ZhongAn licensed to launch virtual bank in Hong Kong
ZhongAn Technologies International (ZA) has been granted a virtual banking licence by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) through its subsidiary ZhongAn Virtual Finance Limited (ZAVFL).
“It is our strong belief that data-security is not just a feature, but an essential element for all our products”
The licence allows the company to offer a wide range of online financial services to Hong Kong users.
Registered users will receive updates about ZA’s developments and they will have the opportunity to directly contribute to ZA’s product development and design process.
Wayne Xu, president of ZA International, says: “It is also an important first step as we launch our online banking business here in Hong Kong, an international financial centre and business hub with strategic position in the Belt and Road initiative and the Greater Bay Area, from which we can serve users worldwide.”
Daniel Tian, CTO, comments: “To start, we will focus on technical excellence in our core banking services which will be launched later this year. Also, it is our strong belief that data-security is not just a feature, but an essential element for all our products. Hence, a handful of security, risk control and anti-fraud technologies developed by ZhongAn will be applied to all products.”
ZA says its approach encourages users to participate in product design and development discussion, guiding the company to design and develop products and services to better serve its users.
The virtual bank is set to go live and launches its first services in six to nine months’ time, so the first batch of products will be launched in the Hong Kong market this year.
There have been two relevant announcements to this one this week, most remarkably the launch of a virtual bank in the city state by Standard Chartered and partners.
The second involves the co-creation of a digital bank by ING and Bank of Beijing – this one is to be launched in mainland China.
