FAQs
About PAObank
You may contact our Customer Service Representative through the below channel:
| 24 Hours in-app Live Chat: | Simply contact our Customer Service Representative |
| 24 Hours General Enquiry & Technical Support Hotline: | (852) 3762 9900 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
Branch Code: 752
SWIFT Code: PONCHKHHXXX
Account Opening (HKID)
Retail:
You are eligible to open a personal account with us if you are
- A Hong Kong resident who holds a valid Hong Kong Identity Card (2018 version) with age 18 or above;
- Holding a Hong Kong phone number & Hong Kong residential address;
- Non-U.S. Resident/ Permanent Resident card /Green Card Holder/Resident Alien
SME:
Your company is eligible to open an SME account if your company is incorporated and registered in HK
For retail customers:
- 1. Multi-currency saving account services (HKD / USD / CNY)
- 2. HKD fund transfer & payment via Faster Payment System (FPS)
- 3. USD & CNY local transfer via RTGS
- 4. HKD, USD & CNY cross-border remittance via SWIFT
For SME customers:
- 1. Multi-currency saving account services (HKD / USD / CNY)
- 2. HKD fund transfer & payment via Faster Payment System (FPS)
- 3. USD & CNY local transfer via RTGS
- 4. HKD, USD & CNY cross-border remittance via SWIFT
- 5. SME Loans Services
*More services will be available in the near future, and please stay tuned with us!
Retail:
Simply follow the steps below and you will be able to enjoy our seamless banking services. It takes around 8 minutes to open a savings account!
- Download PAObank APP here or simply visit your mobile device App store (iOS: App Store/ Android: Google Play) and search "PAObank" for our APP!
- Hong Kong ID scanning and selfie taking to verify applicants' identity
- Input your personal information
- Once approval completed, your savings account will be created!
SME:
Simply follow the steps below and you will be able to enjoy our seamless
- Download PAObank SME APP here or simply visit your mobile device App store (iOS: App Store/ Android: Google Play) and search "PAObank SME" for our APP!
- Hong Kong Identity Card scanning and selfie taking to verify applicant's identity
- Input your personal and company information
- Share the QR code to other Director(s) and Shareholder(s) to input information. (If applicable)
- After your application is approved, your savings account will be created!
Account Opening (PRCID)
You are eligible to open a personal account with us if you are:
- A Chinese Citizen who holds a valid (a) China Resident Identity Card (second generation), (b) Hong Kong and Macau Exit-Entry Permit, and (c) original PDF of Entry and Exit Record (without a password), and (d) is aged 18 or above; and
- Holding a valid mainland China phone number, being able to successfully receive text messages and phone calls within Hong Kong; and
- A non-U.S. Resident/ non-U.S. Permanent Resident cardholder /non-U.S. Green Card Holder/non-U.S. Resident Alien; and
- The customer must be physically present in the territory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region when opening the account.
*If the customer also holds a Hong Kong Identity Card, the customer is required to use his/her Hong Kong Identity Card to open the account.
For retail customers:
- 1. Multi-currency saving account services (HKD / USD / CNY)
- 2. HKD fund transfer & payment via Faster Payment System (FPS)
- 3. USD & CNY local transfer via RTGS
- 4. HKD, USD & CNY cross-border remittance via SWIFT
For SME customers:
- 1. Multi-currency saving account services (HKD / USD / CNY)
- 2. HKD fund transfer & payment via Faster Payment System (FPS)
- 3. USD & CNY local transfer via RTGS
- 4. HKD, USD & CNY cross-border remittance via SWIFT
- 5. SME Loans Services
*More services will be available in the near future, and please stay tuned with us!
For retail customers:
Simply follow the steps below and you will be able to enjoy our seamless banking services.
- Download via scanning the QR code on PAObank's official website or simply visit your mobile device App store (iOS: App Store/ Android: Google Play) and search "PAObank" for our APP!
- Complete the verification procedures on our APP: (a) Scan your China Resident Identity Card and HK-Macau Exit-Entry Permit, (b) upload the original PDF of the Entry and Exit Record (without a password), and (c) take a selfie to verify your identity.
- Input your personal information on our APP
Once approval is completed, your savings account will be created!
When taking the photo, you need to:
- Look straight into the camera,
- Eyes must be at the same level as the camera,
- Ensure adequate lighting with no shadows or glare, and
- Use a plain and clean background.
