History
In 1933, business partners Lam Bing Yim (林炳炎), Ho Sin Hang, Sheng Tsun Lin (盛春霖), and Leung Chik Wai (梁植偉) founded Hang Seng Ngan Ho, the predecessor of Hang Seng Bank, in Hong Kong.[5] Hang Seng means "ever-growing" in Cantonese.[6] It commenced business as a simple money-changing shop at 70 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan, on 3 March 1933. In 1952, Hang Seng Bank became a private company and embarked on commercial banking.[7] Hang Seng Bank converted into a public company in 1960.[7] In 1965, Hang Seng Bank suffered a bank run which depleted almost one-quarter of its reserves. As a result, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) acquired a controlling 51% interest in Hang Seng Bank, which it later increased to 62.14%.[7]
In 1969, the Hang Seng Index was introduced as a public service.[4] The index is now generally known as an indicator of the Hong Kong stock market.[4] Hang Seng Bank was listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK) in 1972.[7] In 1981, Hang Seng Bank was given permission to run branches in MTR stations.[7] Hang Seng Bank began to extend its business to China[8] in 1985,[7] with the opening of a representative office in Shenzhen.[7] Ten years later, Hang Seng Bank opened its first Chinese branch in
In 2002, Hang Seng Bank began to launch personal e-banking in mainland China.[9] Hang Seng Bank opened its branch in Macau in 2003.[7] In 2006, Hang Seng Bank received authorisation to get ready for the formation of its mainland China subsidiary bank.[7] Within the same year, Hang Seng Bank introduced a brand revitalisation program and presented a new company slogan – Managing wealth for you, with you.[7]
The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) authorised the formation of Hang Seng Bank (China) Limited, the mainland China subsidiary bank of Hang Seng Bank[7] on 28 May 2007.[3] In November, Hang Seng Bank opened its new Hong Kong office at MegaBox, Kowloon Bay.[7] Hang Seng Bank became the first bank in Hong Kong to fix the renminbi (RMB) prime rate in 2010.[7]
In February 2012, Hang Seng Bank introduced the world's first RMB gold exchange-traded fund (ETF).[7][10] The brand value of Hang Seng Bank was ranked 65th globally in the 2012 Brand Finance Banking 500, the highest ranking for Hong Kong banks.[11]
In October 2025, HSBC, the majority shareholder of Hang Seng Bank, announced that it would privatise Hang Seng Bank by purchasing the 38% that it didn't already own, and take the company off the SEHK after completion.[12][13][14] On 8 January 2026, the proposal was approved by Hang Seng Bank's shareholders.[15] The High Court approved HSBC's proposal on 23 January 2026,[16][15] and the company was delisted on 27 January 2026.[17]
