The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has granted the first set of its long-awaited digital-only banking licenses:
The licenses should ignite competition by giving holders access to a hugely profitable banking market where consumers continue to be frustrated by their options.
Hong Kong's banking sector is heavily dominated by a handful of incumbents.The four largest lenders — HSBC, Bank of China, Hang Seng Bank, and Standard Chartered — account for 66% of retail banking loans and 77% of mortgages, per Bloomberg citing Goldman Sachs. And their share of the market is lucrative: For example, two-thirds of HSBC's global profits last year came from its retail and wealth management operations in the territory,Reuters.
Hong Kong registers among the lowest rates of customer satisfaction for a developed economy due to a lack of banking competition. Only 59% of consumers in Hong Kong say they like their bank, compared with 62% of global consumers and the 74% who say the same in the US.
Although Hong Kong's big four could be the biggest losers, the likes of Standard Chartered appear to be getting ahead of the curve. The chronic dissatisfaction of the territory's digitally savvy consumers is a boon for the newly licensed firms, giving them an opportunity to scoop up customers at pace: 68% of customers use digital channels to check their bank accounts at least once a week, per Accenture.
Moreover, while the likes of Ant Financial and Tencent haven't yet received approval, their potential entry into the market could give the old guard a run for their money. However, the fact that Standard Chartered and Bank of China are among the players to be permitted first suggests established players are already in front of the trend. Given their vast resources and existing reach, the newly approved licensing could be an opportunity to maintain the status quo.
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