Trade Services FAQs

Thank you for choosing HSBC. Please be advised that customer is required to maintain an HSBC business account before requesting for a trade account number or opening of trade account with us.

If you have an HSBC business account, you can open a trade account by visiting one of our Business Centres or by calling our customer service hotline on (852) 2748 8288 (after selecting your language, press # - 4 - 3).

If you don't have an HSBC business account, you can open one remotely or by booking an appointment with us. To make an appointment, please call our dedicated hotline on (852) 2748 8238 (after selecting your language, press 2 - 1). To open your account remotely and find out more, visit https://www.business.hsbc.com.hk/en-gb/products/business-integrated-accounts

Is there any difference between a business account and a trade account?

Your trade account is for the purpose of recording trade transactions (bills and/or Documentary Credit) only. To open a trade account with us, you'll need to have an HSBC business account.

Is there any charge for opening a trade account? Do I need to keep a minimum balance in my trade account?

There is no charge for maintaining a trade account number or opening a trade account. You don't need to maintain a minimum balance in relation to your trade account.

How do I check if my trade account is open?

If you have successfully applied for a trade account number, you may obtain information about your trade account on Business Internet Banking. Go to 'Accounts' and then 'Overview' to see the account details.

If you have any other questions, please call our customer service hotline on (852) 2748 8288 (after selecting your language, press # - 4 - 3).

What types of trade services are available?

Make the most of our international network and do business worldwide with confidence. From guarantees to open account trade finance, our safe, secure and flexible trade finance options benefit importers and exporters alike. Importers get the working capital they need to keep their sales and supply chains moving, while exporters enjoy more predictable cash flows with payment assurances and faster access to funds. To find out more about Global Trade Solutions, visit: https://www.business.hsbc.com.hk/en-gb/products-and-solutions/global-trade-solutions

What is a Letter of Credit?

A Documentary Credit (DC) is an undertaking by a buyer’s bank to pay its suppliers for goods or services, subject to agreed conditions.

DCs are used extensively in financing of international trade because they offer assurance that both the parties will fulfil their obligations in the trade.

How do I open a Letter of Credit account?

A trade account number is required before DC issuance.

If you have an HSBC business account, you can request for a trade account number by visiting one of our Business Centres or by calling our customer service hotline on (852) 2748 8288 (after selecting your language, press # - 4 - 3).

If you don't have an HSBC business account, you can open one remotely or by booking an appointment with us. To make an appointment, please call our dedicated hotline on (852) 2748 8238 (after selecting your language, press 2 - 1). To open an account remotely and find out more, visit https://www.business.hsbc.com.hk/en-gb/products/business-integrated-accounts

What are Documentary Collection against Acceptance (D/A) and Documentary Collection against Payment (D/P)?

Documentary Collection against Acceptance (D/A) and Documentary Collection against Payment (D/P) are modes of payment in international trade. With a D/A, documents are released once an importer has agreed in writing to pay the bill on a future date. With a D/P, commercial documents are released once the buyer has paid.

How do I apply for a bank guarantee?

To apply for a bank guarantee, you need a business account (with secured credit) and trade account number.

If you have a business account, please visit one or our Business Banking Centres or call our customer service hotline on (852) 2748 8288 (after selecting your language, press # - 4 - 4).

If you don't have a business account yet, please book an appointment to open an account by calling our dedicated hotline on (852) 2748 8238 (after selecting your language, press 2 - 1) or open your account remotely here: https://www.business.hsbc.com.hk/en-gb/products/business-integrated-accounts

How do I apply for a Documentary Credit (DC)?

To apply for a Documentary Credit, you need to have an HSBC business account and trade account number.

If you already have a trade account number, please complete an 'Application for Irrevocable Documentary Credit (DC) / Back-to-back Documentary Credit' form and return it to us. You can download the form at the Form Download Centre (https://www.business.hsbc.com.hk/en-gb/help-centre/business-forms/import-and-export-forms).

If you would prefer to apply in HSBCnet, click the 'Menu' icon on the top left and choose 'Trade Solutions'. From the expanded menu, choose 'Create DC application'. If you haven't yet set your location and account details, choose from the options available and then click 'OK'. You'll then be directed to the 'Create New application' page, where you can enter the application details.

How do I use a Documentary Credit to receive payment?

To send us your export documents for processing, please complete the 'Export Documentary Credit (DC) Bill Negotiation / Trade Collection Instruction' and 'Bill of Exchange' (if it applies) and return them to us with the export documents specified in the Documentary Credit.

We'll then send your documents to the DC Issuing Bank for their approval and payment. Payment will be released when the documents have cleared or the applicant accepts the discrepancy and pays.

Please note that all trade transactions must be approved by us.

Has my Documentary Credit bill been received?

When we have received your trade documents, you'll receive an alert from Instant@dvice if you have already signed up for this service.

Can you send the original Documentary Credit (DC) to my office in Mainland China or my overseas address?