Mobile APP
To protect your account, your password should:
- contain 8-16 digits and letters
- contain at least one uppercase and one lowercase letter
- contain one special character
- not use 5 or more same and consecutive digits or letters
- not use the username as your password
- not use the password that being used for past 3 times
If you no longer wish to receive any direct marketing materials or messages from the PAObank, please login our APP and find "Menu" > "Settings" > "Notification channel" or contact our 24 Hours General Enquiry & Technical Support Hotline: (852) 3762 9900 to opt out.
Please be noted that once you have disabled this service, we will not be able to notify any latest information to you directly.
If you suspect any unusual account activities, please contact our 24 Hours General Enquiry & Technical Support Hotline: (852) 3762 9900.
You may also leave a message to us on our live chat session, our customer service officers will contact you on the next available time.
We have recently upgraded our Retail Mobile APP which would provide a more friendlier and smoother user journey. All retail banking services are still provided in the new Mobile APP.
*More services will soon be available!
The new Retail Mobile APP retains all the security features and defence mechanisms against any jailbroken / rooted devices to ensure that you can use the APP only under a secure and protected environment. There is also no change on our internal policy, mechanism and retention period in managing customers' personal information with the new APP.
You can refer to "New Retail APP" in the "Education Centre" page, or contact our customer service hotline (852) 3762 9900.
Deposits
-RTGS: HKD / USD / CNY
-SWIFT: HKD, AUD, CAD, CHF, CNH/CNY, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, NOK, NZD, SEK, SGD, USD
Money Safe
Auto-Renewal with Principal and Interest: Principal and interest will be automatically renewed and will continue to be protected under "Money Safe" after maturity.
Auto-Renewal with Principal only: Principal will be automatically renewed and will continue to be protected for "Money Safe" protection after maturity, while interest will automatically be transferred to the Savings Account for "Money Safe" protection.
No Auto-Renewal: Principal and interest will automatically be transferred to the Savings Account under "Money Safe" protection after maturity.
Time Deposit
If you are not an existing PAObank personal customer, you simply need to open account via the PAObank Banking APP. You will then be able to place a Time Deposit once your savings account is successfully opened.
1)If your maturity instruction is "no auto-renewal at maturity", the principal and the accrued interest of your time deposit will be credited to your savings account on the maturity date.
2)If your maturity instruction is "auto-renewal with principal only at maturity", your time deposit will automatically renew with only the principal amount for the same deposit term upon maturity, while the accrued interest will be credited to your savings account. The interest rate for the renewed term will be the prevailing fixed deposit interest rate on the renewal date.
3)If your maturity instruction is "auto-renewal with principal and interest at maturity", your time deposit will automatically renew with both the principal amount and the accrued interest for the same deposit term upon maturity and at the prevailing fixed deposit interest rate on the renewal date.
LOCAL TRANSFER
"FPS" is the acronym of Faster Payment System which is a system launched by Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) in September, 2018. The main functions including:
1) 7 x 24 x 365 real time interbank balance transfer2) support payments and transfer in Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
You are advised to always verify the payment details (including the recipient’s identity) of every single transaction before making payment.
25a. I discovered my recipient's mobile number has been flagged in Scameter. How come PAObank did not alert me when I now try to make payment to this FPS proxy ID?
25b. I discovered my recipient's mobile number has been flagged in Scameter. How come PAObank did not alert me when I previously made payment to this FPS proxy ID?
For PAObank, name matching process is mandatory for all real-time inward fund transfer regardless of transaction amount.
For CHATS payment, please refer to the below schedule:
| Channels | Cutoff time |
| CHATS | HKD: Monday to Friday, 16:00 (except public holiday) |
| CNY: Monday to Friday, 16:00 (except public holiday) | |
| USD: Monday to Friday, 16:00 (except public holiday) |
The bank may process your transaction on the next working day if transaction is submitted after the cutoff time. Please be also noted that for beneficiary to receive your payment, it is also subject to processing time of the intermediary bank(s) (if any) and the beneficiary bank. The above table only indicates how PAObank will handle remittance and its corresponding cutoff time.
e-Statement & e-Advice
You can follow the steps below to view the e-Statement:
Step 1: Login to your PAObank APP;
Step 2: Select "Menu" > "Monthly E-statement" on APP homepage;
Step 3: Select the months that you would like to view on the e-Statement
SME Lending
Eligibility
The Corporation must be a Hong Kong registered company with year of incorporation more than 1 year.
