapore Dollar | SGD 25,000 per transfer |
| Thailand | Thai Baht | THB 49,999 per transfer |
If the transfer exceeds the above transfer limit, the funds will be transferred via general telegraphic transfer, which takes 5-7 working days to arrive. In addition, the minimum transaction amount for “Express Transfer” is GBP 1, CAD 0.01, SGD 0.01 and THB 2 per transfer, respectively.
Note that this is an internal express transfer within Citibank Hong Kong. Hong Kong banks also have an express transfer CHATS, which is a transfer method between Hong Kong banks. For fees, you can see Hong Kong Bank CHATS US Dollar and Euro Transfer Fees. For an introduction, you can see Basic Knowledge of Bank Accounts and Cards in Hong Kong.
Citibank Global Transfer
Citibank Hong Kong’s Citibank Private Client Business, Citigold, Citi Plus, Citibanking Wealth Management and Citi Priority customers can remit money from their Hong Kong Citibank accounts to overseas Citibank accounts for free (the exemption is limited to the handling fees charged by Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited). Supported regions include: Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States.
DBS Hong Kong
DBS Remit: $0 fee transfer to the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom and 42 other regions
Including transfers of Indian Rupees to India, Indonesian Rupiah to Indonesia, Philippine Pesos to the Philippines, US Dollars to the United States, Canadian Dollars to Canada, British Pounds to the United Kingdom, Australian Dollars to Australia, Singapore Dollars to Singapore, Chinese Yuan to Mainland China, Euros to Eurozone destinations, Japanese Yen to Japan and Thai Baht to Thailand.
Eurozone destinations include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom (transferring Euros to the United Kingdom)
Friendly reminder that DBS Hong Kong ordinary accounts only waive management fees if they have a balance of HK$200,000.
Hang Seng Hong Kong
Use Hang Seng Hong Kong Bank’s mobile APP’s overseas transfer Global Money to transfer local currency to more than 50 designated countries or regions without paying any fees.
Here is the current list of supported regions:
Americas
| Country/Region | Transfer Currency |
|---|---|
| United States | US Dollar |
When transferring to the United States, the transfer fee depends on the recipient’s account. During the transfer process, transfer fee information will be displayed on the page before you confirm the transfer.
Asia Pacific
| Country/Region | Transfer Currency |
|---|---|
| Australia | Australian Dollar |
| Singapore | Singapore Dollar |
| New Zealand | New Zealand Dollar |
| India | Indian Rupee |
| Guam | US Dollar |
| Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabian Riyal |
When transferring RMB to mainland China, no transfer fee will be charged, but you need to pay an overseas agent bank fee of HKD 20.
Europe
| Country/Region | Transfer Currency |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Pound/Euro |
| Switzerland | Swiss Franc/Euro |
| Greece | Euro |
| Germany | Euro |
| Netherlands | Euro |
| Spain | Euro |
| Austria | Euro |
| Portugal | Euro |
| Andorra | Euro |
| Belgium | Euro |
| Bulgaria | Bulgarian Lev/Euro |
| Croatia | Euro |
| Cyprus | Euro |
| Czech Republic | Czech Koruna |
| Denmark | Danish Krone |
| Estonia | Euro |
| Finland | Euro |
| France | Euro |
| French Guiana | Euro |
| Gibraltar | Euro |
| Guadeloupe | Euro |
| Guernsey | Pound/Euro |
| Vatican City | Euro |
| Hungary | Hungarian Forint/ Euro |
| Iceland | Euro |
| Republic of Ireland | Euro |
| Isle of Man | Pound/Euro |
| Italy | Euro |
| Jersey | Pound/Euro |
| Latvia | Euro |
| Liechtenstein | Swiss Franc/Euro |
| Malta | Euro |
| Martinique | Euro |
| Malta | Euro |
| Martinique | Euro |
| Mayotte | Euro |
| Monaco | Euro |
| Norway | Norwegian Krone/Euro |
| Poland | Polish Zloty/Euro |
| Romania | Romanian Leu/Euro |
| Saint Pierre and Miquelon | Euro |
| San Marino | Euro |
| Slovakia | Euro |
| Slovenia | Euro |
| Sweden | Swedish Krona/Euro |
Africa
| Country/Region | Transfer Currency |
|---|---|
| South Africa | South African Rand |
| Kenya | Kenyan Shilling |
HSBC Hong Kong
Note that HSBC Hong Kong has increased remittance fees starting in 2025. At the same time, it has also increased foreign currency withdrawal fees in Hong Kong.
