Hong Kong and U.S. stock account must provide proof of stock? Free stock certificate account opening strategy + Hong Kong and U.S. stocks popular brokerage comparison
More and more investors began to pay attention to the Hong Kong and U.S. stock markets, however, in the account opening process, many investors encountered a common problem - “proof of stock”. So, what is proof of stock? Do all Hong Kong and U.S. stock brokers require proof of stock? This article will answer these questions in detail.
In recent years, Hong Kong and U.S. stock investment fever continues to climb, and more and more investors want to diversify risks and capture growth opportunities through globalized asset allocation. However, during the account opening process, many users encounter a common problem: proof of deposit.
- Hong Kong users: usually only need to deposit HK$10,000 to activate the account.
- Mainland users: most brokers require proof of stock (such as other foreign brokerage statements or bank asset certificates), or may be rejected or restricted trading privileges.
Answers to the core questions in this article:
1. What is Proof of Deposit? How to get it?
2. Why do brokers require proof of deposit?
3. Are there any Hong Kong and U.S. stock brokerage firms that do not require proof of deposit?
4. Multi-dimensional comparison of popular Hong Kong and U.S. stock brokers.
Proof of Deposit in Detail: Definition, Role and How to Obtain
What is Proof of Deposit?
When opening an account for Hong Kong and U.S. stocks, brokerage firms usually require investors to provide a certificate of deposit, which is an official document proving that the investor has held assets in other offshore brokerage firms or banks, and is used to validate investment experience and financial strength. Common types include:
| Proof Type | Specific Requirements | Validity Period |
| Securities Firm Statement Proof | English version + Official seal. It is required to show the account holder's name, the market value of assets (in US dollars/Hong Kong dollars), and the detailed position (stock code/quantity) | Within 3 months |
| Bank Asset Proof | Current/fixed deposit balance (indicate the currency and the converted amount in US dollars) | Within 1 month |
| Account Opening Confirmation Letter | A document with the official letterhead of the securities firm, proving the account opening time | No specific time limit |
Common proof of stock documents include brokerage firm statement certificates, bank asset certificates and account opening confirmation letters. These documents need to be issued within a certain period of time, for example, brokerage statement certificates are usually required within 3 months and bank asset certificates within 1 month.
Why do brokerage firms require proof of stock?
- Regulatory compliance: In order to comply with Article 5.2 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance, “Know Your Customer (KYC)” procedures are implemented to ensure that clients are suitable for trading complex products.
- Risk control requirements: Verify the authenticity of assets to prevent fraudulent deposits; Clients with U.S. stock positions are by default more familiar with the market rules (e.g. T+0, no up/down range).
- Industry practice: Head brokerage firms (e.g. FUTU, Tiger) set the standard, small and medium brokerage firms follow.
How to get stock certificates?
Take FUTU Securities as an example:
1. Login to APP → Go to “My Customer Service” → Reply to “Proof of Account Opening” → Send the application to your mailbox.
2. Download statement: Select “My Statement” in “Account List” and export PDF file.
Template (contact customer service):
"I need a hard copy statement with official stamp showing my stock holdings as of [date], to be mailed to [address] or emailed as password-protected PDF."
Proof of stock-free account opening program
Not all brokerage firms mandate proof of stock. Take Fosun International Securities as an example, as a financial institution with a centralized enterprise background and licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, Fosun International Securities offers investors the convenience of opening accounts without the need to provide proof of stock. This policy greatly simplifies the account opening process, especially for those who have opened accounts with other overseas brokerage firms or applied for a Hong Kong (overseas) bank card in the past 6 months.
Why choose Fosun International Securities?
- Licensed and Compliant: Licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (Central No. AAF432) and strictly regulated by SFC.
- Proof of stock exemption: Only other overseas brokerage accounts or Hong Kong bank cards opened within 6 months are required, greatly simplifying the process.
- Extensive Market Coverage: Provide investment opportunities in a wide range of markets including Hong Kong stocks and US stocks.
- Low commission rate:
- Hong Kong stocks: 0.021%* transaction amount, minimum HKD3/stroke
- US stocks: USD0.0035/share, minimum USD0.99/stroke
- Convenient deposit/withdrawal process: Support multiple payment channels to ensure efficient fund flow.
Steps to open an account (no proof of stock required)
Fosun Securities account opening, does not require users to have a history of stock proof, as long as it is opened within 6 months of other overseas brokerage firms can be, or 6 months for the Hong Kong (overseas) bank card can also be
- Select the region where the documents are located: mainland users need to upload the overseas bank statements.