Loan purpose
No limitation.
Application Flow
Yes, bank will assess not only applicant's credit reference but also personal credit worthiness of all guarantors/owner/partners up consent obtained
-HKID of all Director(s) / Guarantor(s) / Sole Proprietor / Partner(s)
-6 months bank statements of 3 major accounts (by request)
-Current facilities’ Banking Facility Letter(s) or loan documents (if any)
Loan Terms
Trade-Connect Loan amount ranges from HKD$100,000 to $10,000,000.
Repayment
Borrower has to open a savings account with PAObank for monthly direct debit repayment purpose.
Late repayment
Default interest is charged at 3% per month on the overdue amount from the date of default until we actually receive repayment in full.
Early Redemption
Yes, early settlement is allowed.
Open API
Phase 1 of Open API has been launched and providing product information for retail customers. Please visit the link below to the Open API platform:
https://www.paob.com.hk/en/charges_prime-rate.html
Designated Device
Designated Device is the mobile device designated by you to use your account and our services, and to enter into transactions. With the introduction of Designated Device, you may now enjoy our services and enter into transactions by logging on to the PAObank APP with your 6-digit PIN or with biometric authentication, allowing you to enjoy a more secured yet seamless banking experience.
To ensure the safety and security of your account, you are required to activate the Designated Device in order to perform any transactions or give any instructions via the PAObank APP (for example, initiating a fund transfer).
You may only activate one mobile device as the Designated Device. When you are logging in from mobile devices other than your Designated Device, you can choose to designate the new device as your Designated Device. Once such designation is complete, the original Designated Device will be deactivated automatically.
To protect the safety of your account, only one person may have access to the Designated Device at any one point in time. When another person has logged in to the PAObank APP from your Designated Device, your Designated Device will be de-activated automatically. You will be required to activate the Designated Device again during your next login.
During the activation process, you will be required to perform a one-time SMS verification and input One-Time Password for authentication. After that, you will be asked to verify your identity by way of facial recognition.
You may follow the below steps to activate the Designated Device:
1. Download the most updated version of the PAObank APP from the Google Play™
Store, App Store or the designated link from our website
2. Login to the PAObank APP from your designated mobile device
3. Select "Setup Now"
4. Perform SMS OTP authentication
5. Perform Facial Recognition verification
6. Setup your Security PIN
7. Select the authentication method for logging-in and for authorising transactions
8. Complete the setup of Designated Device
If your Designated Device is lost, we recommend you to contact our customer service representative to suspend your Designated Device immediately. Once suspended, your original Designated Device will be disabled and you may re-activate it again upon your next successful login on the new mobile device.
If your mobile device does not support biometric authentication, you may not be able to enable this service.
When you activate biometric authentication service, any biometric credentials stored on your mobile device can be used to log on to the PAObank APP. Therefore, you are strongly recommended to store your own biometric credential only on your mobile device.
If your mobile device cannot meet our security requirement, you may not be able to activate the Designated Device on your mobile device. If you have met any difficulties during the activation of Designated Device, please contact our customer service representative for assistance.
Designated Device is currently supporting both retail and SME customers.
Customer Due Diligence
As per Hong Kong banking regulator’s expectation, the Bank is required to comply with customer due diligence ("CDD") requirements in accordance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing related laws.
Under the CDD requirements, the Bank will collect information from customer at account opening, at periodic CDD review, at trigger event and may from time to time as required, for the Bank to develop an understanding of the customer’s account activities; the amount of customer information collected may vary, depending on the money laundering and terrorist financing risk posed by the customer.
