Singapore Corporate Banking — DBS, OCBC, UOB, HSBC & Standard Chartered

The three main local banks — DBS, OCBC, and UOB — all offer corporate current accounts for Singapore Pte. Ltd. companies; DBS Business Account and OCBC Business Growth Account are the popular picks. You'll need a business registration certificate, ID documents for every director and beneficial owner, and a meeting with a relationship manager. Opening fees run from S$0 to S$500 depending on the bank and account type.

With traditional banks — DBS, OCBC, UOB — a corporate account opens in 2–4 weeks from a complete application, KYC/AML review included. Complex structures — multiple shareholders, foreign directors, regulated industries — push that to 6–8 weeks. Digital business accounts with fintechs like Aspire or Airwallex open in 1–5 business days on lighter documentation.

Yes — through fintech accounts, though not the traditional banks. Traditional banks — DBS, OCBC, UOB — generally require at least one authorised signatory to appear in Singapore for identity verification. Fintech business accounts — Aspire, Airwallex, and Wise Business — onboard fully remotely: video verification plus digital document submission. Multi-currency wallets, SWIFT/SEPA transfers, virtual and physical debit cards.

The standard pack: Certificate of Incorporation and Business Profile from ACRA, Memorandum and Articles of Association, a board resolution to open the account, certified passports of all directors, shareholders, and UBOs, proof of residential address for directors (utility bill or bank statement), and a description of business activities with expected transaction volumes. High-risk industries or complex ownership structures draw additional requests.

Aspire is a Singapore-licensed digital business account provider — MAS-regulated under the PSA as a Major Payment Institution. It offers instant multi-currency accounts, corporate Visa cards, accounts payable automation, and integrations with Xero, QuickBooks, and Shopify. Opening is fully remote, approval in 1–3 business days. Startups and foreign-owned companies take it as a fast alternative while their primary bank application runs.