- Fill in personal identification information: Verify ID number and address information.
- Fill in occupation and financial information: make sure the source of funds is consistent with the occupation status.
- Fill in investment experience and account information: choose cash account or margin account.
- Submit Personal Signature and Video Verification: Signature should be in block letters and the video should be half body front.
- Complete Submission: Click Submit after all information is completed.
- Approved: Usually within 1 business day.
[Related Reading] Fosun International Securities account opening process illustration
[Related Reading] Fosun International Securities deposit tutorial
April Limited Time Benefit: HK$700 Trading Coupon for HK$10,000 Deposit
Activity Time: 2025.04.01-04.30
Benefit Details
- New Account Exclusive:
- HK$500 Commission-Free Coupon (can be used for Hong Kong/US Stocks trading to offset commission)
- HK$200 Hong Kong Stocks IPO Credit Coupon (4 x HK $50 for IPO Subscription Fee Credit)
- Ultra-Low Transaction Fee Rates:
- Hong Kong Stocks: 0.021% x Transaction amount (minimum HKD3/transaction) + platform usage fee of HKD15/transaction
- US Stocks: USD0.0035/share (minimum USD0.99/transaction) + platform usage fee of USD0.005/share (minimum USD1/transaction)
Rules for Receiving Benefits
- Open an account through the exclusive link: Receive Benefits Immediately
- Deposit HKD10,000 or equivalent in foreign currencies (USD/Offshore RMB is acceptable)
- Benefits will be released to the account within 3 working days after the successful deposit. Benefits will be released to the account within 3 working days after successful deposit.
Fosun International Securities vs Tiger Brokers vs FUTU: A Comprehensive Comparison
Account Opening Threshold Comparison
| Comparison Dimension | Fosun International Securities | Tiger Brokers | FUTU Securities |
| Requirement for Existing Funds Proof | No existing funds proof required (Only an account from other overseas securities firms within the past 6 months or a Hong Kong bank card is needed) | Mandatory requirement (Proof of account opening with other overseas securities firms before May 19, 2023 is required) | Existing funds proof required for some users (Mainland users need to make an initial deposit of at least HK$10,000) |
| Account Opening Process | Fully online, submit documents in 3 minutes, and the review takes 1 working day | Need to upload the existing funds proof, and the review period is 1 - 3 working days | Online account opening, the first deposit needs to be transferred via a Hong Kong bank account with the same name |
| Support for Mainland Users | Support account opening with Mainland Chinese ID cards, no additional restrictions | Only support existing users (Proof of historical overseas accounts is required) | Support Mainland users, but need to complete the initial deposit of HK$10,000 |
Transaction Cost Comparison
Hong Kong Stocks Trading Fees
| Comparison Dimension | Fosun International Securities | Tiger Brokers | FUTU Securities |
| Commission | 0.021% of the transaction amount, with a minimum of HK$3 | 0.03% of the transaction amount, with a minimum of HK$7 | Commission-free (Limited-time offer) |
| Platform Fee | HK$15 per transaction | 0.03% of the transaction amount, with a minimum of HK$8 | HK$15 per transaction (Fixed package) |
| Other Fees | Stamp duty 0.1% + Exchange fee 0.00565% | Stamp duty 0.1% + Settlement fee 0.002% + Transaction levy 0.0027% | Stamp duty 0.1% + Transaction fee 0.00565% + Settlement fee 0.002% |
U.S. Stocks Trading Fees
| Comparison Dimension | Fosun International Securities | Tiger Brokers | FUTU Securities |
| Commission | US$0.0035 per share, with a minimum of US$0.99 | US$0.005 per share, with a minimum of US$0.99 | US$0.0049 per share, with a minimum of US$0.99 |
| Platform Fee | US$0.005 per share, with a minimum of US$1 | US$0.005 per share, with a minimum of US$1 | US$0.005 per share, with a minimum of US$1 |
| Other Fees | SEC regulatory fee 0.0000278% (Only for selling) | Settlement fee US$0.003 per share + Transaction activity fee US$0.000166 per share (Only for selling) | Tiered platform fee (As low as US$0.003 per share for high-frequency trading) |
Market Coverage & Product Richness
| Comparison Dimension | Fosun International Securities | Tiger Brokers | FUTU Securities |
| Covered Markets | Hong Kong stocks, US stocks, Stock Connect (A-shares), Funds, Derivatives | Hong Kong stocks, US stocks, Singapore stocks, Australian stocks, Japanese stocks, Futures, Options | The most comprehensive globally (Hong Kong stocks, US stocks, Stock Connect (A-shares), Japanese stocks, Singapore stocks, Australian stocks, Canadian stocks, Malaysian stocks) |
| Featured Products | Account opening without existing funds proof + Low commission | Support for digital asset futures, Australian stocks | Fund supermarket (Over 1500 funds), Off-exchange trading, New share financing |