Cross-border remittance
We currently offer the below types of remittance services and channels for both retail and SME customers:
- Inward and outward transfer via Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) from local bank
- Cross-border inward and outward remittance via SWIFT from overseas banks / mainland China banks
When you remit fund from other local banks (non FPS) to your savings account, please choose local remittance and provide below information :
PAObank Bank and Account Information :
Bank name: PAObank
Bank code: 392
Branch no.: 752
SWIFT CODE: PONCHKHHXXX (if required)
Account Name : Your English account name registered with PAObank
Account Number : Your savings account number at PAObank
Account Currency : Your savings account's currency (e.g. HKD)
When you remit fund from overseas banks to your savings account, please choose overseas remittance through SWIFT and provide below information :
1. PAObank Bank and Account Information :
Bank name: PAObank
SWIFT CODE: PONCHKHHXXX
Bank Address: Room 1903-1904, Floor 19, NEO, 123 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Account Name : Your English account name registered with PAObank
Account Number : Your savings account number at PAObank
Account Currency : Your savings account's currency (e.g. HKD)
2. Intemediary Bank Information :
Bank name: Citibank N.A. Hong Kong
Branch name: Hong Kong Branch
SWIFT CODE: CITIHKHX
Bank Address: 50/F., Champion Tower, 3 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
You can remit from below currencies via below channels. Conversion from remitting currency to the currency of your savings account specified in remittance instruction using prevailing exchange rates from remitting bank or intermediary bank will be applied if required :
- Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) : HKD
- SWIFT : AUD, CAD, CHF, CNH/CNY, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, NOK, NZD, SEK, SGD, USD
PAObank will reject any inward remittance other than the currencies specified in respective channels.
Inward Remittance Cut-off time is as below :
From Mondays to Fridays (Excluding Hong Kong public holidays), instructions received before 16:00 will be processed on same business day. If the instruction is received after the cut-off time or during Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday, it will be processed on the following business day.
Fund will be deposited into your savings account only when the final payment is cleared, and any necessary checking is completed.
Remitting banks or intemediary banks may impose fees based on different circumstances. Please contact remitting banks / intermediary banks for details.
For PAObank's fees and charges, please refer to our service charges information from our website:
https://www.paob.com.hk/en/charges_prime-rate.html
Please contact our customer service hotline (852) 3762 9900 and we will work with you to return the funds to the owner.
You will need the beneficiary’s full name, bank name, SWIFT/BIC code, and their account number. For specific countries, additional purpose code may be required.
Please be also noted that for beneficiary to receive the payment, it is also subject to processing time of intermediary bank(s) (if any) and beneficiary bank.
Currently, PAObank supports outward remittances with HKD, USD, CNY.
A5 Fees may include cross border remittance service charges, intermediary bank charges, currency conversion fees, and SWIFT network fees. Charges vary by bank and transfer channel(s). For details of fees and charges, please click here and refer to our fee table.
Yes, PAObank imposes daily and per-transaction limits for outward remittance. For the most updated transaction limit, please refer to the limit setting page in mobile banking app.
PAObank does not support real time foreign exchange when making remittance transactions. If foreign exchange is required for remittance, please firstly conduct foreign exchange and then, submit remittance request.
Delays may be caused by additional screening, time zone differences, or intermediary banks. Contact your bank’s customer service or check the transaction record of your account through PAObank online banking app for updates.
Usually no, the returned amount is usually less than the original due to deductions for bank charges, intermediary fees, and SWIFT network fees incurred during the original transaction and its return.
Verify all beneficiary information carefully, ensure compliance with recipient country regulations, and maintain sufficient account funds before initiating transfers. Use correct SWIFT/BIC codes and correspondent bank details.
Common Reporting Standard (CRS)
The Common Reporting Standard ("CRS") is a reporting standard developed by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In order to help combat tax evasion and maintain the integrity of the tax system, financial institutions in participating countries/jurisdictions have committed to comply with the global standard of Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information ("AEOI").
According to the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 3) Ordinance 2016 and subsequent amendments, all reporting financial institutions (include banks) in Hong Kong are required by law to implement the CRS and the AEOI framework.
You can find a full list of participating jurisdictions on the OECD CRS website.
According to the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 3) Ordinance 2016 and subsequent amendments, the Bank is legally responsible to identify our customers’ tax residency status, including Hong Kong tax residents. The Bank will only report related information to customers’ local tax authority and the tax authority where they are tax resident. However, if you are not a tax resident in any other jurisdictions outside Hong Kong, the Bank will not report your account information to the HKIRD for transmission to any tax administration outside Hong Kong.
Customers need to provide the following information:
• Countries/jurisdictions of tax residence
• Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) for each jurisdiction
• Completed Self-Certification Form
• Supporting documentation may be required in certain cases
Self-Certification Form is a formal declaration you make in connection with your tax residency. The Bank may rely on the self-certification form from customers to confirm their tax residency.
Tax Residency / Jurisdiction of residence mean territory of which an individual or entity is liable to tax by reason of residence in the jurisdiction.
