Securing a corporate bank account is one of the most fundamental and critical steps in establishing a new business operation. However, in today's global banking regulation, the process of opening an account has become increasingly complex and demanding. Banks are required to conduct extensive Know Your Customer (KYC) and due diligence checks, and they will scrutinise every aspect of a company's ownership, control, and business model.
A successful application depends on the submission of clear, consistent, and comprehensive documentation that provides the bank with a high level of comfort and transparency. Zetland Fiduciary Group provides a specialist service to manage this challenging process on your behalf. We leverage our extensive experience and strong relationships with a wide network of international and local banks to guide you through their specific onboarding processes. Our team prepares a comprehensive and professional KYC and application pack, ensuring that your company's records and resolutions are all in order.
We help you to craft a clear and consistent narrative that anticipates the bank's questions on your ownership structure, your ultimate beneficial owners, your business model, the economic purpose of the company, and the source of its funds. By ensuring your application is complete, credible, and professionally presented, we significantly reduce the likelihood of delays and rejections, improving your chances of a successful and timely account opening. We act as your single point of contact to coordinate with the bank and ensure the application progresses as smoothly as possible.
Opening a corporate bank account in Hong Kong has become a meticulous and evidence-based process. Our dedicated service is designed to navigate the stringent requirements of the local banking sector effectively. We begin by preparing a comprehensive KYC dossier for your application. This includes a full, certified set of the company's constitutional and statutory documents, ensuring they are all up-to-date and consistent. A critical part of this is the alignment with the company's Significant Controllers Register (SCR), and we ensure that the ownership and control structure presented to the bank is a perfect match with the official record.
We then work closely with you to build a detailed evidential file that substantiates your business operations. This may include contracts with customers and suppliers, invoices, and other commercial documents that demonstrate the company's legitimate economic purpose.
We help you to prepare a clear business plan and a detailed explanation of the anticipated transaction flows, including the nature and geographic source of incoming and outgoing payments. We also manage the preparation of all necessary board resolutions to approve the account opening and to establish the signing mandate, ensuring they are drafted correctly. Our service includes preparing you for the bank's onboarding meeting, which is often a mandatory step. We ensure you are ready to answer the bank's questions clearly and confidently. By taking this thorough and professional approach, we present your company as a credible and transparent counterparty, which is the key to a successful outcome in Hong Kong's demanding banking environment.
Singapore's reputation as a well-regulated financial centre means that its banks adhere to the highest international standards of due diligence. Our bank account opening support service in Singapore is structured to meet these exacting requirements. A core focus of our work is ensuring absolute consistency between your bank application and your company's official records filed with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). This includes a precise alignment with the information recorded in your Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC), which provides transparency on the company's ultimate beneficial owners.
We work with you to prepare a comprehensive application pack, which includes not only the company's legal documentation but also a detailed narrative on your business activities. This business plan must clearly articulate the company's purpose, its target markets, and the rationale for establishing a banking relationship in Singapore. We also help you to prepare a clear and logical explanation of the company's anticipated flow of funds, demonstrating the clear economic substance behind the proposed account activity. We manage the preparation of the board resolutions to authorise the account opening and to set out the signing mandate, ensuring they are correctly worded and properly executed.
Our team will then liaise with your chosen bank to manage the submission process and to handle any subsequent requests for information. Our diligent and professional approach helps to streamline the onboarding process, providing the bank with a clear, consistent, and credible application that stands the best possible chance of success.
Opening a corporate bank account in the UAE in 2025 requires navigating enhanced compliance standards, including stricter AML/CFT, KYC, and UBO regulations. At Zetland Fiduciary Group, we streamline this process by matching clients with suitable banks and preparing all required documentation. UAE banks now demand detailed business plans, financial projections, tenancy contracts, and full shareholder disclosures.
High-risk sectors such as fintech and offshore structures face enhanced due diligence and longer onboarding times. Recent regulatory updates have tightened scrutiny on source of funds, cross-border transactions, and beneficial ownership, aligning UAE banking with global standards. Account approvals typically range from 3 days with digital banks to 6–8 weeks with traditional institutions. Zetland ensures your application is complete, compliant, and strategically positioned for success. Contact us to open your UAE bank account with confidence.
Zetland Fiduciary Group operates a global network of offices to support clients across key international financial hubs. Whether you are seeking guidance on company formation, trust administration, accounting, or cross-border transactions, our local experts in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, and London are ready to assist.
Contact any of our offices directly for tailored advice and seamless service.