| Derivatives Support | Warrants, Callable bull-bear contracts, Options | US stock options, Index futures, Digital currency futures | Hong Kong/US stock options, Futures, Leveraged ETFs |
Deposit & Withdrawal Portability
| Comparison Dimension | Fosun International Securities | Tiger Brokers | FUTU Securities |
| Deposit Methods | Support FPS (Fast Payment System), eDDA, Online banking transfer | DDA fast deposit (Singapore bank, credited within 5 minutes) | eDDA (Hong Kong bank, credited within 5 minutes), FPS, Online banking |
| Time to Receive Funds | Hong Kong account: 5 minutes; Cross-border: 1 - 3 working days | Singapore account: 15 minutes; Cross-border: 1 - 3 working days | Hong Kong account: 5 minutes; Cross-border: 1 - 3 working days |
| Handling Fee | Free of charge | Some cross-border intermediary banks charge fees (Approximately HK$200) | Free of charge |
User Experience & Benefits
| Comparison Dimension | Fosun International Securities | Tiger Brokers | FUTU Securities |
| APP Functions | Xingcaifu APP supports intelligent investment advisory, new share analysis | Tiger Trade provides L2 market data, portfolio option tools | Futubull: Community interaction, Off-exchange trading, AI stock selection |
| New User Benefits | Limited time in April: Deposit HK$10,000 and get HK$700 worth of stock vouchers | No publicly available new user benefits | Commission-free (Limited time), Discount on Hong Kong new share subscription handling fees |
| Customer Service | 400 customer service + Online support | Mainly English customer service | Multilingual 24-hour customer service |
How to Choose?
- No Proof of Deposit + Low Commission: Choose Fosun International Securities, suitable for mainland users to open an account quickly.
- High-frequency trading + derivatives: choose Tiger Brokers, supporting digital asset futures and Australian stocks.
- Global Markets + Community Ecology: Choose FUTU Securities, with the most comprehensive market coverage and rich features.
Act Now:
- Fosun International Securities Account Opening
- Tiger Brokers official website
- FUTU Securities official website
FAQ
What about Fosun International Securities? Is it safe?
- Fosun International Securities is a formal financial institution with a central enterprise background and a license from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, with its central number prominently marked. This means that it follows strict regulatory requirements and is highly secure. In addition, you can check its license information directly through the official website of Hong Kong SFC to confirm its legitimacy.
Will the Certificate of Exemption affect trading privileges?
- Basic trading will not be restricted in any way, and all users can carry out basic operations such as stock trading normally. However, if you plan to apply for advanced services such as financing and securities financing, you may need to supplement more materials to fulfill the risk control requirements.
What should I do if I encounter problems during the account opening process?
- If you encounter any problems during the account opening process, you can contact Fosun International Securities' customer service team at any time. The contact information is as follows:
- Online Customer Service: Communicate with the customer service staff in real time through the online customer service function within the Star Wealth APP.
- Telephone customer service: Call customer service hotline 400-812-0922 for help.
How to download Star Wealth APP?
- You can download Star Wealth APP through the following steps:
- Apple cell phone users: search for “Star Wealth” in the App Store and download and install it; if you can't find the app in mainland China's app stores, you can install it through TestFlight for Beta version.
- Android phone users: visit the official website or use the link of the backup file provided by the official website to download and install.
What are the trading hours of Fosun International Securities?
- The trading hours of Fosun International Securities are in line with the market. The trading hours for Hong Kong stocks are from 9:30am to 4:00pm from Monday to Friday, and the trading hours for US stocks are from 9:30am to 4:00pm (EST) from Monday to Friday.
What are the deposit methods of Fosun International Securities?
- Fosun International Securities supports a variety of deposit methods, including eDDA Express Deposit, FPS Transfer, Bank Transfer, etc., providing safe and convenient fast deposit services.
How long does it take to withdraw funds from Fosun International Securities?
- The withdrawal time of Fosun International Securities is usually 1-2 business days, depending on the bank's processing speed.
Conclusion
Fosun International Securities has become the best choice for mainland investors to layout Hong Kong and U.S. stocks by virtue of its certificate of no deposit, low commission and efficient service. Only the last 15 days are left for April welfare, open an account through the exclusive link now and receive HK$700 stock coupon!
Act Now: Click to open an account
·Original
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