Open a livi Bank account online: A complete guide for Hong Kong businesses

The rise of digital banking in Hong Kong has provided businesses with more streamlined and flexible financial management tools. Among Hong Kong's virtual banks, livi Bank offers livi Business digital accounts designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Its fully digital onboarding, quick approval, and flexible deposit options have made it one of the choices for local businesses seeking a suite of banking solutions.

In this article, we provide a detailed breakdown of livi Bank’s business account features and application requirements, and compare it with Airwallex, helping you choose the most suitable platform to support your business growth.

What are the features and benefits of livi Bank accounts for businesses?

The account opening process for livi Business can be conducted through the livi app, allowing users to submit documents and verify identity via mobile. This process is designed to be paperless, with approvals‌ in as little as 24 hours. Eligibility for the account includes companies where a beneficial owner, director, or controlling person holds a Hong Kong or Mainland China identity card. The livi Business account can support up to 50 users, with options to assign roles such as account administrator, approver, or basic user.

Types of livi Bank accounts for businesses

livi Bank offers livi Business as its primary business account. It is available to various business structures, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, and limited companies.

Requirements for opening a livi Business account in Hong Kong

To open a livi Business account, your business should meet the following criteria:

• Registered in Hong Kong

• All relevant users must hold a Hong Kong Identity Card or Mainland China Resident Identity Card and possess a liviSave account

• Operates as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited company with a single-layer ownership structure

• The applicant must be a beneficial owner, director, or controlling person of the company

Steps to opening a livi Business account

Before applying for livi Business, you and all designated users must first open a liviSave personal account for identity verification. The application process is as follows:

1. Download the livi app: The livi mobile app is available on both iOS and Android devices.

2. Open a liviSave account: complete registration and identity verification for your personal account.

3. Apply for livi Business account: Switch to livi Business and select "Open Account." Fill in the application details, including basic company information, details of the company members and their mandates, business nature and details, and financial information. The application will be sent to all designated account users (beneficial owners, directors, and controlling persons) for confirmation via their personal liviSave accounts.

4. Pay the application fee: Submit the payment through your liviSave account.

5. Wait for approval: Approval can be granted in as fast as 24 hours. Once approved, the account is ready for use. While no company registration documents are required during the initial process, additional documents may be requested based on the specific application.

Fees and limitations of livi Business accounts

Compared to the complex procedures and charges of traditional banks, livi Business offers a faster, more affordable solution for businesses. However, livi Business currently only supports local deposits and transfers in HKD and RMB via the Faster Payment System (FPS), and USD through the local Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system. Cross-border transactions via RTGS and any other international remittance services are not supported.

In contrast, Airwallex is a one-stop financial and payments platform designed to help businesses expand globally. It offers more flexible and diversified digital financial solutions especially suitable for businesses that need to handle cross-border payments.

Comparing livi Business and Airwallex

At Airwallex, we understand that modern businesses operate beyond borders. While local digital banks like livi Bank offer convenient solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises operating within Hong Kong, their services are primarily designed for the domestic market. For businesses with global ambitions, a more flexible and scalable financial infrastructure is essential.

Global reach: Airwallex was built to empower global businesses. With our Business Accounts, your business can transfer in over 60 trade currencies, all while benefiting from bank-beating exchange rates of just 0.2% above ‌interbank rates. This enables you to reduce FX costs and operate efficiently across multiple markets.

Go global with local accounts: Airwallex helps businesses establish a local presence in major international markets. With Global Accounts in USD, EUR, AUD, and more, you can collect payments in local currencies – without needing a physical presence. This not only improves your customer experience but also speeds up settlement times and reduces conversion fees.

Fast and flexible international payments: Airwallex supports fast and secure payments to 150+ countries, with no minimum transfer amount or cut-off times. Up to 95% of transfers are completed on the same day, giving you full control over your global cash flow and supplier payments.

If your business is expanding internationally, selling across borders, or sourcing globally, Airwallex offers the infrastructure you need to scale. Compared to local-focused solutions, we provide a more comprehensive, cost-efficient, and globally connected financial platform. Open a Business Account for free today.

Source:

Information on livi Bank account opening was sourced as of May 2025 and is for reference only. For the most up-to-date details, please visit the official livi Bank website.

1. https://www.livibank.com/pdf/zh_HK/cfs.pdf

2. https://www.livibank.com/zh_HK/business/livi-Business.html

3. https://www.livibank.com/zh_HK/help/faqs.html?category=livi-Business

4. https://www.livibank.com/pdf/Fee%20and%20Charges_TC.pdf

Disclaimer: The information was based on our own online research and we were not able to manually test each tool or provider. The information is provided for educational purposes only, and a reader should consider the specific requirements of their business when evaluating providers. This research is reviewed every six months. If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [email protected].