HSBC, DBS, China Citic, other banks offer range of incentives in Hong Kong to entice mainland business during first post-Covid ‘golden week’ holiday
- Free limousine service, luxury hotel rooms and meals, and Covid vaccines are some of the incentives offered by banks to entice mainland customers
- In the first quarter, HSBC, Hang Seng and DBS saw new bank account openings by mainland visitors exceed pre-Covid levels
HSBC, DBS, and China Citic Bank International are among the city’s major lenders that have offered a wide range of incentives including extended operating hours at certain branches, with an eye on the surge of mainland visitors to Hong Kong during the “golden week” holidays.
These banks are offering incentives such as free limousine service, luxury hotel rooms and meals, Covid vaccines, as well as Ocean Park tickets and shopping vouchers to entice wealthy mainland visitors to open new bank accounts or time deposits during the first golden week holiday period in the post-Covid era.
Immigration Department figures on Sunday showed 165,669 mainland travellers crossed the border into Hong Kong on April 29, at the start of the mainland’s five-day May Day holiday, known as the golden week.
Certain branches of HSBC, China Citic Bank International, as well as China Construction Bank (CCB) Asia are open on all days during the golden Week holiday period. HSBC will keep its branches at Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay open on Sundays and public holidays, while China Citic will keep its branches at Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, Sheung Shui and Tuen Mun open during that time. CCB’s branches at Causeway Bay and Tuen Mun will also remain operational during the period.
DBS’s branches at Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui will remain open to public on May 26 but not on Sunday, May 7. Bank of East Asia, along with the above four lenders, will also extend Saturday operating hours until 5pm at certain branches.
