# Livi Bank

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/livi-bank
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [Livi Bank — official](https://www.livibank.com/)

## Overview

**Livi Bank** is **HK virtual bank backed by BOC HK + JD Digits + Jardine Matheson**, launched **August 2020** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Hong Kong report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/HK)</sup>. **Distinctive Livi positioning**:
- **Gamified rewards** via **Livi Rewards featuring Wishing Tree** (instant cashback up to 100% on transactions).
- **Multi-currency support**: **HKD + USD + CNY** for both personal + business accounts.
- **Instant USD transfers via RTGS** for businesses.
- **Personal + Business** banking — one of 6 HK virtual banks offering business accounts (alongside ZA Bank, Airstar, Ant, PAO, Fusion).

**2021 baseline**: **~150,000 users signed up** (late 2021); more recent 2025 user numbers not publicly disclosed.

**Distinctive 3-corner JV**: **BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) + JD Digits (Chinese e-commerce JD.com fintech arm) + Jardine Matheson Holdings (Hong Kong's longstanding British-heritage Big-conglomerate)** — distinctive Chinese-mainland + Chinese-tech + British-conglomerate trifecta.

## History

**March 2019 — HKMA Virtual Bank license granted** (one of HK's first 8 virtual bank licenses).

**August 2020 — Livi Bank service launches** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: BOC HK + JD Digits + Jardine Matheson JV.

**2021-2024 — HK adoption** <sup>[3][3]</sup>: ~150K users by late 2021.

**2025 — Continued HK retail + business virtual banking** <sup>[4][4]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **Livi Bank Limited**.

**Major shareholders**:
- **BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited (HKEX: 2388)** — Bank of China Hong Kong subsidiary
- **JD Digits** — Chinese fintech arm of JD.com (Beijing-based; NASDAQ: JD)
- **Jardine Matheson Holdings** — Hong Kong's longstanding British-heritage Big-conglomerate

**Regulators**: **HKMA (Hong Kong Monetary Authority)** — HK Virtual Bank license.

## Technical integration

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Channels** | Livi Bank mobile app (iOS + Android) + Livi Bank cards |
| **Identifiers** | Phone + email + card number + HKID |
| **HK rail** | **FPS** (Faster Payment System) |
| **License** | HKMA HK Virtual Bank license |
| **Multi-currency** | HKD + USD + CNY (personal + business accounts) |
| **Business banking** | Instant USD transfers via RTGS for businesses |
| **Distinctive gamification**: Livi Rewards Wishing Tree (up to 100% cashback) |

## Users & growth

**Baseline** <sup>[3][3]</sup>:
- **Users signed up (late 2021)**: ~150,000
- **2025 specific user numbers**: not publicly disclosed in current sources
- **6 of 8 HK virtual banks offer business accounts**: ZA Bank + Airstar + Livi + Ant + PAO + Fusion

## Use cases

HK retail + business virtual banking; multi-currency accounts (HKD + USD + CNY) for personal + business; gamified rewards via Livi Rewards Wishing Tree (up to 100% cashback); instant USD RTGS transfers for businesses.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: **Livi Bank Limited** (3-corner JV: **BOC HK + JD Digits + Jardine Matheson**).

**Major HK virtual bank competitors**:
- **[ZA Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/za-bank)** (HK's first virtual bank operational + first 1M+ users; H1 2025 1M+ users + HK$49M first profit)
- **[WeLab Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/welab-bank)** (HK's largest digital bank by revenue; H1 2025 HK$460M net revenue +70% YoY)
- **[Mox Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/mox-bank)** (Standard Chartered + HKT + PCCW + Trip.com JV; 750K customers 2025 + Jan 2026 crypto trading)
- **Ant Bank (HK)** (Ant Group HK virtual bank; AlipayHK ecosystem)
- **Airstar Bank** (Xiaomi + AMTD JV)
- **PAO Bank** (Ping An OneConnect; Ping An-backed)
- **Fusion Bank** (Tencent + ICBC + Hillhouse JV)

