Bank Index
ZA Bank
Digital bank · Hong Kong, Hong Kong
ZA Bank is a Hong Kong digital bank licensed by the HKMA in March 2019 and the first of the city's eight virtual banks to open to the public, on 24 March 2020. It has no branches. Retail customers use the app and business customers use a business internet banking site, with FPS and CHATS for local payments and SWIFT for overseas transfers in 11 currencies. A business account opens online in as fast as one working day, but only for a Hong Kong registered sole proprietorship, partnership or limited company whose owners and directors all hold Hong Kong identity cards. The bank has banked more than 300 Web3 companies, including most of Hong Kong's licensed virtual asset trading platforms, and holds reserve assets for stablecoin issuers in the HKMA sandbox. It reported total assets of HK$24.85 billion and its first full year profit, HK$17.3 million, for 2025.
- Legal name
- ZA Bank Limited
- Regulated by
- HKMA (Hong Kong Monetary Authority), SFC (Securities and Futures Commission), Type 1 dealing in securities, Insurance Authority of Hong Kong (licensed insurance agency GA1009)
- Licence confirmed
- yes, on a regulator's own list
- Established
- 2018
- Website
- bank.za.group
Scores, 0 to 10
9.0Crypto-friendly bank
Banked more than 300 Web3 companies by June 2025, including the majority of Hong Kong's licensed virtual asset trading platforms, and gives stablecoin issuers reserve banking. · source
8.5Customer satisfaction
The ZA Bank iOS app scores 4.76 out of 5 from 58,424 ratings on the Hong Kong App Store. · source
8.0Fast digital onboarding
The business application runs fully online with no meeting and no document submission and can open an account in as fast as one working day, but every owner and director must hold a Hong Kong identity card. · source
8.0On-ramp: buy crypto with fiat
ZA Bank reported banking over 80% of Hong Kong's licensed virtual asset trading platform clients and more than 100 Web3 companies, so companies can move HKD and USD to regulated exchanges. · source
7.5Off-ramp: crypto to fiat in a business account
Web3 firms open business accounts by express online onboarding, and exchange flows over US$1 billion in 2023 show it takes crypto proceeds routinely, though no published source-of-funds rules were found. · source
7.0Lowest fees
Online opening and company search are free, an outward FPS payment costs HKD 1 below HKD 1,000,000, and the monthly fee is waived above a HKD 50,000 relationship balance. · source
6.5Fintech companies that need a partner bank
Serves over 300 Web3 firms and holds stablecoin issuer reserves, but publishes no safeguarding, BIN sponsorship or banking as a service product for payment institutions. · source
6.0Asia-Pacific (SG, HK, AU, JP, KR)
Licensed only in Hong Kong, where it had the highest number of users and customer deposits of the eight digital banks at 31 December 2025, with no licence in any other Asia-Pacific hub. · source
6.0Best interest on business balances
Business clients can place HKD, CNY and USD time deposits around the clock and buy funds at 0% subscription fee, but no automatic treasury sweep is offered. · source
6.0Startups & VC-backed companies
Lends to small firms through the HKMC SME Financing Guarantee Scheme and an unsecured revolving loan, with no venture debt or cap table product. · source
6.0Financial strength & stability
CET1 ratio of 24.9% at 31 March 2026 with total capital of HK$2.26 billion, on a leverage exposure measure of HK$26.6 billion. · source
5.5Stablecoins (USDC, USDT and others)
ZA Bank holds fiat reserves for stablecoin issuers such as RD InnoTech since 2024, but offers no stablecoin accounts or payouts for ordinary business clients. · source
5.0Cross-border payments, FX and multi-currency accounts
Business accounts hold 11 currencies and the platform shows live HKD to USD rates next to other banks, but outward telegraphic transfers cost HKD 100 plus correspondent charges at cost. Business internet banking gives 11 savings currencies plus FPS, CHATS and SWIFT payments, with no cash pooling, hedging or host to host connection in the product list. · source
4.0Online businesses: e-commerce and SaaS
Merchant collections over FPS are charged 0.6% of the amount and the tariff lists no card acquiring or overseas collection accounts. The account opens online in as fast as one working day with savings in 11 currencies and time deposits in HKD, CNY and USD, but only for Hong Kong companies and with no API or accounting integration named. · source
4.0Crypto wallet and custody for a business
Crypto holdings at ZA Bank run through partner exchange HashKey in a retail app launched November 2024; its business banking page for Web3 firms checked September 2026 lists deposits, FX and funds but no crypto custody. · source
4.0Bitcoin
Bitcoin trading in HKD and USD is offered to retail users in the ZA Bank app through HashKey since November 2024; no business bitcoin service was found. · source
4.0Ethereum
Ether is the only other coin in the retail trading service launched with HashKey in November 2024, with no business access or staking. · source
3.5High-risk verticals (iGaming, cannabis, adult, forex)
ZA Bank publishes no list of prohibited industries on its business banking pages or tariff, so the score is conservative. · source
2.0Business cards (Visa, Mastercard)
The business banking tariff covers transfers, statements and a prepaid HKD 1,500 annual service fee and lists no card, and the business account page names no business debit card. · source
1.5Trade, manufacturing & import-export
The business tariff prices transfers, FPS, funds, account services and audit confirmations only, with no letters of credit, guarantees or documentary collections. · source
1.0Foreign-owned & non-resident companies
Online opening requires a sole proprietorship, partnership or limited company incorporated in Hong Kong, all partners, shareholders and directors holding a valid Hong Kong Identity Card, and tax residency in Hong Kong only. · source
1.0Accept crypto payments
No crypto or stablecoin acceptance for merchants appears on ZA Bank's business banking pages, checked September 2026. · source
Sources
- Wikipedia: ZA Bank Limited
- ZA Bank 2025 Annual Report (audited financial statements)
- ZA Bank Interim Financial Disclosure Statements, 30 June 2025
- ZA Bank Regulatory Disclosure Statement, 31 March 2026
- ZA Bank Business Banking Tariff, effective 1 September 2026
- ZA Bank business banking page
- ZA Bank express business account opening and eligibility
- ZA Bank fees and charges index
- ZA Bank press release: Asia's first bank to offer crypto trading services for retail users
- Fintech News Hong Kong: ZA Bank first in Hong Kong to offer stablecoin reserve services
- Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026: Hong Kong's best digital bank
- Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board: protection limit of HK$800,000
- Apple iTunes lookup: ZA Bank app ratings
- ZA Bank homepage
Built on public information and the BankStore team's own aggregated experience; no confidential client or partner data. Bank Index and BankStore are not banks. This is information, not financial advice.