Aspire is a fintech payment provider offering business accounts, corporate cards, and international payments for companies in Singapore and Hong Kong. It is not a bank: it functions as a payment services provider, similar to Airwallex or Wise Business.
This review covers what Aspire offers for Hong Kong companies, eligibility requirements, fees, and how it compares to other providers. For a full business banking comparison, see our best business bank account in Hong Kong guide.
Details verified April 2026. Aspire updates its products and eligibility requirements regularly: confirm directly before applying.
Highlights of this article
- Aspire is a payment provider, not a bank. Funds are not covered by Hong Kong's Deposit Protection Scheme.
- Aspire is strongest for Singapore-incorporated companies. Hong Kong companies have more limited access to Aspire's full product suite.
- For Hong Kong companies, Airwallex or Currenxie are typically stronger alternatives with more comprehensive HK-specific functionality.
- Account opening is fully remote, typically 48 to 72 hours.
- Corporate Visa cards available for business expense management.
What is Aspire?
Aspire was founded in Singapore in 2018. It provides business accounts, corporate cards, international payments, and expense management for companies in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. It is not a licensed bank: it partners with Tier 1 banks to hold client funds in trust accounts.
Aspire has raised several hundred million USD in funding from international investors and has a strong user base among Singapore-incorporated SMEs and tech startups.
In Hong Kong specifically: Aspire operates for HK-incorporated companies but with more limited functionality than its Singapore offering. Eligibility and supported product features vary by company registration jurisdiction.
What Aspire offers for Hong Kong companies
| Service | Availability for HK companies |
|---|---|
| Business account (USD) | Available |
| Business account (SGD) | Singapore companies only |
| Corporate Visa cards | Available |
| International payments | Available |
| Invoice management | Available |
| Expense tracking | Available |
| Multi-currency account (EUR, GBP) | Limited availability: confirm with Aspire |
| FPS (HKD instant transfers) | Not confirmed: check directly |
Aspire pros and cons for Hong Kong companies
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fully remote onboarding (48–72 hours) | More limited functionality vs Singapore offering |
| Corporate Visa cards for expense management | Not a bank: no deposit protection |
| International payments and FX capability | HKD functionality is limited |
| Real-time transaction monitoring | Less HK-specific support than Airwallex/Currenxie |
| Investor-backed, operationally stable | Aspire's primary market is Singapore |
Eligibility: who can open an Aspire account?
Aspire serves businesses only: not individuals. To open an Aspire business account for a Hong Kong company, you need:
- A legally incorporated Hong Kong company (valid Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificate)
- Director passports and proof of address
- Company registration documents (Articles of Association, shareholder register)
- Description of business activities
Aspire's eligibility criteria and supported account types for HK companies change periodically. Always confirm current availability directly with Aspire before starting an application.
Aspire fees
Fee schedule as of April 2026. Confirm with Aspire before applying.
| Fee type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Account opening | Free |
| Monthly account fee | Depends on plan; some accounts are free |
| International payments (SWIFT) | Fee varies by amount and corridor |
| FX conversion | Competitive rates; margin above interbank varies |
| Corporate cards | Available; card issuance fee varies |
| Batch payments | Available for bulk supplier/payroll payments |
Aspire vs Airwallex for Hong Kong companies
| Feature | Aspire | Airwallex |
|---|---|---|
| Primary market | Singapore | Global (strong HK focus) |
| HK company eligibility | Yes (limited features) | Yes (full features) |
| Currency support | More limited for HK accounts | 23+ currencies |
| FPS (HKD) support | Limited | Limited |
| E-commerce integrations | Limited | Excellent (Shopify, Amazon, WooCommerce) |
| Xero/QuickBooks integration | Yes | Yes |
| Account opening time | 48–72 hours | 1–2 days |
| Deposit protection | No | No |
For most Hong Kong companies, Airwallex or Currenxie provide more comprehensive HK-specific functionality. Aspire is stronger for companies with Singapore operations alongside their HK entity.
How to open an Aspire account for your Hong Kong company
- Go to the Aspire website and select "Open account"
- Register your company details: entity type, registration number, jurisdiction
- Upload documents: Certificate of Incorporation, Business Registration Certificate, Articles of Association, director passports, proof of address
- Complete identity verification (selfie verification or equivalent)
- Business description: what your company does, expected transaction volumes
- Approval typically within 48 to 72 hours
For the complete document checklist, see our business bank account opening guide.
Aspire corporate cards
Aspire issues physical and virtual Visa cards for your team. Key features:
- Physical cards and virtual cards both available
- Apple Pay and Google Pay supported
- ATM withdrawals available (fees apply)
- Instant card freeze via the app
- Per-card spending limits settable by the account admin
This makes Aspire practical for companies that need team expense management alongside the core payment account.
Foreign exchange and the Convert Money feature
Aspire allows you to convert between currencies within the account using its Convert Money feature (SGD to USD and other supported pairs). Rates are competitive but include a markup; confirm the current spread before relying on it for high-volume FX. International payments use Wise rails at rates close to mid-market; always verify the total cost including transfer fees.
Note: SGD accounts integrate with Stripe; USD accounts do not. If your company processes Stripe payments in SGD, Aspire is compatible. If your Stripe account is USD-denominated, you will need to use a different account.
Additional services
Aspire offers services beyond the core payment account:
- Xero integration: Sync transactions to Xero for bookkeeping
- Expense management tools: Categorise and track team spend, receipts, and approvals
- Payable management: Manage and schedule bill payments within the platform
- Incorporation services: Aspire offers Hong Kong company incorporation, though this is partially outsourced to third-party agents. If incorporation is your primary need, verify the process and TCSP arrangements directly
Is Aspire safe?
Aspire is not regulated by the HKMA as a bank. It holds client funds in trust accounts with Tier 1 partner banks, which provides a level of protection if Aspire itself faces financial difficulty. However, funds are not covered by Hong Kong's Deposit Protection Scheme.
For a deposit-protected business account in Hong Kong, you need an HKMA-licensed bank (HSBC, DBS, Hang Seng) or HKMA virtual bank (ZA Bank).
Air Corporate is a TCSP-licensed provider (TC008778) offering full-service Hong Kong company registration from USD 1,070. Includes bank account opening assistance with 95%+ success rate. Get started