For more information, you may:
• Consult a professional tax advisor for personalized advice
• Visit the OECD Automatic Exchange Portal for detailed guidance
You need to provide the Bank with your personal information including your tax information. All such information provided by you shall be true, correct and accurate in all respects in relation to the facts pertaining. When there is a change or addition to the information, you have to update the Bank promptly by producing a new self-certificate.
FX services
We currently provide a 24/7 currency exchange service for customers. The service is available year-round, except on December 25, January 1, and during system maintenance periods.
Transactions are generally processed instantly.
We currently support conversion between HKD, CNY and USD.
Yes, the exchange rate you see on the page pending your confirmation is also the rate that you use for currency exchange transaction. Please be aware that the exchange rate may fluctuate from time to time. We will execute the transaction only after receiving your confirmation of the transaction details.
Minimum selling amount per exchange transaction: HKD 30, CNY 30 or USD 5.
Maximum selling exchange amount per exchange transaction: equivalent to USD 500,000
No, you don't need to pay any fee for currency exchange transactions.
We regret that we cannot cancel any executed transactions. Please exchange again based on your needs.
You can review currency exchange transactions in [exchange record] by clicking on the top right-hand corner of the currency exchange page.
Investment services
Individual (Hong Kong Identity Card holders):
You are eligible to open an investment account with PAObank if you meet the following criteria:
1. A Hong Kong resident holding a valid Hong Kong Resident Identity Card (2018 Smart ID version) and aged 18 or above;
2. Have a Hong Kong mobile phone number and residential address;
3. Not a U.S. resident, U.S. permanent resident, U.S. Green Card holder or foreign resident;
4. Hold a valid PAObank bank savings account.
Individual (Mainland China Citizens):
You are eligible to open an investment account with PAObank if you meet the following criteria:
1. A citizen of the People's Republic of China who holds:
(a) a valid Second-Generation PRC Resident Identity Card,
(b) a valid Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao,
(c) the original PDF of your Hong Kong Entry and Exit records without a set password, and (d) is aged 18or above;
2. Hold a valid Mainland China mobile number and be able to receive SMS and phone calls while in Hong Kong;
3. Not a U.S. resident, U.S. permanent resident, U.S. Green Card holder or foreign resident;
4. Must be physically present in Hong Kong at the time of application;
5. Hold a valid PAObank savings account.
*If you hold a Hong Kong Identity Card, you must use it to apply.
SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises):
Currently, opening an investment account is not supported for SME customers.
1. If you do not currently hold a PAObank savings account, you must first apply to open one while physically present in Hong Kong before applying for an investment account.
2. If you are already a PAObank customer, you may apply for an investment account via the App while physically present in Hong Kong.
If a customer has direct connections to the United States, such as holding U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, having a U.S. place of birth, or providing a U.S. mailing address or contact number, PAObank will not be able to open an investment account for that individual.
No. PAObank does not impose any minimum investment amount, and using the investment account is completely free of charge.
Once you have opened an investment account and activated fund and stock investment services, you will be able to access services offered by PAObank, including trading fund products in HKD and USD, as well as buying and selling common stocks and certain exchange-traded funds listed on the Hong Kong and U.S. stock markets.
Yes. If you wish to close your investment account, you must ensure there are no remaining investment assets in the account and then contact our customer service for assistance.
According to section 12.2 of The Code of Conduct for Persons Licensed by or Registered with the Securities and Futures Commission, an employee of a registered institution or licensed corporation must provide Consent Letter before opening an investment account. The Consent Letter is normally prepared and issued by the employer or the Administration and Human Resources Department or Compliance Department. For details, please contact your company.
Address proof is a document certifying your residential address, such as a utility bill, a telecommunications statement, a credit card statement, etc. It should contain the issuing agency, your name, address, the issue date within the last three months.
Common Address Proof:
Utility Bills
Bank Statement
Credit Card Statement
Telephone Bills
Once the investment account is opened, PAObank will notify you by email or SMS.
HK Stock Trading is conducted from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) during the following sessions:
Pre-opening Auction Session 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM (Hong Kong Time)
Continuous Trading Session: 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM (Hong Kong Time)
Closing Auction Session: Starts at 4:00 PM, with a random closing time between 4:08 PM and 4:10 PM (Hong Kong Time)
U.S. Stock
Trading takes place from Monday to Friday across the following sessions:
Pre-Market Session: 4:00 AM to 9:30 AM ET, corresponds to 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM (Hong Kong Time) during Daylight Saving Time / 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM (Hong Kong Time) during Standard Time.