HSBC Global Transfer
Transfer to overseas HSBC accounts. Real-time transfers to personal or third-party global HSBC accounts are completely free. Including HSBC One ordinary customers.
Transfers to your global accounts support accounts in the following regions: Australia, Bahrain, Bermuda, Channel Islands and Isle of Man, Egypt, HSBC Expat, India, Indonesia, Mainland China, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam
Transfers to third-party global accounts support accounts in the following regions: Australia, Bahrain, Bermuda, Egypt, Guernsey, HSBC Expat, India, Indonesia, Isle of Man, Jersey, China, Malaysia, Malta, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vietnam
Global Transfer to HSBC Accounts | Remittances - HSBC Hong Kong
Global Money Transfer
This is used to transfer funds to overseas non-HSBC accounts.
Note that the fees have been revised. From February 23, 2025, only the following regions can make free remittances.
One account remittances to Singapore, the United States and other countries will be charged.
| Transfer to | Amount Credited | Maximum Amount Credited | Minimum Amount Credited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | Albanian Lek | Albanian Lek 1,500,000 | - |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | US Dollar | 2,500 US Dollars | 10 |
| Egypt | Egyptian Pound | 10,000 US Dollars | - |
| Ghana | Ghanaian Cedi | 125,000 | - |
| Indonesia | Indonesian Rupiah | 300,000,000 | 50,000 Indonesian Rupiah |
| Indonesia | US Dollar | 10,000 US Dollars | 100 |
| Liberia | US Dollar | 5,000 US Dollars | - |
| Malaysia | Malaysian Ringgit | 25,000 US Dollars | - |
| Mexico | Mexican Peso | 25,000 US Dollars | - |
| Morocco | Moroccan Dirham | 25,000 US Dollars | - |
| Nigeria | Nigerian Naira | 25,000 US Dollars | - |
| Pakistan | Pakistani Rupee | 25,000 US Dollars | - |
| Serbia | Serbian Dinar | 600,000 | - |
| Sri Lanka | US Dollar | 3,000 US Dollars | - |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lankan Rupee | 25,000 US Dollars | - |
| Thailand | Thai Baht | 50,000 Thai Baht | 50 |
| Turkey | Turkish Lira | 25,000 US Dollars | - |
| Uganda | Ugandan Shilling | 25,000 US Dollars | - |
| United Arab Emirates | UAE Dirham | 25,000 US Dollars | - |
| Vietnam | US Dollar | 25,000 US Dollars | - |
| Vietnam | Vietnamese Dong | 300,000,000 | - |
Like a Local Transfer Experience | Global Money Transfer | HSBC Hong Kong
Bank of China Hong Kong
Free remittance via BOC Express Remit. Only remittance handling fees and telegraphic transfer fees are waived.
Bank of China Hong Kong’s BOC Express Remit supports fewer regions, only Southeast Asian countries.
Bank of China Hong Kong’s BOC Express Remit supports the following regions: China, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Brunei, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Macau, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia.
For specific supported regions, open the APP to view.
Bank of China Hong Kong, as a transit bank, generally charges a handling fee of HKD 60.
Standard Chartered
Standard Chartered Priority Private Banking customers enjoy free global transfers and remittances.
Standard Chartered Priority Banking VIP customers can remit foreign currencies equivalent to less than HKD 1 million to the following regions for free: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Note that Standard Chartered charges very high fees for transferring US dollars and Euros to other Hong Kong banks, regardless of account level, even VIP customers have to pay huge handling fees.
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) Hong Kong
ICBC Express Remittance and local foreign currency transfers are charged.
ICBC Express Remittance costs at least HKD 80 per transaction.
ICBC Express Remittance of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Hong Kong) supports the following regions: Mainland China, Macau China, Singapore, Indonesia, Netherlands, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Australia, South Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Russia, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Thailand, India, Canada, United Kingdom
For local transfer fees, please see Hong Kong Bank CHATS US Dollar and Euro Transfer Fees
Recommended reading
Basic Knowledge of Bank Accounts and Cards in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Bank Faster Payment System (FPS) Detailed Usage Guide to Avoid Pitfalls
Hong Kong Bank CHATS US Dollar and Euro Transfer Fees
Applying for a Hong Kong Bank Card to Open a Bank Account in Hong Kong
Transfer Money from Mainland China to Hong Kong for Free
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