**Regulator**: **HKMA**.

## Fun facts

- **HK virtual bank backed by BOC HK + JD Digits + Jardine Matheson** — distinctive Chinese-mainland + Chinese-tech + British-conglomerate trifecta.
- **2021 baseline**: ~150K users signed up by late 2021.
- **August 2020 service launch** (one of HK's first 8 virtual bank licenses 2019).
- **Gamified rewards via Livi Rewards Wishing Tree** — up to 100% cashback distinctive innovation.
- **Multi-currency**: HKD + USD + CNY for personal + business.
- **Instant USD transfers via RTGS for businesses**.
- **6 of 8 HK virtual banks offer business accounts**: ZA Bank + Airstar + Livi + Ant + PAO + Fusion.

## Comparison

| Feature | Livi Bank | [ZA Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/za-bank) (HK virtual bank rival; ZhongAn-backed) | [WeLab Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/welab-bank) (HK virtual bank rival; WeLab pan-Asian) | [Mox Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/mox-bank) (Standard Chartered + HKT + PCCW + Trip.com JV) | Ant Bank (HK) (Ant Group HK rival) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **Livi Bank Limited (BOC HK + JD Digits + Jardine Matheson JV)** | ZA Bank (ZhongAn Technologies International Group; ZhongAn HKEX: 6060) | WeLab Bank (WeLab Limited; Simon Loong) | Mox Bank Limited (Standard Chartered + HKT + PCCW + Trip.com JV) | Ant Bank HK (Ant Group HK subsidiary) |
| Type | **HK virtual bank (BOC + JD + Jardine 3-corner JV) + gamified Livi Rewards + multi-currency HKD/USD/CNY + business RTGS** | HK first virtual bank operational + 1st 1M+ users + 1st profitable | HK largest digital bank by revenue + pan-Asian WeLab fintech 70M+ users | HK virtual bank Standard Chartered-anchored 4-corner JV + Jan 2026 crypto trading | HK virtual bank Ant Group HK AlipayHK ecosystem |
| Users | **~150K (late 2021 baseline; less recent data)** | 1M+ (H1 2025) | ~500K HK | 750K (2025) | Smaller HK |
| Distinctive | **3-corner JV (BOC HK + JD Digits + Jardine Matheson); gamified Wishing Tree up to 100% cashback; multi-currency (HKD + USD + CNY); business RTGS USD transfers** | ZhongAn co-founded by Ant + Tencent + Ping An | WeLab pan-Asian; 500M Asian customers ambition | Standard Chartered + HKT + PCCW + Trip.com 4-corner JV; Jan 2026 crypto SFC Type 1 | AlipayHK ecosystem |

## Status

**Active, HK virtual bank with 3-corner BOC HK + JD Digits + Jardine Matheson JV** <sup>[1][1], [4][4]</sup>:
- **Livi Bank Limited** since August 2020.
- **~150K users signed up (late 2021 baseline)**.
- **Gamified rewards Livi Rewards Wishing Tree (up to 100% cashback) + multi-currency HKD/USD/CNY + business RTGS**.
- **HKMA regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.livibank.com/ "Livi Bank — official"
[2]: https://www.livibank.com/media-centre/joint-venture-backed-by-boc-hong-kong-holdings-jd-digits-and-jardines-granted-a-banking-licence-by-hong-kong-monetary-authority/ "Livi Bank JV BOC HK + JD Digits + Jardine HKMA license"
[3]: https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3154363/hong-kong-virtual-bank-livi-woos-borrowers-through-mobile "Livi Bank gamified rewards 150K users — SCMP"
[4]: https://statrys.com/blog/virtual-banks-hk "Virtual Banks in Hong Kong 8 Compared 2026 — Statrys"
[hk-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/HK

- [1] [Livi Bank — official][1]
- [2] [Livi Bank JV BOC HK + JD Digits + Jardine HKMA license][2]
- [3] [Livi Bank gamified rewards 150K users — SCMP][3]
- [4] [Virtual Banks in HK 8 Compared 2026 — Statrys][4]
- <sup>[Hong Kong report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/HK)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/HK-hong-kong.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [livi-bank.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/livi-bank). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.