Regular Trading Session: 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET, corresponds to 9:30 PM to 4:00 AM (next day, Hong Kong Time) during Daylight Saving Time / 10:30 PM to 5:00 AM (next day, Hong Kong Time) during Standard Time.
Post-market Session: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET, corresponds to 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM (next day, Hong Kong Time) during Daylight Saving Time / 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM (next day, Hong Kong Time) during Standard Time.
No, PAObank does not offer these types of trading services currently.
Yes. Once you have opened an investment account and activated the stock investment service, you will be able to view real-time HK stocks quotes in the PAObank App.
If you have not activated the stock investment service, only 15-minute delayed data will be shown.
Yes. Once you have opened an investment account and activated the stock investment service, if you are not classified as a professional investor under Nasdaq’s definition, you will have access to real-time U.S. stock quotes in the PAObank App.
If you have not opened a stock investment account, or you are identified as a professional investor by Nasdaq, you will only see delayed market data.
PAObank currently does not support the purchase of fractional U.S. stocks or odd lots of HK stocks. However, if you receive fractional U.S. stocks or odd lots of HK stocks through corporate actions while holding a stock, you may sell them via the stock page in the PAObank App.
Unfilled or partially filled Limit Orders can be cancelled or modified by the client. Cancellation or modification requests will be rejected if the Limit Orders are completely filled during the process.
When placing stock trading orders through the PAObank App, the order validity period is Day. Any unfilled orders on the same day will be automatically cancelled after the close of the trading session.
Market Order ("MO") is an order placed without price setting by clients themselves and will be executed at prevailing market prices upon placement. MO enables the orders to be filled quickly, but do not guarantee the execution price. For illiquid stocks, or for a fast-changing market, MOs can be filled at prices that are much higher or lower. Client should assess the risks carefully before placing such Order.
Notes and precaution: MOs can only be placed during the regular trading hours; When the MO is placed, the system will freeze purchasing power slightly exceeding the current estimated cost until the MOs reach its final status to facilitate the successful execution of the MOs as well as maintain a stable risk control value for the account. After the MO is filled or cancelled, the frozen purchasing power will then be automatically released.
Limit Order ("LO") is an order that requires the client to specify the execution price and will be filled at a specified price or a better price.
LO will only be filled at the limit price or better, effectively locking in the execution price range.
However, using LO may cause missed opportunities. If the stock price does not reach or drop to the limit price, the order will not be executed.
Stop Limit Order requires the clients to enter a specified stop price and a limit price. Once the stock price reaches the designated stop price, a limit order will be automatically initiated.
Stop limit orders will be placed in the form of limit orders, which avoid significant deviations between the execution price and the client's expected stop price. However, if the price falls quickly below the limit price and continues declining, the order may not be filled, potentially leading to expanding losses. Please note that Stop Limit Orders may only be limited to certain securities.
Unlike A shares and HK stocks that the minimum trading unit is 1 lot. Instead, the minimum trading unit for U.S. stocks is 1 share.
Unlike A shares, U.S. stocks are not subject to single-day price rise and fall limits, therefore investors should manage their risks accordingly.
With effect from May 28, 2024, U.S. stocks follow a T+1 settlement arrangement. Where clearing and settlement will be completed on the next business day after the trade date.
The U.S. Market-Wide Circuit Breaker Mechanism is designed to temporarily halt trading during periods of extreme market volatility.
It is triggered when the S&P 500 Index declines by certain percentages compared with the previous trading day’s closing level during regular trading session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET). For half-day trading sessions, the market closes at 1:00 PM ET.
There are three levels of circuit breaker:
Level 1: 7% decline
Level 2: 13% decline
Level 3: 20% decline
If a Level 1 or Level 2 circuit breaker is triggered (between 9:30 AM and 3:25 PM ET):
Trading across the entire U.S. equity market will be halted for 15 minutes.
After 3:25 PM ET:
Trading will continue, unless a Level 3 circuit breaker is triggered.
(For half-day trading sessions, the cutoff time is 12:25 PM ET.)
Note: A Level 1 or Level 2 market-wide trading halt will only be triggered once per trading day. Subsequent declines will not trigger another halt unless a higher-level threshold is reached.
If a Level 3 circuit breaker is triggered during any trading session, trading will halt market-wide until the next trading day’s opening.