We can send the original documentary credit to an address in Mainland China or overseas. We'll use the beneficiary's address shown on Documentary Credit and send it by courier.

Do I need to submit the original Documentary Credit together with the export documents?

Yes, you'll need to submit the original DC to us. Alternatively, you can sign up to our Instant@dvice service, which offers a convenient email advice service and allows you to keep the DC safe with us for future use.

How can I get information about my trade account?

If your company is registered for Business Internet Banking and you have successfully applied for a trade account number, you can view information about your trade account by logging in and going to 'Accounts' > 'Overview'.

If you are not registered for Business Internet Banking, please call our customer service hotline on (852) 2748 8288 (after selecting your language, press # - 4 - 3) for information.

Where can I apply for Trade Solutions services on Business Internet Banking?

To apply for Trade Solutions services, please download the 'Business Internet Banking – Trade Facilities, Products and Services – Enrolment Form' from our website:

https://www.business.hsbc.com.hk/en-gb/help-centre/business-forms/ways-to-bank-forms. If you use Business Internet Banking, you can send us a scanned copy of your completed and signed form by logging on and going to 'My HSBC' > 'Admin Tools' > 'e-Form submission Centre'. If you aren't a Business Internet Banking user, please send the form to 'The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, PO Box 72677, Kowloon Central Post Office, Kowloon, Hong Kong' or bring it to an HSBC branch. If we approve your application, you'll be able to use the service within five working days.

How do I sign up to the Instant@dvice service?

Please complete an 'Instant@dvice Application Form' and return it to us. Your request will be processed in around 7 working days.

To send us your 'Instant@dvice Application Form' in Business Internet Banking:

(1) Log on to Business Internet Banking
(2) Go to 'My HSBC' > 'Admin Tools' > 'e-Form Submission Centre'
(3) Choose the service type
(4) Select the relevant form
(5) Follow the on-screen instructions to submit your form.

What selection do I choose if I wish to apply a post-acceptance finance due date discount in Export Documentary Credit (DC) Bill Negotiation Trade Collection Instruction?

Please select 'For negotiation (purchase / prepayment / advance) under the DC' and 'After receipt of acceptance from DC Issuing Bank' in Point 2.1 Presentation / Negotiation under DC.

How do I download trade forms?

You can download the application forms from our website: https://www.business.hsbc.com.hk/en-gb/help-centre/business-forms/import-and-export-forms

How can I enable / view all my trade accounts in the Trade Transaction Tracker?

If you would like to view the transactions relating to all your trade account numbers in the Trade Transaction Tracker, you can register all the trade account numbers under the same email address for Instant@dvice.

How do I view trade activities that happened more than 60 days ago?

Our system will only retain trade transaction records for the past 60 days. If you have an enquiry about an older transaction, please call our customer service hotline on (852) 2748 8288 (after selecting your language, press # - 4 - 2).

Who can be an authorised person for my trade account?

You can appoint your company's own authorised signers for your trade account. Trade account authorised signers can authorise trade transactions only (not transactions in business account).

How do I add or update authorised signers to my trade account?

To add or update an authorised signer to your trade account, please send us minutes from a company board meeting mentioning the new signer, any signers who should be removed, the date the change should become effective, and the signing arrangement together with the new signer's specimen signature, identity documents and proof of address. Please send these to the Global Trade Solutions Department.

How do I update my email address in my trade account records?

You can update your email address by using the Instant@dvice form.

To send us the form in Business Internet Banking:

Are signature limits required for processing a trade transaction in HSBCnet?

Yes, signature limits are required when processing a trade transaction in HSBCnet.

Is the transaction limit in HSBCnet calculated on a daily basis or a transactional basis?

The transaction limit in HSBCnet is calculated on a transactional basis.

How can I view Export Documentary Credit content in HSBCnet?

To view Export Documentary Credit content in HSBCnet, click "Outstanding DCs" under “Trade Account Information” select "Export DC Details" and click "DC text". Please be aware that if the Documentary Credit is not issued in SWIFT format, you won't be able to view the content in HSBCnet.

How can I check if any Receivables Finance or Factoring buyer payments have been received and processed?

To check this, log in to your HSBCnet eRF account, go to 'Transaction History' and view the information under 'Payment Received'.

For more information, please see the Receivables Finance / Factoring eRF User Guide. To view the guide, select '?' at the top of your HSBCnet screen or click on the 'Need help?' link on the right, and then choose 'User guides'.

Where should I send trade documents?

Please send your trade documents to: 5/Floor, HSBC Building Mongkok, 673 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR. Alternatively, you can use our Global Trade Solutions drop-in boxes and collection counters (for locations and opening hours, please visit https://www.business.hsbc.com.hk/en-gb/products/drop-in-collection-counter).

How can I contact you about trade services?

Please call our Customer Service Hotline on (852) 2748 8288 (after selecting your language, press # - 4) during opening hours (Mon - Fri 09:00 - 18:00 except Hong Kong Public Holidays) or email us at trade.clientservice.hk@hsbc.com.hk