Individual Stock Circuit Breaker:
If a stock moves beyond or below the applicable price bands under the U.S. Market-Wide Circuit Breaker Mechanism:
(1) Between 9:45 AM and 3:35 PM ET, trading in the affected security will be halted for 5 minutes.
(2) After 3:35 PM ET, no trading halt will be triggered. (For half-day trading sessions, the cutoff time is 12:35 PM ET.)
| Previous Closing Price | Percentage Parameters |
| For stocks greater than $3.00 | -For stocks in the S&P 500 or Russell 1,000 Index: 5% -For all other NMS stocks: 10% |
| For stocks at or above $0.75, up to and including $3.00 | 20% |
| For stocks below $0.75 | Price decreases to $0.15 or 75% |
Taxes will be withheld, and PAObank has already processed withholding for clients when distributing dividends. Specifically, different withholding rates are applied based on the region confirmed on the client's W-8BEN Form. Generally, the dividend withholding tax rate for Hong Kong clients is 30%, while the rate for mainland China clients is 10%.
The minimum trading unit for HK stocks is “1 lot”, which may equal to 100 shares, 500 shares, 1,000 shares, 2,000 shares, etc., depending on stock price. Odd lot usually occurs when a company carries out bonus issue or rights issue.
Like U.S. stock market, HK stock market is not subject to a 10% limit up/down system.
Day trading is allowed. HK stocks are subject to the T+0 trading system, that is, stocks can be bought and sold on the same day. There is unlimited T+0 trading frequency for both HK stocks and U.S. stocks.
HK stocks settlement is subject to the T+2 timeline, that is, for stocks traded today, the securities company and clearing house will carry out the settlement and delivery of funds and stocks on the second business day after clearing.
The Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong has introduced an investor identification regime (HKIDR) at the transaction level of the Hong Kong securities market, and has implemented the over-the-counter securities transactions reporting regime (OTCR) for shares listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (SEHK). The HKIDR commenced on March 20, 2023, while the OTCR commenced on September 25, 2023.
Under the HKIDR, we will be required to assign a Broker-Client Assigned Number (BCAN) to each securities client and append the BCAN to the client's securities trading instructions. We will also be required to submit relevant identification information (i.e., the client's name and identity document details) to the SEHK's data repository for clients who place securities trading orders on the SEHK or engage in non-automated matched trading that requires reporting to the SEHK. This enables relevant regulatory authorities to obtain information about the investors placing orders more quickly, thereby enhancing their market surveillance capabilities.
When stock transactions are executed, trading commissions and other fees collected on behalf of third parties will be charged:
For HK stocks, other fees include: settlement fee(0.0042% × Trade Value), stamp duty(only applied to stock, 0.1% × Trade Value), transaction levy (0.0027% × Trade Value), trading fee (0.00565% × Trade Value), and AFRC transaction levy (0.00015% × Trade Value);
For U.S. stocks, other fees include: U.S. clearing fee(USD0.0002 per share), SEC regulatory fee (currently USD0), and FINRA trading fee (including trading activity fee at USD0.000195 per share charged for sell order only, and consolidated audit trail funding fee of USD0.000035 per share);
Commissions and other fees will be displayed in your trade confirmation for your reference.
You can submit fund subscription and redemption orders at any time throughout the day. For each fund’s trading rules, please refer to the fund details page.
The redemption transactions are generally confirmed within 1 to 3 trading days, and the proceeds are typically credited within 1 to 5 business days after confirmation. The actual processing time may vary depending on the specific fund. For more details, please refer to the fund details under “Trading Rules” for specifics. The actual crediting time is subject to the bank's deposit notification.
During the period you hold the fund, the fund company will deduct necessary fees (such as management, administrative and operational costs, etc.) directly from the fund’s assets. These fees are reflected in the fund’s daily valuation, meaning you are not required to make separate payments. For comprehensive and transparent information, please refer to the fund’s offering documents and product key facts statement.
Fund company will generally confirm the transaction within 1-3 business days and allocate the subscribed units within 3-5 business days after receiving the subscription instruction.
The order cannot be cancelled or amended after submission, please consider clearly before placing any subscription/ redemption instruction.
Before investing in the funds, please ensure you have read and fully understood the fund documents, which covers investment objectives, restrictions, characteristics, risk disclosure, dealing procedures, information about the fund’s income and expenses, performance history, etc.
You should rely on fund documents, rather than advertisements and other marketing materials, for all the information you need to make an informed investment decision. Fund documents, including prospectus, factsheet, product key facts statement, annual report, interim report will be made available to you before making any investment through our wealth management services. You must read and understand all the fund documents before investing.
The PAObank App categorizes funds available for trading on various dimensions, including asset class, dividend payout, trading currency, risk level, and fund company.
The most common categorization is by asset class, including:
Money market funds: It mainly refers to a fund that invests in short-term money market instruments (usually less thanone year), e.g. government securities, term papers, bank deposits, and other assets denominated in different currencies. Fixed income / bond funds: It mainly refers to a fund that invests predominantly in bonds and other fixed income securities which can be issued by governments, local authorities, corporations, or other issuers. Equity funds: It refers to a fund that primarily invests in equities. The type of equities invested can range from domestic to international; and from blue-chips to small companies shares.
Mixed funds: It refers to a fund that invest in a variety of asset classes, including but not limited to, equity, fixed income, and money market instruments, which aims to meet a range of investment objectives.
Risks vary by fund type, you shall refer to the relevant prospectus and risk disclosure document for details.
The "1-year return" of a fund product refers to its investment performance over the past year, typically calculated based on the change in the fund's net asset value (NAV) between one year ago and now (if the fund has paid dividends during its term, those dividends will also be included). For example, if a fund has a 5% of 1-year return, it means that if you invested HKD 10,000 one year ago and held it until now, you would theoretically yield HKD 500 in returns.
It's important to note that the "1-year return" only represents the fund's performance over the past year and does not predict future returns. When choosing a fund, you should make a comprehensive decision based on your investment goals, risk tolerance, and the specific characteristics of the fund itself.
Fees vary by fund. PAObank will charge fees in accordance with the terms specified in each fund’s offering documents. Please refer to the relevant fund documents for exact fee details.
If a corporate action occurs involving any stocks or funds you hold, PAObank will notify you via email and SMS. SMS notifications will only be sent if enabled in your communication preferences.
Actions of listed company refer to events that are published by the issuer of listed securities and will directly or indirectly influence changes of such listed securities, which will influence interests of stockholders of such listed securities.
Common corporate actions include cash dividend, bonus issue, rights issue, privatization, stock split / merger, etc.
1.Cash dividend
Cash Dividend refers to dividend and bonus payment made in the form of cash. It is the most common and basic dividend form. Cash paid to shareholders by a company are often provided by current earnings or accumulated profits of the company.
2.Bonus issue
Bonus Issue refers to dividend and bonus payment made in the form of security. For the listed companies, it is a method of Capitalization Issue, which means further allocation of securities to existing shareholders as per their respective security holding ratio.
3.Rights Issue
Rights Issue, a fundraising way for the listed companies by making rights offer to existing securities holders, enabling them to subscribe for securities in proportion to their current holdings. When a company announces Rights Issue, its existing shareholders will receive the rights. Any shareholder who does not wish to subscribe may sell the rights on the market (applicable only to tradable rights) or directly renounce their rights.
4.Privatization
Privatization is often proposed by the controlling shareholders in order to buy all shares of minority shareholder in the form of cash or security with cash option. The listed companies may complete privatization through “acquisition” or “scheme of arrangement”. Upon completion of privatization, the listed companies will apply to SEHK for cancelation of their respective listing status.
5.Stock split, merger and conversion
Stock split, merger and conversion mean exchanging the existing listed securities for new securities. Among them, stock split refers to splitting the existing eligible securities into “new” shares with a lower par value; stock merger refers to merging several existing eligible securities into a “new” share with a higher par value.
6. Stock warrant conversion
A stock warrant holder has the right to subscribe a specified quantity of securities at a specified “subscription” price or exercise the stock warrant at a specified “exercise” price and receive the corresponding proceeds during the exercise period or on a specified exercise date. Stock warrant conversion refers to exchanging the stock warrant for a specified quantity of securities at a specified “subscription” price.
It will be issued on the day following the first market trading day of each month.
We only provide electronic versions of investment monthly statements and transaction advices. Postal delivery is not supported.
It will be provided within 2 trading days after the investment transaction is confirmed.
Log in to the PAObank App and follow the path below:
Me → e-Statements & Advices → Investment Monthly Statement / Investment Advice
No. Investment electronic monthly statements are completely free of charge.